When the Bren was converted from .303 to 7.62mm did the tools issued with the gun change? Specifically I mean things like the gas cylinder keys, defouling tool, etc.
Thanks in advance!
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When the Bren was converted from .303 to 7.62mm did the tools issued with the gun change? Specifically I mean things like the gas cylinder keys, defouling tool, etc.
Thanks in advance!
Great question......... So far as the UK Military were concerned, nothing changed tool wise. The gauges did of course as did a few of the repair techniques but only those that affected the conversion.
What DID change was the fact that the wallet was modified to hold the 4 piece take-down cleaning rod and the spare parts tin now contained a few bits and bobs for the L1A1 rifle. This was to allow the section to integrate the spare parts and cleaning kit regime.
Pretty well everything else remained the same. I know that Australia did the same but didn't modify the wallet but we certainly had a better tool roll/cleaning kit than the poms
Peter, I thought we were poms? Although I suppose it should be a Aussie who should be called Pohme, (Well as far as I'm aware) because it stands for Prisoner of HM Empire.
p.s. I missed a HAC Enfield revolver the other day, I was a little miffed, it was only £300
Jeeeeees, an HAC Enfield for £300! We (the Army) would have paid hundreds more for that!
I use the term poms loosely! While I was in their Army, I was known as Pete the Pom but out of habit just referred to UK kit as 'pom' kit. Another phrase was 'mooka' kit as in 'mooka' Land Rovers indicating sheer crap - as opposed to the Australian Land Rovers that were certainly more rugged.
Re the other question about Indian brazed-together Mk1 bipods - , I'd never given it a thought. We certainly bolted the inner and outer legs together to save waste on DP guns but the Mk type stayed the same. I only have an Indian Mk1 Bren Parts list, dated 1976, but the illustrations are a straight lift from the Mk1 and 2 UK parts list. Even that part numbers are generally the same.
Are you using any 7.62 blank at the moment? We used a few 000 last week in a BrenL4 and L1A1 (for Nigerian observers) and it was the blackest dirtiest foul smelling carbon fouling xxite that I've ever come across
Any other Obs on the changes in CES from Bren to L4 B-P?
HAC Revolver for £300! oh dear me.Rare beast indeed.
Tell me about it, £300 and I was so p**sed off that I missed it. What a bargain!
The Ruptured cartridge removing tool changed because of the type of Cart Change from Rimmed, to rimless. 7.62mm LMG's never had the 'Gas Keys' (Carbon removing reamers on a ring) The Fouling removing tool (Called Gas Pliers) remained the same. A steel 'Rod, Section' was introduced in the SPW (Spare Parts Wallet) as well as utilising the Double pullthrough. Spare Barrel Bag went from Tan coloured webbing to dark green. Some of the green series of Brl Bags were shorter for the MK3 & 4 Barrel.Quote:
Originally Posted by Longshaor
Mike.
Thanks for the information everyone! I was interested after seeing an add for a "rare" complete L4 cleaning kit. Having seen most of the Bren bits (I admit I've never seen the steel cleaning rod) for sale for years I was starting to wonder if indeed there was a raft of L4-specific tools.
Cheers!
Has anyone got a picture of the L4 converted spare parts wallet? or the steel take down cleaning rod? We've got them but not the necessary skills with the camera!
On the subject of L4A4's, I had my first 'negliegent discharge' with an L4 on the ranges at Bulford. I'll repeat the sad tale one day but suffice it to say, 'all's well that ends well' as the saying goes
Here's the one picture I've got (from the ad I mentioned above).
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...05/A4790-1.jpg
Cheers!
Yep, that's it plus the post 1970ish holdall in dark green webbing material, a bit shorter (for the Mk3 .303" gun or L4 barrels) and squared off at the bottom) and the additional slots for the 5 piece cleaning rod - but I think 3 pieces are long enough for the L4 barrel.....
The little tin (spare parts wallet, bottom) holds the spare parts PLUS a few L1A1 rifle bits for the riflemen in the section. We've established that the gas plug/vent/hole reamers were still issued BUT....., only to Armourers who could use them sensibly. As opposed to the gunners, who tend to be a bit ....., er, how do we say it..........? Ah, yes! Ham fisted with them.
Great question
Peter,
Just to make sure I'm understanding you correctly, prior to the 1970s a Bren gunner would have been issued a hold all that looked identical to the WWII ones? And, if so, were these older types still in use in the 1980s?
Cheers!
The old wartime spare parts wallets were still in use right up until the very last L4's were withdrawn in Feb 2002. But they had the additional whatsit for the cleaning rod sewn in place. This was a modification that was carried out by the unit Equipment repairers (if you had them) or Field Workshops. So the answer is yes, modified wartime versions were still in service up to 2002