How long is the combat history for the UC?

[Mike Cecil]

The images of the carriers in Rhodesia appear to be armed with Bren guns, but with straight magazines for rimless rounds, so either the L4 version in 7.62-mm NATO (which would be by far the most likely) or the much rarer 7.92-mm version. The magazines appear quite short, so possibly the L1A1 rifle 20 round magazine, rather than the 30 round L4 magazine, which would tend to confirm the calibre as 7.62-mm NATO.


Mike

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

The images of the carriers in Rhodesia appear to be armed with Bren guns, but with straight magazines for rimless rounds, so either the L4 version in 7.62-mm NATO (which would be by far the most likely) or the much rarer 7.92-mm version. The magazines appear quite short, so possibly the L1A1 rifle 20 round magazine, rather than the 30 round L4 magazine, which would tend to confirm the calibre as 7.62-mm NATO.


Mike

I don't remember noticing other Brens in RhSF images, so there may be a practical explanation. (Edited) The 7.62 conversion was well established in RSA at the time with over 8000 LMGs of all Marks modified.

http://nutria.co.za/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=326

You learn something new everyday.

[Mike Cecil]

Sure do ... an interesting article indeed, thanks for posting.


Mike

[Tony Smith]

Also, of note the Republic of South Africa (being a bit on the "Outer" in Commonwealth nations due to Apartheid) was not a party to the L1A1 SLR production, which is known in firearm collector circles as the "Inch FAL".

RSA rifles are the "Metric FAL" produced in Belgium, so the 20rd magazines for the R1 FAL, and by association, the 30 round RSA 7.62mm Brens, are not interchangeable with the L1A1 SLR (aka C1), L2A1 AR (aka C2), or L4A1 Bren. This probably makes the RSA Bren quite unique amongst all the family of Brno ZB/Bren weapons.

[Dan Martel]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

RSA rifles are the "Metric FAL" produced in Belgium, so the 20rd magazines for the R1 FAL, and by association, the 30 round RSA 7.62mm Brens, are not interchangeable with the L1A1 SLR (aka C1), L2A1 AR (aka C2), or L4A1 Bren. This probably makes the RSA Bren quite unique amongst all the family of Brno ZB/Bren weapons.

Tony,

I'm by no means an expert and have never heard the terms inch or metric FAL before, but I can assure you that the Canadian-made C1A1 was not a direct copy of the British L1A1. There were enough Canadian characteristics on the C1A1 to differentiate between the two.

I don't know if the British and Canadian magazines were interchangeable so I'll leave that to the more knowledgeable posters on here to comment.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Michael R.]

... the sounds of R. Blake Stevens turning over in his grave.

[B. Harris]

E gads man.