Guns of Kokoda
After more than 80 years, Peter Jackson recounts the ‘Guns of Kokoda’. Further information from the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage, and the Arts is available in the download here: Kokoda Report
With the anniversary of the battle of Kokoda now more than 80 years, a recent tour of the privately owned Australian Armour & Artillery Museum in Cairns and its outstanding display of Australian small arms used in the conflict prompted a brief revisit of those firearms used to defend our country.
Since that battle, there has been dispute from some quarters that Australia was never really in danger of being invaded by the Japanese hordes.
What is not in dispute was the courage shown by our fighting men in the theatre of war, as well as the herculean effort by the Papuan Carriers.
While many are acquainted with the story of New Guinea and the battle of Kokoda, as mentioned, the visit to the Museum and the weapons used in the jungle conflict drew my attention. So, allow me to offer a very cursory overview of the guns of Kokoda.
The Owen Gun
The Owen gun, an Australia invention, truly was the ‘little gun that could’. This 9mm Parabellum submachine gun earned the nick name ‘The Diggers Darling’. It was damn near unstoppable. When tested against the Sten, the Thompson and even German sub guns of the time, Evlynn Owen’s backyard problem stopper proved head and shoulders above the rest. General McArthur was so impressed that he was about to issue the Owen to US troops in place of the heavy Thompson .45.
Owen gun quick stats
Designer: Lieutenant Evelyn Owen
Designed: 1931 – 1938
Years produced: 1942 – 1944
Number built: 45,000
Weight: 10.7 loaded
Length: 813 mm
Barrel length: 250mm
Cartridge: 9mm Parabellum
Action: Blow back open bolt
Rate of fire: 700 rounds a minute
Effective firing range: 123 metres
Feed system: Detachable 32-round magazine (often loaded to 30 rounds to relieve wear and tear on magazine springs)
Sights: Iron
The Thompson .45 calibre sub-machine gun
It might have been slow, but the Thompson .45 calibre delivered a heck of a punch. Originally designed for the close quarter fighting of World War One trench warfare, this heavy ‘Trench Broom’ may have been late to the party in WW1, but it was at home in the European ‘Theatre of War’ as well as the thick jungles of Kokoda in WW2. Unlike the Owen, however, it needed constant attention to ensure its combat-ready lethality.
This weapon was generally issued to Australian section commanders within the patrol order, carrying either a 30-round stick magazine or the 50-round drum.
Thompson. 45 Calibre sub-machine gun stats
Designer: John T. Thompson
Designed: 1917 – 1920
Manufacturer: Auto Ordnance
Produced: 1921 – 1945
Number built: 1.75 million (including several variances)
Weight: 4.5 kg empty
Length: 860mm including compensator
Barrel: 267
Cartridge: .45 cal
Action: Blowback
Effective firing range: 150 metres
Feed system: 30-round stick / 50-round drum
Mark 4 .303 rifle
So much can be said about this iconic firearm, but alas I have limited space. So, to the other .303 fans, my apologies.
By the time the Australian solider was called to fight on Kokoda, the ‘three -oh’ really did not need an introduction and had already earned a reputation as a reliable lifesaver, as well as a lethal life-taker if you were on the wrong end of it.
Versions of it had served our troops previously in WWI and, with some fine tuning and finessing as a Mark 4, the Small Magazine LEE Enfield (SMLE) .303 saw itself back in the hands of ‘The Digger’ once more. Though it proved itself against the Africa Corp in the open desert campaigns, landing in the thick jungle of New Guinea, its length did prove to be hinder swift movement at times.
Lee Enfield .303 SMLE Mark 4 stats
Designer: James Paris Lee
Manufacturer: Australia’s Lithgow Small Arms Factory until 1953
Numbers built: 17 million of all variances in total
Weight: 4.11kg
Length: 1260mm
Barrel: 640mm
Cartridge: .303
Action: Bolt
Effective firing range: 503 metres
Feed system: 10-round box magazine
