MODIFIED TANKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1939, Page 7

MODIFIED TANKS

BREN GUN CARRIERS DEMONSTRATION ON SATURDAY. ON RIFLE RANGE AT TE ORE ORE. Something of the development to • wards mechanisation of the New Zealand Defence Forces will be seen on the Te Orc Ove rifle range on Saturday afternoon, when a demonstration will be given by two Bren armoured gun carriers. These army vehicles are new to New Zealand and will arrive in Masterton from demonstrations in Napier, Hastings and Dannevirke. They are due here at 12 (noon) on Saturday at the Drill Hall.

The Bren gun carrier is, in effect, a light Mark V. tank, minus the turret, said Staff Sergeant-Major C. E. Rogers (W.0.1) to a “Times-Age” represent ative yesterday.' It is manned by a crew of three, a driver and two gunners. One gun is mounted in the front for forward firing from the carrier while the second gun is carried in the rear compartment, but is not mounted, being for ground use when required.

The two carriers due in Masterton on Saturday have been in use at the Waverley camp of the Wellington -East Coast and Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifle Regiments. That camp was attended by about 40 members of the local squadron of the Wellington-East Coast Regiment, under Captain B. Pringle. The party returned to Masierton at 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday, when they were received by Mrs. Falconer, of the State Milk Bar, who unselfishly supplied hot coffee and sandwiches to the party. The Bren carriers gave wonderful demonstrations at the Waverley camp, according to the mon who wore pre•ent. Under an Australian sergeanlnajor who was brought to New Zea'and to give special training in handling this new mechanised unit, they ook part in various manoeuvres in conjunction with the mounted troops md the ease and- rapidity 'with which hey traversed the most difficult ground is, said to have been extraordinary. As the name implies, the Bren gun is the offensive armament used with these carriers. Although now made in Britain and Canada under licence, the Bren was originally designed in Czechoslovakia. It weighs but 221 b. complete with its tripod mounting and can be fired either from the shoulder or from the ground, mounted either on a bipod or a tripod. The tripod can be readily used as an anti-aircraft mounting.

According to Lance-Corporal S. Cardno, who recently attended a special Bren course at Trenthana, there is absolutely no shock to the fircr, and what few stoppages do occur can be quickly remedied. . The gun is easy to strip and impossible to assemble incorrectly. It is gasaperated and air-cooled and because of the particular tempering of the steel, the hottest barrel can be thrown into water without damage. In fact, when the gun is in action, it is usual to cool a hot barrel in this way. A trained gunner can maintain a rate of fire of 120 rounds a minute with accuracy. No flame can be seen from the front, as a flash eliminator is fixed to every barrel. When fired from a fixed position on the bipod, accurate shooting can be registered at a,range of 1000 yards and from the firmer' tripod mounting the weapon is effective up to a range of 2000 yards. Saturday’s demonstration will take place on the Te Ore Ore Rifle Range, which is on the property of Mr. Walter Cameron. About It miles past the school up thp Wangaehu Valley, red flags on the fence at the side of the road and on the hill will signify the actual location of the demonstration. The carriers will leave the Drill Hall at approximately 1.30 p.m. The demonstration will be in charge of Sergeant Seccombe. N.Z.P.S., of the Army School, Trentham, '