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Bren light machine gun facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Bren1
Early Mark I Bren LMG, photo from a Canadian factory

The Bren is a light machine gun (LMG) that was used by the British military during World War II. The gun was based on a Czechoslovak gun, the ZB z/26. The name is a shortening of "Brno-Enfield". Brno was the city where the earlier z/26 was made, and Enfield was the company that made the Bren.

It was a simple but well-made LMG. It was well-known for using a curved, top-loading magazine, a carrying handle, and being light enough for one man to carry and use. It was so popular that even the Japanese made their own LMG based on the Bren, the Type-99 light machine gun.

It was so popular among British soldiers that it was used by the British Armed Forces from 1938 to the 1990s.

Images for kids

  • Australian assault on pillbox, January 1943, Papua, Giropa Point

    Australian assault on a pillbox at Giropa Point, January 1943

  • A member of No. 9 Commando at Anzio, equipped for a patrol with his Bren gun, 5 March 1944. NA12469

    A member of No. 9 Commando at Anzio, equipped for a patrol with his Bren gun, 5 March 1944

  • Allied Forces in the United Kingdom 1939-45 H11120

    A Bren gunner of the Norwegian Brigade takes aim during training at Dumfries, Scotland, 27 June 1941.

  • Tysklandsbrigaden, øvelse Skandia III - Fo30141603020010

    Bren with 100 round detachable pan magazine. With the magazine fitted, the original sights cannot be used.

  • 1944 Bren light machine gun

    Bren gun mounted on a tripod, 2010

  • Armamento - Museo de Armas de la Nación 09

    Bren gun in an Argentine museum

  • Machine Gun (8037159644)

    L4-series Bren with distinctive flash hider and magazine

  • VeronicaFoster-RonnieBrenGunGirl-smoke

    Veronica Foster as "Ronnie, the Bren Gun Girl", was a Canadian icon for women working in war production

  • Keeping Watch

    Indian army soldier armed with Indian version of Bren LMG rechambered to fire 7.62 mm

  • Member of the FFI

    Watched by two small boys, a member of the FFI (French Forces of the Interior), poses with his Bren at Châteaudun, 1944.

  • Monument of the Martyrs 05 Algiers

    One of the soldier statues of the Algerian Martyrs' Memorial carries a Bren machine gun

  • Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-720-0318-04, Frankreich, Parade der Milice Francaise

    Members of the Milice with captured Bren guns.

  • 8th Royal Scots halted 27-10-1944

    Bren near Tilburg, October 1944

  • Twin Bren gun anti-aircraft mounting at RAF Duxford

    Twin Bren anti-aircraft mounting

  • The British Army in the United Kingdom 1939-45 H37157

    Universal Carrier with Vickers machine gun and two Brens

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ametralladora ligera Bren para niños

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