Australian War Memorial Logo
Search

Donate Today

  • Collection Open Information Close Information
    • Official Histories & Unit Diaries
    • Understanding the Collection
    • Research at the Memorial
    • Donating to the Collection
    • National Collection Loans
    • Projects
  • People
  • Visit
  • Commemorate Open Information Close Information
    • Last Post Ceremony
    • Honour Rolls
    • Anzac Day
    • Remembrance Day
    • Customs & Ceremony
    • Speeches
  • Learn Open Information Close Information
    • Schools & Teachers
    • Memorial Articles
    • Encyclopedia
    • Understanding Military Structure
    • Podcasts
    • Glossary
    • Magazine
  • Get Involved Open Information Close Information
    • Donations & Bequests
    • Corporate Partnership
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Volunteer at the Memorial
    • Friends of the Memorial
    • eMemorial Newsletter
    • Grants, Scholarships & Residencies
    • Research Papers
  • Shop Open Information Close Information
    • Memorial Shop
    • Images, film and sound
    • Lone Pine Seedlings

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Visit
  3. Exhibitions
  4. Out in the Cold: Australia's involvement in t...
  5. Out in the Cold: Australia's involvement in t...
  6. Out in the Cold: Australia's involvement in t...

Main navigation

  • Other Exhibitions
  • Current Exhibitions
  • Past Exhibitions
  • Touring Exhibitions
  • Online Exhibitions

Out in the Cold: Australia's involvement in the Korean War - Bren light machine-gun

  • Home
  • Timeline
  • Origins
  • Australians in Korea
  • Australian Operations
  • Weapons of War
  • Faces of War
  • Armistice and Aftermath
  • Glossary
  • Weaponry and Communications
  • Mustangs, Meteors and MiGs
  • War of Words: Propaganda

 

Weaponry and Communications


Bren light machine-gun

The Bren light machine-gun was the main portable firepower of Australian infantry in Korea. Like many of the weapons used by Australians in Korea, the Bren had also been used during Second World War. The Bren was originally a Czech design and its name resulted from the combination of "Brno" and "Enfield", the location of the small-arms factories in Czechoslovakia and Great Britain respectively that contributed to its development.

A highly accurate and reliable weapon, the Bren could be fired by a single soldier but required a second man to carry its tools, spare parts and extra ammunition. The Bren fired the same .303-inch calibre ammunition as the soldiers' Lee Enfields; this was loaded in 30-round magazines. The magazines, however, were usually only filled with 28 rounds to prevent the weapon jamming.

The Bren's practical rate of fire was 120 rounds per minute, fired in bursts of three-five rounds. It was mostly fired from the ground, mounted on the bipod that formed part of the weapon, but it could also be fired from the hip. On the bipod, the Bren had an effective range of just under 550 metres, but mounted on a tripod it could deliver fire out to almost one and a half kilometres.

Collection Item C195656

Accession Number: P01479.013

A Bren gunner and his "Number Two".

Collection Item C372813

Accession Number: HOBJ3327

A Bren gunner of 1 RAR scans the enemy hills during the daily stand-to at last light, 1952.HOBJ3327

Weaponry & Communications

United Nations Forces

UN Flag

  • Short Magazine Lee Enfield MkIII*
  • Owen Machine Carbine
  • Bren Light Machine Gun
  • Vickers Medium Machine Gun
  • 3-Inch Mortar
  • 3.5 Inch M20 Rocket Launcher (Bazooka)
  • 17-Pounder Anti-Tank Gun
  • M-1951 Armoured Vest
  • Bofors Gun
  • M4A3E8 Sherman Tank
  • Helicopters: The Bell 47 (H-13)
  • Communications

Chinese/North Korean

Chinese FlagNorth Korean Flag

  • Mosin-Nagant M1891/1930
  • Shpagin Sub Machine-Gun - The "Burp" Gun
  • T34/85 Tank
  • Communications

Last updated: 21 July 2022

1 The Donations and bequests

Donations & Bequests

Your generous donation will be used to ensure the memory of our Defence Forces and what they have done for us, and what they continue to do for our freedom remains – today and into the future.

Find out more
2 Visit Transcribe.awm.gov.au

Transcribe

Help preserve Australia's history by transcribing records from the National Collection. Enhance accessibility and discoverability for all Australians.

Find out more
The placesofpride

Places of Pride

Places of Pride, the National Register of War Memorials, is a new initiative designed to record the locations and photographs of every publicly accessible memorial across Australia.

Find out more
Visit the Australian War Memorial

Visit the Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial is open for visitors as we work to expand our galleries. Entry is free and tickets are not required.

Find out more
Canberra Highlands in Grayscale

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS

The Australian War Memorial acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and waters. We pay our respects to elders past and present.
Location map of The Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial building

The Australian War Memorial

Fairbairn Avenue
Campbell ACT 2612
Australia
View on Google Maps (opens in new window)
Google Map data ©2025 Google
Australian War Memorial Logo
  • Go to AWM Facebook
  • Go to AWM Trip Advisor
  • Go to AWM Instagram
  • Go to AWM Youtube

Footer

  • About
  • Contact
  • Venue Hire
  • Media
  • WM Magazine
  • Donate Today

The Australian War Memorial

Fairbairn Avenue

Campbell ACT 2612

Australia

 

Opening Hours

10 am to 4 pm daily (except Christmas Day)

 

In preparation for the daily Last Post Ceremony,

galleries are progressively closed from 3:40 pm.

 

Public entrance via Fairbairn Avenue, Campbell ACT 2612

Sign up to our newsletter

Subscribe

Legal

  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Freedom of information

Copyright 2025 Australian War Memorial, Canberra. All rights reserved