Each British soldier's equipment normally included two magazines for his section's Bren gun. 27 rather than the ZB vz. Among the weapons that were submitted for the trials were the Madsen, Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), the Neuhausen KE7 and the Vickers-Berthier. The Bren Mk2 was much simplified in the body, which although still being milled from a solid billet of steel, required significantly fewer milling operations than the Mk1 which gives it a much cleaner appearance. By 1938, the Bren became the standard light machine gun of the British and their commonwealth allies. 27, ZB vz. The name Bren was derived from Brno, the Czechoslovak city where the Zb vz. The 30-round magazine was in practice usually filled with 27 or 28 rounds to prevent jams and avoid wearing out the magazine spring. The type's existence was actually owed to the 1920's-era Czech ZB vz/26 Light Machine Gun brought to the British Army's attention prior to adoption of other types during a long-lasting, years-long search. During the early 1900s, the British Army subjected several designs of light machine gun to competitive trials. The fact that Bren guns remained in service for so many years with so many different countries in so many wars says much about the quality of the basic design. The machine gun…, Small arm, any handheld firearm. Number 2 helped reload the gun and replace the barrel when it overheated, and spotted targets for Number 1. On long marches in non-operational areas it was often partially disassembled and its parts were carried by two soldiers. The later Bren featured a distinctive top-mounted curved box magazine, conical flash hider, and quick change barrel. One of the many hard-learned lessons military tacticians faced in the First World War was that manoeuvrability was a paramount concern. Machine gun, Bren light machine gun The concept for the Bren gun started in Czechoslovakia in the 1920s. Developed and put in production in 1935, BREN Mk.1 was a near identical copy of the Czech ZB-26, customized for United Kingdom standards and requirements (most notable - .303 British ammo). Many 7.92 mm ZB light machine guns were shipped to China, where they were employed first against the Japanese in World War II, and later against UN forces in Korea, including British and Commonwealth units. Production of a 7.92 mm round model for the Far East was carried out by Inglis of Canada. The Bren was operated by a two-man crew, sometimes commanded by a Lance Corporal as an infantry section's "gun group", the remainder of the section forming the "rifle group". “ Part of the WWII replica series, this light machine gun was used by the British in World War II and Vietnam. To change barrels, the release catch in front of the magazine was rotated to unlock the barrel. After the war, the Bren light machine gun design was modified to make use of the standard 7.62-millimeter cartridge of NATO forces. 32, and finally the ZB vz. Chapter 1, Section 1, para 102, Australian Army Manual of Land Warfare, Part 2, Infantry Training, Vol 4 Pam 6, Machine Gun 7.62mm L4A4, Australian Government 1979. The flash suppressor was changed from the cone type of .303 variants to a slotted type similar in appearance to that used on the SLR and L7 GPMG. [5] On occasion, a Bren gunner would use his weapon on the move supported by a sling, much like an automatic rifle, and from standing or kneeling positions. The weapon creation studies began the same year and the first prototype of the Bren Mk I machine gun was produced at the end of 1937. Bren LMG (Light Machine Gun) parts. It was adapted by the British military from the series of light machine guns produced by the Chzech company, Brno Zb. Brno was the city where the earlier z/26 was made, and Enfield was the company that made the Bren. The Bren is a light machine gun (LMG) that was used by the British military during World War II. Acclaimed as one of the best light machine guns of World War II, the Bren appeared in four models that varied principally in barrel length and total weight. The Bren LMG is an air-cooled automatic machine gun with a 450-550 rpm rate of fire. The barrel was also simplified by means of a non-stepped removable flash hider and in some cases, a barrel fore-end that was matte instead of highly polished. The Bren Light Machine Gun was one of the most highly acclaimed weapons of its category throughout WW2. Soldiers often expressed a preference for worn-out barrels in order to spread the cone of fire and increase suppressive effects. BREN Mk.1 Caliber Weight, kg 10,04 BREN Mk.3 7,7x57R (.303) 8,76 BREN Mk.4 8,69 BREN L4A4 7,62x51 NATO 8,68 (with bipod) Overall length, mm Barrel length, mm Cyclic rate of fire, rounds perminute Feed and capacity A complicated tripod mount was available to allow the Bren to be used as an indirect-fire weapon, but this was rarely used in the field. However, the slower rate of fire prevented more rapid overheating of the Bren's air-cooled barrel, and the Bren was much lighter than belt-fed machine guns which typically had cooling jackets, often liquid filled. 26, was also used in World War 2 by German and Romanian forces, including units of the Waffen SS. This asset was created for an unannounced project in 2018. By the end of the 20th century it had been replaced in first-line British service by the L7 series of 7.62-mm general purpose machine guns and by light support weapons firing NATO’s 5.56-mm assault rifle round. Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland S., eds (January 27, 2009). Some ex-Chinese Czech ZB weapons were also in use in the early stages of the Vietnam War. While best known for its role as the British and Commonwealth forces' primary infantry light machine gun (LMG) in World War II, it was also used in the Korean War and saw service throughout the latter half of the 20th century, including the 1982 Falklands War and the 1991 Gulf War. 26 was originally designed (in Zbrojovka Brno Factory), and Enfield, site of the British Royal Small Arms Factory. The Bren gun was still an excellent light machine gun and these weapons had many years of life left in them. Each gun came with a spare barrel that could be quickly changed when the barrel became hot during sustained fire, though later guns featured a chrome-lined barrel which reduced the need for a spare. The Mk2 also featured a slightly higher rate of fire than the Mk1. It had a cyclic rate of fire of 520 rounds per minute, weighed 19 pounds (9 kg), and had an effective range of about 2,000 feet (600 metres). Among the weapons that were submitted for the trials were the Madsen, Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), the Neuhausen KE7 and the Vickers-Berthier. Nevertheless, a version of the 7.62-mm Bren gun was produced by the Indian Ordnance Factories into the 21st century. It was used to good effect by troops from Africa to the Far East to Western Europe. An infantry battalion also had a "carrier" platoon, equipped with Universal Carriers, most of which carried Bren guns. However, it could not be used as a co-axial weapon on tanks, as the magazine restricted its depression and was awkward to handle in confined spaces, and it was therefore used on a pintle mount only. From September 1937. The Bren gun was a series of light machine guns made by Britain in the 1930s and was actively used until 1992. As noted above, Bren light machine guns were mounted on Universal Carriers; this led to the the unofficial yet popular nickname of "Bren Gun Carriers" for Universal Carriers. Its name originated as an acronym from Brno, where the Czech gun was made, and Enfield, where the British adaptation was made. By employing different projectiles and successively improved chemical propellants, the dual goal of most arms designers has…. Jamaica: still used by the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force. Bren Light Machine Gun Information Restrictions Gun Emporium Popularity Unknown Ammo capacity 30/180 Statistics Damage 45 Portability 32 Rate of Fire 80 Accuracy 63 Recoil 68 Firing modes Automatic Modifications Bullets Iron Sight. The barrel needed to be unlocked and slid forward slightly to allow the regulator to be turned. Omissions? Although fitted with a bipod, it could also be mounted on a tripod or vehicle-mounted. The weapon was popular with the soldiers who fired it (known as Brenners) as it was light and durable, and had a reputation for accuracy. Netherlands: The Netherlands Royal Army during World War II and thereafter until 1964, the Netherlands Royal Army Reserve Corps from 1948 until 1989 and the Royal Netherlands Air Force from 1945 until 1964. The only known example can be seen at the Tongzhou militia museum. One Australian trooper, Bruce Kingsbury, was credited with almost single handedly saving his battalion from being overrun by a Japanese attack when he “came forward with this Bren and he just mowed them do… the slower rate of fire prevented more rapid overheating of the Bren's air-cooled barrel, and the Bren was much lighter than belt-fed machine guns which typically had cooling jackets, often liquid filled. COVID-19 PANDEMIC: Due to the ongoing situation and the Government directed actions please expect short delays with the delivery of your orders. A simpler version of the Mk 1. A shorter and lighter Bren made by Enfield from 1944 for the war in the East and for Airborne Forces. In general, the Bren was considered a reliable and effective light machine gun, though in North Africa it was reported to jam regularly unless kept very clean and free of sand or dirt. SARCO has obtained the Model L4A3 Bren Light Machine Gun and had the receivers cut to BATF specifications. When the British Army adopted the 7.62mm round it still had vast quantities of Bren light machine guns in store. It was even said that all problems with the Bren could simply be cleared by hitting the gun, turning the regulator, or doing both. The Bren was a modified version of Czechoslovak-designed light machine guns, the ZB vz. The gunner or "Number 1" carried and fired the Bren, and a loader or "Number 2" carried extra magazines, a spare barrel and tool kit. The conical flash hider was replaced by the slotted type similar to that of the contemporary L1 rifle and L7 General Purpose Machine Gun. A licence to manufacture was sought, and the Czech design was modified to British requirements. [9] It came with side by side barrels and was chambered in the 7.62x39mm round fed from AK47 magazines. It was the Long-Range weapon of the Gurkhas. If you need to get in contact with Customer Service, please email us at [email protected]. A conversion of the Bren to 7.62mm NATO from 1958. Although reliable[citation needed] it was not accepted due to the US-driven standardization within NATO on the larger 7.62x51mm NATO round.[8]. Following these trials, the British Army adopted the Czechoslovak ZB vz.26 light machine gun manufactured in Brno in 1935, although a slightly modified model the ZB vz. This was a conversion of the Mk1 whose main distinguishing feature was a shorter barrel. In the 1950s many Brens were rebarrelled to accept the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge and modified to feed from the magazine for the L1 (Commonwealth version of the FN FAL) rifle as the L4 light machine gun. The balance of the parts are surplus Bren parts. 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