The Bren Gun

In reading some Canadian Battle Experience Questionnaires recently I noted a reference to the quality of later model Bren guns. I believe the respondent was from the Calgary Highlanders and indicated that the older model Brens were preferred as they had far fewer stoppages. First indication I've seen of production quality issues and generally the Bren was highly regarded.
The collection of questionnaires were answered by 161 officers after action.

 

A Canadian soldier from the First Special Service Force armed with Bren light machine gun. American helmet and British weapon. Not an image you see often. Must have been early on as the entire unit later fought in U.S. battledress.

 

Just saw that as well Adam. I think you must be correct as I've found the pic shown with different descriptions.
The Bren never actually saw service with the 1st Special Service Force. The Canadians detested the BAR and much preferred the Bren so the Johnson LMG became the compromise.

 

What would be the process required for acquiring a decommissioned Bren? I'm guessing that there would be some sort of licence or certification needed.

 

or complete secrecy.

 

Hi Canuck,

I'm thinking of collecting together some typical Chindt 1 weapons, with the possibility of setting up a virtual museum on line at some stage. So, nothing sinister here, well not presently anyway.

Cheers

Steve

 

In the book on the New Zealand army in Italy "A Fair Sort of battering" a Maori Sergeant was quoted as saying that they added as many automatic weapons to the section before an assault as possible. e.g. an extra Bren - German MG34s.

I don't think it was that difficult to add weapons to a section during the course of a camapign. By the time rifle platoons were down to 15 men the ratio of LMGs was doubled in the brick sized four man sections.

 

Sheldrake,

I think that practice was also widespread in Canadian units. I've read numerous accounts where the addition of Bren guns to infantry sections was commonplace. For The Régiment de Maisonneuve, in Normandy, this seemed to be accepted battle practice.

It certainly was the tactical doctrine of the German army where the squad leaders actually employed that formation as a single, large, MG team.They viewed the machine-gun, not the rifle, as the primary killing weapon on the battlefield and as the only weapon in the infantry squad that really mattered. The MG 42 was usually assigned to and operated by the best soldier within the squad.

The importance of "fire superiority" was not lost on the individual infantryman.
"It is also noteworthy that Canadian soldiers would go well out of their way to try and increase the volume of fire that they could produce with small arms. Major C.K. Crummer observed that his troops would try to salvage extra Bren guns from wrecked carriers to increase the effectiveness of fire and movement tactics, though he noted that a “very close eye must be kept on ammunition in this respect.” Captain F.W. Grafton of the Algonquin Regiment noticed the same thing, and commented that, “I saw one Platoon carrying four Bren guns and the required ammo for each even though the platoon was under-strength by seven men.” Infantrymen would evidently go to some lengths to ensure that they would generate sufficient firepower on the battlefield, adding additional guns and making certain that their own weapons would be ready for combat at all times."
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/OKQ/TC-OKQ-1081.pdf

 

Thanks for the advice Adam. I hope to have a number of decent sized paperweights before too long.

 

Some excellent examples of the "upgunning" of Canadian Bren Gun Carriers shown on this link. Some could well be classed as gunships!



Reenactor Guide Part 2a

 

British Army Review No.114 Dec 1996:

From an article by the author of 18 Platoon, Sydney Jary MC, ex-4 Somerset Light Infantry. There may be more on the 'two Brens' issue in the book...

 

Upgunning in Vietnam

When the Army went Mad Max: Vietnam gun trucks (16 PHOTOS)

 

The Keefe Report: “It’s Me Bren Gun”

 

forgot to add Inglis Factory

 

Some great Bren photos here from Inglis:

INGLIS FACTORY by mrclark

 

British section tactics were based around "The Gun" and keeping it in action. Having a "Gun group" and a "Rifle/Bomber" was the basis for all the training and doctrine. Adding the second bren was a logical and flexible progression - two gun groups or a more powerful covering group.