Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Bren .303in Mark IV Light Machine Gun


Properly designated as a Light Machine gun, the Bren was considered one of the finest such weapons developed in WWII. Gas-operated, its mechanical components are simple and easily understood; it can be stripped and assembled by a trained soldier in a very short time. There are only a few possible stoppages, and the Bren earned an enviable reputation for accuracy and reliability. The Chinese used the Bren much as US forces used our BAR, in support of squad-sized assaults and defense. The Mark I had an aperture rear sight controlled by a radial drum, with a shoulder support, and early models had a pistol grip beneath the butt for the non-firing hand. These augmentations went away quickly.

Operation Air cooled, gas operated, magazine fed
Selective fire, Automatic or single shot
Caliber .303 (7.696 mm)
Muzzle velocity 2440 fps
Capacity 30 round box
(MkI could also take 100 round drum )
Weight 22.12 lbs (10.15 kg) unloaded
19.14 lbs for Mk IV
Overall length 45.5 in. (42.9 in for Mk IV)
Rate of fire 500-520 rounds per minute
Effective range 550m (600 yds)
Ammunition (1) Ball Mk6; 215 gr bullet, 33 gr charge (1970 fps)
(2) Ball Mk7; 174 gr bullet, 36.5 gr charge (2400 fps)

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