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Bren Light Machine Gun
Originally of Czech design, the Bren Light Machine Gun was accepted into service with the British Army in the late 1930s.
By Staff Writer
The Bren Light Machine Gun was the standard light machine gun of the Second World War. Developed in the early 1930's in an effort to replace the aging Lewis machine guns that the British Army relied on, the Bren actually had its origins in a Czech design designated as the ZB vz/26. The Czech ZB vz/26 was chambered to fire the Mauser 7.92mm rimless cartridge. As such, British authorities requested that the new light machine gun design be based around the 303 British rimmed-type cartridge.
This difference aside, the Bren Light Machine Gun was put into production shortly thereafter. The internal working components were kept simplified from the outset, making battlefield fixes and maintenance friendly. These qualities would lend the Bren to becoming a well-liked and respected weapon by front-operating infantrymen.
The Bren appeared in several Marks during it's production lifetime. The Mark 1 appeared in August of 1938 and was most like the original Czech design. The Mark 2 appeared in 1941 and made the rear sight a more traditional leaf-type sight for British soldiers. Improvements to the bipod were also made and led to the development of the Mark 3 and Mark 4. The Mark 3 was a lighter derivative of the Mark 2 with the Mark 4 being a slightly different conversion model of the Mark 2 as well.
Post-war variations on the Bren system produced some changes to internal components such as the slide and cocking handle. The Bren would go on to live a long production life and see additional days in the form of the L4 series of light machine guns in service with the British Army. Many Bren Light Machine Guns would go on to be produced in Canada as well, including forms with a return to the 7.92 Mauser cartridge type. The L4A1 - L4A7 series of machine guns is based on the original Bren design and fires the NATO 7.62mm cartridge.
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Last Updated: 8/19/2008
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| Specifications for the Bren Light Machine Gun |
 Operation: |
Action: Gas-Operated, Selective Fire
Cartridge: 303 British / 7.62mm NATO / 7.92x57mm Mauser
Feed System: 30-Round Detachable Box Magazine
Muzzle Velocity: 2,440ft/sec (744m/sec)
Cyclic Rate-of-Fire: 500 rds/min
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| Dimensions: |
Overall Length: 1,150mm (45.28in)
Barrel Length: 0mm (0.00in)
Empty Weight: 10.15kg (22.38lbs)
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Profile: |
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| 1935 |
Designation: Bren Light Machine Gun
Classification Type: Light Machine Gun
Manufacturer: Royal Small Arms Factory - UK / Inglis & Company; Long Branch - Canada / Ishapore - India / Lithgow - Australia
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
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Operators: Canada, India, Australia, Ireland, China, Indonesia, Greece, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Poland and the United Kingdom.
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| Variants |
Czech ZB vz/26 - Czech light machine gun design adopted by the British Army.
Bren Mark 1 - Original Bren design based highly on Czech ZB vz/26 system but chambered to fire the 303 British cartridge.
Bren Mark 2 - Buttstock and bipod changes to suit British infantry feedback requirements.
Bren Mark 3 - Lighter overall weight; shorter barrel.
L4A1 - Bren-inspired design for 7.62mm NATO cartridge; Bren Mark 3 conversion model.
L4A2 - Minor design improvements of the L4A1.
L4A3 - Mark 2 model conversion
L4A4 - Mark 3 conversion model with chrome barrel.
L4A5 - Based on L4A3 sans chrome barrel
L4A6 - L4A1 conversion model with chrome barrel.
L4A7 - Mark 1 conversion model; never produced.
Bren Mark 4 - Conversion model based on the Mark 2.
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