Weight of spare BREN barrel ?

[Nik_SpeakerToCats]

For 'reasons', I've been ytrying to find the weight oif a typical 1940s spare BREN barrel.

Yes, the different marks varied in length and weight.

As I understand it, the spare 'quick change' barrel was about 6½ pounds, could be replaced in about eight (8) seconds.

Can any-one confirm ?

No tools required, the integral handle avoiding burns etc. Which put it two-up on the German's sorta-equivalent, the other-wise terrifying belt-fed '42' which took rather longer and needed a thick felt pad as an 'oven glove'...

Yes, there's a couple of as-yet half-baked 'Miss Smith' tales, for which I'm currently assembling essential detail. Unless they reach 'critical mass', won't be seen...

[Craiglxviii]

For 'reasons', I've been ytrying to find the weight oif a typical 1940s spare BREN barrel.

Yes, the different marks varied in length and weight.

As I understand it, the spare 'quick change' barrel was about 6½ pounds, could be replaced in about eight (8) seconds.

Can any-one confirm ?

No tools required, the integral handle avoiding burns etc. Which put it two-up on the German's sorta-equivalent, the other-wise terrifying belt-fed '42' which took rather longer and needed a thick felt pad as an 'oven glove'...

Yes, there's a couple of as-yet half-baked 'Miss Smith' tales, for which I'm currently assembling essential detail. Unless they reach 'critical mass', won't be seen...

The QC barrel for the Bren Mk.II weighed 6lb 5oz.

There were a number of advantages the Bren team had over the MG.42 team, not least of which was the amount of ammunition they had available and how it was distributed.

The MG.42 standard ammunition loadout was 1,800 rounds (weighing 70kg!) split between the gun team’s no.2, and two other soldiers in the squad who also carried their rifle etc. That allowed for 1 minute and 12 seconds of total fire for the squad.

The Bren loadout was 1 on the weapon, 4 magazines each for the gunner and loader, and 2 magazines for every other soldier in the squad. Dependent on squad size (nominally 10 including the corporal) that allowed for 21 magazines x 30 rounds each for 630 rounds, which curiously would also allow for 1 minute and 21 seconds of total fire, but also weighed in at 25.2kg in total.

However, there was a hidden advantage here… Bren magazines could be reloaded easily in the field from the standard .303” stripper clips, 6 per magazine. A standard .303” cotton bandolier carried 10 stripper clips and weighed 9lb 6oz for 50 rounds. So dependent on the mission, every other man in the squad could be (and was) issued with a 50-round bandoleer for another 250 rounds in total (40% ammunition increase) and 45lb of added weight (20kg) for an added 35 seconds of fire.

Long and short of it, the ammunition system for the MG42 was really heavy!!

[Nik_SpeakerToCats]

Thank you !!