DB Draft | 15 Sep 2018 4:29 a.m. PST |
I am working on a 28mm Cold War era game system and would like some help in getting the correct weapons for typical infantry units. For the BAOR I have seen info on the Rifle Platoon having 3 Rifle Sections. Each Section having a Gun Group and Rifle Group. The Gun Group having the L7 GPMG. I have some models (Badger Games) that are armed with the L4 Bren. Unfortunately I do not see any mention of this weapon in a typical Rifle Platoon. Can anyone shed some light on the availability and use of the L4 Bren during the Cold War years. Did this replace the L7 GPMG (or was it replaced by it?) The L7 GPMG seems to also have been used in a sustained fire role when mounted on a tripod. The L4 Bren would seem to be more like a light support weapon. Any help would be appreciated. |
Ney Ney | 15 Sep 2018 4:39 a.m. PST |
Got pulled out of retirement for the falklands war I think? |
Vigilant | 15 Sep 2018 5:13 a.m. PST |
Don't know about the army, but the RAF were still using the Bren as the standard section's gun in the late 70s early 80s. GPMG would be in a support section. It had been rebarrelled for 7.62mm rounds, but otherwise was pretty much the same old Bren. |
Bob the Temple Builder | 15 Sep 2018 5:44 a.m. PST |
It remained a squad weapon until the lighter 5.56mm was introduced in the late 1990s. The Brens had been modified back to rimless rounds in standard 7.62mm calibre, and the SLR magazines were compatible with the modified Brens. The larger Bren mag was supposedly compatible with the SLR but often caused loading problems when used. It's worth noting that the switch to rimless rounds seemed to reduce the number of Bren Gun stoppages. |
Barakvarr | 15 Sep 2018 6:00 a.m. PST |
IIRC, LSW's replaced our LMG's in 1991. This was in 12 Armd Wksp REME, Osnabruck, Germany. Obviously teeth arms should have received theirs earlier, however the procurement and issuing has never that much of an exact science when it came to British kit, to state it mildly. I seem to remember it being a phased replacement for the Wksp as we certainly still had some SLR's and SMG's for a while after that. |
Martin Rapier | 15 Sep 2018 6:27 a.m. PST |
Prior to the introduction of the L85, LSW and Minimi, the standard small arms of British infantry from around 1958 to 1985ish were the SLR and GMPG (in either bipod form as a belt fed LMG or on a SFMG mount as an MMG). Plus some Sterlings in specific roles. So a platoon would have three GPMGs on bipods, one in each rifle section. SF mounts were issued at company level. There were some L4 Brens around, quite a few in fact, but in front line units they had GMPGs. The Paras got some extra Brens to supplement their GPMGs in the Falklands. Someone noticed in Afganistan that 5.56mm wasn't great at shooting up hills so GMPG reappeared in platoons as part of a seperate support section. |
nickinsomerset | 15 Sep 2018 6:27 a.m. PST |
A typical Rifle platoon in BAOR would not have the LMG. It would still be found in some of the support arms, Tally Ho! |
foxweasel | 15 Sep 2018 9:47 a.m. PST |
Vigilant, I assume you mean RAF tradesmen acting as guards, sentries and CIT etc would have the LMG in the 70s and 80s. The RAF Regiment only used the SLR and GPMG as standard section weapons, with the SMG used by CVRT crew after their introduction in 82. I remember seeing various Corps still using the LMG up to the very early 90s. |
Herkybird | 15 Sep 2018 2:48 p.m. PST |
In 1979, when I went to the army selection centre, at Harrogate, I got to field strip a Bren with my eyes closed, its a lovely weapon, though carrying it with the carrying handle tends to be a challenge to stop it swinging up and down! |
Greg G1 | 15 Sep 2018 5:59 p.m. PST |
IIRC the Bren was still issued to the Para's in the 60's and 70's as it was lighter than the GPMG for airdrops. When I was an Army Cadet in the early 70's we still had Brens (along with Lee Enfield .303's) with the curved magazine. Got to field strip it blindfolded several times, and got to fire it once at camp, as Herkybird said lovely weapon. |
Bellbottom | 16 Sep 2018 2:15 a.m. PST |
Greg G1, never saw or trained on a Bren at Depot Para in 1972. GPMG all the way, heavy but beautiful. |
DB Draft | 16 Sep 2018 3:00 a.m. PST |
Thanks everyone for the information. From a purely game based point of view it might be interesting to have the option to add some L4s to a platoon to beef up the firepower. |
Greg G1 | 16 Sep 2018 10:01 a.m. PST |
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