MODERN MACHINE-GUNS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20013, 11 August 1939, Page 14

MODERN MACHINE-GUNS

BRENS FOR TERRITORIALS FIRST SHIPMENT ARRIVES GOOD LIST OF VIRTUES Isy Major G. 11. Clifton, N.Z.S.C. New Zealand's first 'consignment of the Bren machine-gun for issue to the territorial force has arrived! and, according to a press statement by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, wilt be demonstrated and used for training at annual, camps this year. Nothing could be more heartening to our volunteers. Modern equipment is half the battle to maintain interest and increase fighting efficiency.

Tiie chief qualifies of the Bren are its light weight—2olb as against 301 b tor the Lewis. It has great steadiness when firing and almost complete immunity to stoppages due to broken pants, dirt, mud or fouling. It can also fire at high speed for a long time. Truly a formidable list of virtues, yet the Bren is air-cooled and gas operated on the same principle as the Lewis. How are the improvements made? Lightness is due to the more efficient steel -added- to simplicity Of design. The latter, is also mainly responsible for the lack of stoppages. In this respect, the fact that all the moving parts are enclosed helps a great deal. Mud, dust and other foreign bodies simply cannot get in. Again, the “body” which contains on the bits and pieces engaged in loading and firing the Bren, is cushioned against a long spring in the butt, reducing the shock of discharge to a minimum. This is good for both gun and gunner. The chief qualities of the Bren are its light weight—2olb. as against 301 b. for the Lewis. It has great steadiness when firing and almost complete immunity to stoppages due to broken parts, dirt, mud or fouling. It can also fire at high speed for a long time. Truly a formidable list of virtues, yet the Bren is air-cooled and gas-oper-ated on the same principle as the Lewis.

How are the improvements made? Lightness is due to the more efficient steel added to simplicity of design. The latter is also mainly responsible for the lack of stoppages. In this respect, the fact that all the moving parts are enclosed helps a great deal. Mud, dust and other foreign bodies simply cannot get in. Again, the “body” which contains all tile bits and pieces engaged in loading and firing the Bren is cushioned against a long spring in the butt, reducing the shock of discharge to a minimum. This, is good for both gun and gunner. Distinctive Feature “The overhead magazine, holding 30 rounds, is a distinctive feature shared by the Madsen gun. Viewed from the side, it gives the impression of being somewhat cumbersome, but when looked at from the business end we find that the head, of the firer forms a background to the magazine. The* 5 ’ ammunition feeds straight down and the empty cartridges are knocked clear through the bottom of the body —an excellent system making the Bren very steady when firing. But the most outstanding feature on first acquaintance is the quickness and ease with which the barrel can be changed. Turn a catch, lift the wooden handle, and off comes the barrel, without actually touching the red'-hot metal. “Red-hot” is no exaggeration. With two barrels changed- frequently, +he Bren can go on firing almost indefinitely in spite of the heat. What is equally important, the accuracy dobs not suffer. Moreover, the steel used is so good that the barrel can be ’thrown into water or otherwise suddenly cooled without destroying its efficiency in any way. Fired off the small bipod stand and held in the shoulder, the Bren is the ideal light machine-gun. Actually, a trained gunner of average build can fire from the. shoulder, standing without any other support—very useful for taking on sudden aircraft attack. That, however, does not limit its possibilities.

Prolonged Fire

As part of the equipment a tubular steel tripod mounting is supplied for each gun. Fixed to the stand, it is capable of prolonged fire as long as the magazines and barrels are changed and ammunition is available. Here the Bren really takes over the job of the Vickers, in addition to the Lewis and Hotchkiss. As a third string, if the triipod is upended and one leg is extended, the Bren becomes an excellent anti-aircraft weapon. That, briefly, is tire latest British light machine, now being manufactured in thousands at Enfield. The .earlier Continental model covers a wide field. British troops at Shanghai saw the Bren in action for the first time with the Chinese defenders of Chapei, and were more impressed by the gun than the gunners. Not that the Lewis or the Vickers should he discarded. The latter remains the weapon of the British machine-gun battalions, while the former is still on issue to 90 per cent of the Empire’s infantry. Be'th ore first-rate guns for defence and, after all, that is what our territorials are training for. Home defence is a vital duty in these troublesome days. The arrival of modern equipment is welcome at any time, but doubly so jus now.