The Bren Light Machine Gun
Jan Hyrman

The Bren light machine gun was a further development of the Czechoslovak ZB vz. 26 machine gun. That was how its name developed, comprising the first two letters of the armaments factories at Brno (BR), where it was developed, and Enfield (EN), where it was later produced. The Czechoslovak weapon, or rather its improved version vz. 27, decisively beat the competition during the British army's tender for armament which could replace the obsolete Lewis machine gun. Some modifications of the original design were required as the British army insisted on the use of the older .303 (7.7mm) cartridge.

The development of the Bren light machine gun led from the vz. 27, vz. 30 and vz. 32 machine guns to the ZB vz. 33, on which the prototype by the Royal Small Arms Factory (R.S.A.F.) and Enfield Lock companies was based. In 1937, the Enfield Lock started the production of the gun under the designation Bren Mk. 1 (the production at Enfield and other factories proceeded throughout the wartime years and continued after 1945), until 1940 more than 30,000 of these machine guns were made. The gun was received well when it came into service, but after the French defeat and the British evacuation from Dunkirk, a large number of machine guns and ammunition fell into German hands, where it was re-designated Leichte MG 138(e).
According to the Small Arms Training, Volume I, Pamphlet No. 4, ?The chief characteristic of the weapon is its power of delivering a volume of fire with the employment of few men.? The machine gun could deliver an average rate of 120 rounds (or four magazines) a minute with reasonable accuracy.

The weapon had an interchangeable barrel, which was planned to be changed every ten magazines (or 300 rounds fired) at the rate of fire mentioned above ? provided that there was a spare available. Bursts of four or five rounds were recommended to avoid overheating, strain and excessive expenditure of ammunition.
Due to the loss of an excessive amount of military equipment on the European continent, a great demand arose for all kinds of arms - the machine gun was further simplified so that the production could go faster. The basic mechanism and the curved magazine were preserved, some elements, such as the delicate drum backsight, however, had to be removed. The bipod was also simplified. That was how Bren Mk. 2 went into production. Later, other versions were made - Bren Mk. 3 with a shorter barrel and the Mk. 4 with a modified butt. In Canada, a 7.92mm calliber version was produced for export to China. Various kinds of accessories and car and anti-aircraft mountings were also produced.
The gun was an air-cooled weapon, fired either shoulder-controlled from a bipod, or from a 30lb. (13.6kgs) tripod, with which it could be used either in a defensive role, where the machine gun was mounted relatively low, or in a different manner as an anti-aircraft weapon. It was possible to choose between single rounds and an automatic mode. Sights on the early guns were set for firing at distances from 200 to 2,000 yards, or 182.9 to about 1,829 metres.

Bren had a repute of an excellent light machine gun. It was accurate, extremely reliable and heavy-duty. Reasonably heavy, it was easy to handle and maintain. Its advantages have kept it in service until today. As Machine Gun L4, Bren was modified for the 7.62mm NATO cartridge and remains in service with second-line and support units of the British army. It is still used with the Royal Navy as well.