Bren Mk II .303” light machine gun
| 01. Original name | Bren Light Machine gun Mk2 | |
| 02. Other official names | ||
| 03. Popular names | Bren | |
| 04. Chamberings | .303″ British, 8x56mm (Bulgaria), 8.57mm (China) and 7.62x51mm Nato (post WW2) | |
| 05. Designed by | Vaclev Holek, Brno Factory, Czechoslovakia | |
| 06. Design date | 1935 | |
| 07. In service date(s) | 1935 to 1971 | |
| 08. Adopted by | UK , Canada, 72 countries world wide | |
| 09. Production quantities | No reliable total figure found but Royal Smallarms Factory, Enfield were producing 1000 per week in 1943 | |
| 10. Mechanism | Gas operated, tilting bolt | |
| 11. Weight | 22.83lb unloaded | |
| 12. Mountings | Standard fitted with built in bi-pod. Tri-pod mount available for indirect fire mode. Various mounts were devised for anti aircraft use. Pintle mount used for some vehicle use. | |
| 13. Practicality in action | Generally considered a reliable and effective Light Machine Gun. Could be prone to jams if not kept clean, but well liked and easy to maintain. | |
| 14. Comments / Other information | Introduced 1941 – production simplification of 1937 Mk I, chambered for .303” Service round: uses a 28 round box magazine (and 100-round drum magazine for AA fire); cyclic rate about 550rpm; weight without magazine 23.25lb; quick change barrel. Manufactured in UK, Canada and India (Canadian example filmed). |