The Elusive Mk IV or 4

[Peter Laidler]

The Mk4........., yes....... They were all(?) converted from the T and U series Monotype Mk2's and some went to Australia with a view to converting some of the Canadian Mk2's that were there or possibly, as ideas for a lightened Mk1 because Australia was well involved in the order of battle to fight to re-take Malaya, the major part in re-taking Hong Kong etc. Some also went to India where the Mk2's were (?) converted because the term 'GUNS, M/c Bren .303" Mk4' features in their VAOS lists. But after they started production of the Mk3, it was pointless in converting Mk2's. After all, in the world of production engineering, conversion work is another way of doing something twice! However, I have seen two Mk2 butt/butt slide assemblies in Indian Import Mk1/3 Brens (Mk1's lightened almost to Mk3 spec don't forget.....) lightened right down to Mk3 Bren spec.

The PR does have a 'part' Mk4 I seem to recall. We have some pictures of the prototype Mk4's and the Mk4's used on the trials at Pendine and you can still see traces of the old Mk2 engraving. We do have some 'Mk4 gun' parts that have been converted from Mk2 bits such as lightened butts and barrels

Whether some were used as prototypes or as trials for the L4A3 guns is open to some debate. This might have arisen because some of the early pictures of the L4A3 (a converted Mk2) shows a much lightened body. Could this be a Mk4 (a lightened Mk2) body? Or was it the initial intention to lighten the Mk2 bodies right down to Mk3 spec (in effect a Mk4 body.......... I know it's complicated, but stick with me.....) while converting them to 7.62mm L4 spec.

Over the last 15 years I looked hard at those remaining L4 guns in service and at a thousand or so prior to destruction to see whether there were any odds and sods that might sway me one way or the other but all I saw were L4A4's and 5's with the odd A1 thrown in for good measure

Hope that's answered the question Phoenix in a roundabout sort of way............