WWII Tech Pubs Briefing

Written by
Justin Riggir

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Overview

In the 1920s, Ceskoslovenská Zbrojovka A.S. (Czechoslovakia Arms Factory Ltd., abbreviated CZ), in Brno, developed a gas-operated light machine gun whose barrel could be changed with a quick-release latch and which drew ammunition from an overhead box magazine.  The gas cylinder sat below the barrel and the gas piston acted on the bolt, tilting the rear end upward to lock into the receiver.  Further experience led to the extremely successful ZB27 and ZB30 models, adopted by 24 countries.

Great Britain also expressed interest in the weapon and in 1931 a ZB30 was modified to use the standard British .303-in (7.7-mm) rimmed cartridge, fed by a distinctive curved magazine.  In a 1934 competition, a slightly improved ZGB34 model proved quite superior.

British authorities and CZ arranged to manufacture the gun under licence at the Royal Small Arms Factory, at Enfield.  The new gun’s name borrowed the first two letters of Brno and Enfield: Bren.  The guns formally entered service Aug. 4, 1938.

The Bren’s curved box magazine can hold 30 rounds, but usually packed only 28 in order to avoid straining the magazine spring.  One version used a 100-round drum magazine for anti-aircraft purposes.

Bren operators usually fired from the hip or rested the gun on the built-in bipod, and only rarely set up the tripod.  British soldiers were cautioned to fire only single rounds at first contact, to hide the machine gun’s presence from the enemy and to conserve ammo.  They also learned to loose bursts of four or five rounds.  Expert operators could coax five box magazines a minute from the weapon.

The Bren saw service with Great Britain and all Commonwealth armies.  The Germans often used captured Bren guns as “battlefield” issues and to arm occupation troops. Captured guns were taken into German service as 7.7 mm leMG138(e).

The Bren gun became a legend in its own time and was probably the most liked and respected weapon in the British Army during World War II.  Arguably the best and most successful light machine gun ever made, it was extremely reliable, simple to dismantle and maintain, accurate, and robust enough to withstand the hardships of battle.  It kept firing where mud, sand, or ice would stop lesser guns.  A reworked Bren remains in service today as the L4 machine gun.

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Specifications

Figures are for the Bren Mk I Light Machine Gun.