Army's New Sub-Machine Gun -- Barrie Spraggon, 12, a Dagenham sea scout, fires the gun at the demonstration. Behind is major Robert Turp, Chief salesman of the sterling company.The sterling Sub-Machine gun, which has recently been adopted by the British Army as a supplementary weapon to the Belgian F.N. Rifle was demonstrated today February 15 at the indoor range of the Sterling Engineering Company, its makers, at Dagenham, Essex. The gun, which replaces the sten gun, is also in use throughout the Commonwealth. It weighs six pounds, fires up to 575 Rounds a minute and is accurate up to 200 yards, although it can kill up to 500 yards. February 23, 1955. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).