This is one of the most iconic WW2 weapons @chalkehistoryfestival

#AbsoluteHistory

[Czarro]

The attention to detail in not calling it a Molotov Cocktail (which was a term primarily used by late-war Finnish soldiers) is fantastic.
EDIT: Not late-war, I misremembered.

[toldyouso]

Warfare has evolved, Molotov cocktails are now drone dropped.

[coconutsmarties]

Love how this guy could so easily be a contemporary British Army soldier

[tables]

This guy nerding out over his gun/job while you’re trying to spot enemies:

[andrewcombe]

The magazine feed had three advantages over belt feed. 1. Didn’t get fouled. 2. Everyone else in the section became an ammo carrier by carrying magazines. 3. Reloading was faster than belts.

[hermit]

A guy I befriended while working at a carehome years ago would often tell me how beautiful to shoot the bren was. He loved it. Smooth, reliable, accurate.

[SCANproductions.official]

B.R.E.N - Acronym for Barely Rapid Empty Now

[BobAFett-cczr]

you can really hear where the Aussie accent has its roots with this guy

[reecedignan]

The start of quite the good number of WW2 Victoria cross situations “and he picked up the Bren gun”

[Zajuts]

One of my favourite what-ifs of WWII is: what if the US Army had used a ZB-26/30 LMG in .30-06, and used the 40-round BAR magazines. The British troops loved the Garand when they were issued it. They would have loved the Bren in .30-06 with 40-round mags.

[tommcclelland]

That awesome Bren gun saved my Uncle Johnny in WW2. It was deadly.

[efnissien]

Ah, yes... the old girl has legs... unceremoniously dumped at the altar in 1988, then brought back into service for a last hurrah during desert storm. Loved the Bren, was squaddie proof (and felt like it too!). Always remember my instructor was missing half of his left little finger (and I think part of his left ring finger) due to a cocked (but mercifully blank loaded) weapon firing off as he picked it up to advance -and his left hand was over the ejection port. Always remember the drills
"With a magazine of 30 rounds, rapid fire!"
"Gun fires, Gun stops"
Remove mag,
cock weapon to clear chamber of stoppage,
fire off,
load fresh mag,
cock
recommence firing.
"Gun fires one or two more rounds, gun stops again"
Remove mag,
cock weapon to clear chamber,
fire off
engage safety,
crawl forward.
unlock barrel with left hand, and with right hand on handle, ; slide barrel forward slightly.
use head of round to move gas regulator to next biggest aperture.
using carrying handle; return barrel to usual position,
lock barrel,
crawl back,
load mag,
cock,
disengage safety.
Fire.

[petrolom]

And the most best fact: Your Bren gun is actually a Czechoslovak weapon leased to UK and UK also buyed the production manuals

[ProfX]

I’m not sure a soldier of the day would have been quite so enthusiastic…

[scoutdogfsr]

I was lucky enough to attend a military academy from 4th to 12th grade. We had two BREN guns in the armory. They would come out to the classroom and range for our Vintage and Foreign Weapons class. The .303 caliber and weapon are exceptional in this role because you retain situational awareness compared to contemporaries like the B.A.R. Yes an American just chose a Brit arm over a U.S. model.

[matthewpetzold]

As a note for those who don't know, throw it at the air intake. Anywhere else is just decorative

[kylebieth]

I love when its referred to as "kit"

[memeone]

Story time. My grandad was a bren carrier driver in ww2. In Germany, fighting the wehrmacht, they didn't have much against tanks or any armour, so used to collect old pans from houses and leave them on the road as they looked like mines. When the tanks stopped to investigate and someone from the crew dismounted, they would either take them prisoner or engage them.

[raymondcroteau]

My great-uncle was in the Canadian Home Guard near the end of WWII. Not old enough to join the army, but they started his training that way.

Huge guy. They made him the Bren Gunner. 2004 rolls around, he's visiting us and sees one on the TV. Hands start moving and he laughs.

He still knew how to strip, vlean, and operate her.

[sebastianalvaradocolon]

Seems that Czech weapons were beloved and used by everyone, except for the Czechs themselves.

Bren gun was a copy of the Czech ZB-26 i think. Still a very iconic machine gun.