The Bren Gun

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by jimbotosome, Dec 29, 2005.

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  1. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I was reading the other day that the Bren Gun could use a 100rd Magazine as well as the standard 30 round mag.

    I've had a quick look on google images, but no joy.

    As anyone got any pictures from WW2 with the 100 round mag fitted?

    Cheers
    Andy
     
    Drew5233, Jan 28, 2009
    #41
  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Who needs google? ;):
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/weapons-technology-equipment/12201-bren-bar-2.html#post130122
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/weapons-technology-equipment/3583-100-round-bren-drums.html

    No WW2 pics as yet (as some of the links have died there), but the thing's illustrated here:
    Bren Gun 100 Round Magazine Adapter - International Military Antiques
    British BREN 100 Rnd Drum Magazine Set: MK1 WW2 - International Military Antiques
    Mattgibbs in that second thread does mention ww2 shots of them being used on beach landings, so don't give up - they're likely out there somewhere.
     
    von Poop, Jan 28, 2009
    #42
  3. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I cannot remember how many rounds before it got too hot. But it was seldom used in anything but short bursts. That begs the question. Am I the only old buzzard here that has fired one at the enemy? Used for what it was intended for?
    Sapper
     
    sapper, Jan 28, 2009
    #43
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Cheers Adam,

    I kinda figured it would be similiar format to the Lewis Gun rather than a drum magazine. I was reading tonight it was used mainly in the AA rolse but the post originates from The Story of Mr Hollis who won the VC on D-Day-He was using one on the day he won his VC.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
    Drew5233, Jan 28, 2009
    #44
  5. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Sapper,

    My father says the same as you. Lugged his from Normandy til the end.

    Never had the barrel overheat, used for short bursts only. His No. 2 chucked the spare barrel - wasn't going to carry that and ammo all the way through the war.

    Asked him once about the Spandau and he winced when he recalled what it could do to men. "A Spandau could neatly take out a brick in a wall, a Bren would take out that brick and its neighbours, and a Lewis could take down the whole bloody wall!"

    As for using German weapons, was also ordered not to. Helped once when Germans moved towards sound of their own Spandau fire only to be confronted with a lot of Micks. C.O. forbade use after that though. He said he had to follow the battle by ear, that didn't help.

    D
     
    dbf, Jan 28, 2009
    #45
  6. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    I just love this picture !!!!
     

    Attached Files:

    51highland, Jan 28, 2009
    #46
    gpo son and Owen like this.
  7. duncr

    duncr Member

    The Britain at war magazine had an excellent article about the Bren last month, dont know if I'd be allowed to scan it and post it up here or not, let me know and I'll do it today

    DUNC
     
    duncr, Jan 29, 2009
    #47
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Did it have a pic of a 100 round magazine in it ?

    Cheers
    Andy
     
    Drew5233, Jan 29, 2009
    #48
  9. duncr

    duncr Member

    it does indeed Drew and the tripod, carrycase etc, etc............

    DUNC
     
    duncr, Jan 29, 2009
    #49
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Maybe just a scan of the pictures only lol

    ;)
     
    Drew5233, Jan 29, 2009
    #50
  11. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    A long time ago in the Royal Air Force we used Brens on induction training.The instructors we very sound and competent.I remember that some of these had seen service in the Western Desert and then joined the RAF Regiment and as a young man I thought they were the real "tough guys".

    Some of the Flight did not initially relish handling the weapon and lacked confidence with it."Right then single shots at the target" said the instructor.The next thing would be the burr as the whole magazine was discharged and the guilty trainee would receive a retort from the instructor of being "a horrible little man who does not listen to me"

    But by the end we were taught to be able to strip down a Bren and reassemble it blindfold to clear a supposed stoppage.The other thing about the Bren I remember is the instructor declaring the magazine will hold 32 rounds but to avoid any chance of a stoppage do not insert more than 28 rounds into the magazine.Always take up the instructor's advice.

    Never fired a Bren again but I do remember that the instructor imparted confidence to us in handling weapons, something that one has to have in handling the technology that surrounds us throughout life.Part of the essential training for people to get involved in real battle.

    Did n't Bill Speakman fire a Bren from the hip when he won a VC in Korea? A weighty weapon to handle from the hip and achieve results.
     
    Harry Ree, Jan 29, 2009
    #51
  12. duncr

    duncr Member

    Ok here goes with the scans, they are large so I'm gonna just have to try it and see first :)
    [​IMG]
     
    duncr, Jan 29, 2009
    #52
  13. duncr

    duncr Member

    Nope that didn't work
    [​IMG]
     
    duncr, Jan 29, 2009
    #53
  14. duncr

    duncr Member

    that did though :)
    [​IMG]
     
    duncr, Jan 29, 2009
    #54
  15. duncr

    duncr Member

    [​IMG]
     
    duncr, Jan 29, 2009
    #55
  16. duncr

    duncr Member

    [​IMG]
     
    duncr, Jan 29, 2009
    #56
  17. duncr

    duncr Member

    [​IMG]
     
    duncr, Jan 29, 2009
    #57
  18. duncr

    duncr Member

    [​IMG]
     
    duncr, Jan 29, 2009
    #58
    Drew5233 likes this.
  19. duncr

    duncr Member

    That did the trick :) hope this helps add to the topic

    DUNC
     
    duncr, Jan 29, 2009
    #59
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  20. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi HR,
    I was told the mag held 30, have I noted this incorrectly?

    From my notes:
    The magazine held 30 rounds; we were instructed to place only 28 in, as 30 would strain the spring. The switch on the Bren was A for Auto and R for Repetition. If the switch was on R, you had to press the trigger each time to fire a round. At A if the trigger was held down it would fire off the whole 28 rounds at once. I almost always set the Bren to A; was able to fire off single rounds this way from experience; wouldn’t have fired off a magazine as a habit.


    D
     
    dbf, Jan 29, 2009
    #60
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