BREN Mk 1 and Mk 2
* Ammunition:.303 British (7.7x56mm R)/ 8mm Mauser (China)
* Total length:1, 156 m
* Barrel:63.5cm
* Mass (empty weapon):10.2 kg
* Mass of the full magazine:1.05 kg
* Mass (weapon loaded):11.25 kg
* Magazine:30 rounds
* Theoretical rate of fire:500 rounds/min.
The BREN submachine gun entered service in 1937 in the British army. It is in fact an evolution of the Czechoslovak FM ZB-30 and its name is the contraction of its sites of invention (Manufacture of Brno and Royal Arsenal of Enfield).
Indeed in May 1935, the United Kingdom had obtained the license to manufacture the ZBG-34 model, a modernized version of the model 26. During the Second World War, Australia (Manufacture of Lithgow), India (arsenal of Ishapore) and Canada supplement the arsenal of Enfield (having built 280000 BREN) and British group Monotype to arm the Allies, China and the resistance movements at war against Germany (including the FFI and FFL) and Japan.
This weapon produced in four versions (Mark 1 to Mark 4) differing by details simplifying the manufacture and by the length of the barrel. The MK 1 and 2 were distributed to the infantrymen as for the MK 3 and 4 appeared at the very end of the conflict were intended for paratroopers. The FM BREN served occasionally as an anti-aircraft weapon (with a special tripod) and as the main armament of the Bren-Carrier.
The curved magazine, due to the conicity of the case of its ammunition), accommodating 30 rounds (only filled with 38 cartridges in the field) being introduced from above the receiver, the rear sights and front sight are offset on the left side. Unlike many FMs, the barrel of the BREN is removable to be changed when it warms up. The stock, pistol grip and barrel change handle of the Bren are made of wood.
The weapon highly appreciated by combatants, in particular thanks to its reliability, was built from 1938 to 1958. After 1958, many BRENs in .303 British (its original caliber) were converted to 7.62 NATO (L4) which continued to equipping the British Army and many Commonwealth countries to create ammunition uniformity with the L1A1 rifles and L7 machine guns. FM BREN experienced the Indochina War and then participated in many conflicts including the Korean War, the Falklands War or the Gulf War.
Variants
The long operational career of FM BREN (from 1940 to around 1990) explains the existence of 14 versions.
Mark 1
This original version produced from August 1938 is very close to the Czech weapon. It features a folding butt kickstand.
In 1940, British engineers made a first modification to facilitate production. They then create the Mk 1 (M).
Mark 2[edit]
Appeared in 1941. A further simplification of the Mk 1. Produced by the Monotype group with parts from several subcontractors. It is the most widespread of the BRENs. The Canadians made an 8mm Mauser variant for the Chinese nationalists of Chiang Kai-shek.