The British Carbine is a type of submachine gun that was used by the British military during World War II. It was designed by Major Reginald V. Shepherd and Harold J. Turpin, and was officially adopted in 1941. The name of the gun comes from its short barrel and carbine-style stock. It was commonly referred to as the STEN, which was an acronym for the names of the two designers (Shepherd and Turpin). The STEN was a lightweight and reliable weapon that was used by British forces throughout the war.