Capt S. "The British Army has long emphasised the value of accuracy of firepower, rather than the sheer volume or weight of lead in the air, I think the Americans call that "Peace through superior firepower" or, "Never use 10 bullets if you can use 500". John 16043
Great picture. I have never seen Brens with drums, how many rounds do they hold? I like the idea, you can have one firing while someone else is reloading the other. regard Robert
I think that may have just become my new 'Best Bren image', and there's quite a list.[/QUOTE] Ditto to that VP.
Think the 100rd Bren drums are mentioned earlier on this thread somewhere. They've certainly cropped up once or twice in other threads, but are definitely not something you often see. Perhaps confirmed by the fact someone (myself included!) will often go 'what are they?' when they do appear. If my own experience means anything, You'll now never look at a picture of a Lewis or Vickers K without double-checking.
In the film siege of Jadotville the Irish sniper loaded a single round and shot the mine manager with the Bren
Adam, For a guy who deals in tech you have a very traditional, old fashioned streak in you. Some might even say curmudgeon All a matter of taste. I don't like all colourized pics but I really do like this one in particular. It makes him more real, captures his youth and the details jump out with the colour.
....Or the typical number of stoppages firing a drum that has been loaded to 100 rounds and left next to the AA mount for which it was intended.
My mistake. Looks just like him in The Longest Day though, doesn't he? I like that one even more now.
You have been here before, haven't you? It's just I'm sure I've seen you around quite a bit. I like the way this thread is technically about two light machine guns, but we do have a tendency to drift Bren-wards. I suppose it's another icon of commonwealth forces, in the same place that the .30cal really fits into US WW2 military iconography over and above the BAR. A slight redress then. That shouty Ermery chap compares the two, shoutily. (Think we've had it here before, but what the hell. Bit more BAR needed).
Judging solely from his (admittedly) non-professional attempts at reloading, I'd say the fact that the Bren magazine was loaded from the top was a big advantage over the B.A.R. for speed and handling.
For most of us in North America, Kirby brought our first and most lasting image of the BAR. Although I always wondered why they assigned that heavy brute to the smallest guy.
Pte. Goddard is a real guy from Montreal, with the Perth Regiment. Photo is from April 1945, in Holland. 5th Cdn Arm Div