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  Bren British  
  THE BREN WAS a magazine fed light machine-gun. A bipod helped steady the weapon. It was renown for its accuracy. It shared the same .303 ammunition as the the Lee-Enfield rifle.

It was based on the Czechoslovakian ZBvz30, which was designed by Yaclav Holek. It was manufactured by Enfield in Britain after modification of the design:
  • the sights were changed from metres to yards;
  • it was chambered in .303;
  • the barrel was shortened; and
  • the magazine was redesigned to hold .303 bullets

Although the magazine could hold 30 rounds, it was usually loaded with only 28 to preserve the magazine spring.

After Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, production for Germany continued  (in Czechoslovakia) throughout the war, where the ZBvz30 was known as the Maschinengewehr 30(t) and employed in second-line service.

 The name Bren came from Brno and Enfield.


Australian War Memorial
 Negative 009510

1941-08. TOBRUK. TROOPS IN ACTION WITH A BREN GUN AT A FRONT LINE SECTION POST. THIS ONE IS 400 YDS FROM THE ENEMY. (NEGATIVE BY G. SILK).

 

  

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Last updated: Saturday, January 27, 2001 2:32 PM