The Bren Light Machine Gun was introduced in to the British Army in 1937. The Bren revolutionised the British Army organization and equipment from the organization that had been in place since the First World War to what we know as the organization of the British Army in World War Two. Equipment was designed so Bren Gun magazines could be carried, an Infantry section always contained a Bren Group (1 gun) for local automatic support fire and the introduction of the Bren meant that tactics could have light, fast moving automatic fire movign just as fast as the men themselves could. With the Bren's predecessor, the LEWIS, this could not be done as the weight and dimensions of the Lewis meant it was not possible to carry forward an LMG in an attack at speed. The Bren gun was used in many roles from Light support in the Infantry section to a Medium MG role when used with the sustained fire tripod that was issued with every gun. It was also used largely in the Anti-Aircraft role and special items of equipment were issued with it for this purpose such as 100-round drum magazines and tripod extension legs. The Bren went into Front-line service as soon as the numbers were available. It went to France in 1939 with the British Expeditionary Force in the Mk. I version of the gun. It served in North Africa and Italy. It went into France on D-Day in both Mk. I and Mk. II versions and for Operation "Market Garden" it went in the form of a shortened Mk. III version for Airborne troops. The Bren soldiered on post war as well in .303 British in Korea, Malaya, Cyprus, Aden and many others. It was then converted to 7.62mm Nato with the introduction of the L1A1 Self-Loading-Rifle and the FN MAG General-Purpose-Machine-Gun and the Bren became the L4. It saw action in Northern Ireland, the Falklands and the Gulf War. It is still in use with second-line units and the Territorial Army today. A service history of over 60 years!!

Manufacturer = Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield Lock

Calibre = .303 inch British

Length Overall = 1,150mm (42.5 inches)

Weight empty = 10.15kg (22.38lb)

Barrel = 635mm (25.0 inches), 6 groove Right Hand

Feed system = 30-round detachable box

Rate of fire = 500 rounds per minute

Muzzle velocity = 731 metres per second (2,400 ft/sec)

The personal weapon used by Regiment 2 i/c.

Finish = Black anodized receiver; black oxide barrel

Action = Safe/Semi/Auto, gas operated

Caliber = 5.56mm (.223 Rem)

Capacity = 30 rounds

Barrel Length = 14.5" with Step Cut*

Overall Length = 29.8"" to 33"

Rifling Twist = RH; 1 turn in 7"

Rifling Grooves = 6

Trigger = Smooth

Front Sight = Adjustable

Rear Sight = Detachable carry handle with integrated M16A2 target style sight adjustable for windage/elevation to 600 meters.

Sight Radius = 14.5"

Weight = 5.65 lbs.(empty)

Cycle Rate = 700-950 rpm