Stoner 63A Bren: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Weapons of Vietnam]]
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! rowspan=2 | [[Ammo]]  
! rowspan=2 | [[Ammo]]  
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|[[File:Flag_us_new.png|50px]]<br><strong>[[US]]</strong>|| [[File:Stoner63 bren.png|512px]]<br><b>[[Stoner 63A Bren]]</b> || [[File:Weapon stoner63_b.svg|512px]] || [[File:Class_Gunner.png|50px]] <b>[[Gunner]]</b><br> ||30 / 90
|[[File:Flag_us_new.png|50px]]<br><strong>[[US]]</strong>|| [[File:Stoner63 bren.png|512px]]<br><b>[[Stoner 63A Bren]]</b> || [[File:Weapon stoner63_b.svg|512px]] || [[File:Class_Gunner.png|50px]] <b>[[Gunner]]</b><br> ||30 / 120
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! rowspan=2 | [[Bayonet]]   
! rowspan=2 | [[Bayonet]]   
! rowspan=2 | [[Rifle Grenades]]   
! rowspan=2 | [[Rifle Grenades]]   
! colspan=2 | Reload Speed
|-
|-
| ||× = ||× = ||× = ||× = ||× = ||YES NO||YES NO  
! Partial!! Empty
|-
|33||×2.5 = 82.5||×1.2 = 39.6||×1.15 = 37.95||×0.8 = 26.4||×0.75 = 19.8||NO||NO||3.5 Seconds||4.166 Seconds
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! rolspan=2 | [[Weight]]
! rolspan=2 | [[Weight]]
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|[[]]||[[]]||Auto+Semi||RPM||° & ° [[ADS]]||° & ° [[ADS]]|| ||m/s||g (gr)||kg (lbs)   
|[[?]]||[[LMGs]]||Auto||825 RPM||9.43° & 2.62° [[ADS]]||2.21° & 0.71° [[ADS]]||0.935||991 m/s||12.3 g (189.8 gr)||8.62 kg (19 lbs)   
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! rowspan=2 | Full name  
! rowspan=2 | Full name  
! rowspan=2 | [[Ammo Type]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Caliber]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Place of Origin]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Place of Origin]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Date]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Date]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Armory]]   
! rowspan=2 | [[Manufacturer]]   
! rowspan=2 | Barrel Length
! rowspan=2 | Barrel Length
! rowspan=2 | Total Length
! rowspan=2 | Total Length
! rowspan=2 | [[Weapon Script Name]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Weapon Script Name]]
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|-
|FN||AT||PoO||D8||Arm||in (mm)||in (mm)||weapon_
|Stoner 63A Bren||[[5.56mm]]||[[USA]]||1966|| Cadillac Gage <br>Knight's Armament Company ||20 in (508 mm)||40.25 in (1,022 mm)||weapon_stoner63_b
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<hr>
<hr>
The Stoner 63, designed by Eugene Stoner, is an innovative modular weapon system developed during the Vietnam War era. Its versatility allowed it to be configured as a rifle, carbine, light machine gun, or even a vehicle-mounted weapon. Its lightweight design and ability to quickly change configurations made it ideal for jungle warfare conditions in Vietnam, where mobility and adaptability were crucial. Despite its promising features, production and deployment were limited, and it didn't see widespread use due to various factors including cost and reliability issues. However, its legacy as a forward-thinking firearm design continues to influence modern small arms development.


=HISTORY=
'''The Stoner 63A Bren''' is a “Bren-style” light machine gun configuration of the U.S. 5.56×45mm [[Stoner 63]] modular weapon system designed by Eugene Stoner. It is best known for its top-mounted magazine layout (evoking the classic Bren gun handling profile) combined with the Stoner 63A’s modular receiver and quick-change configuration concept.
After leaving ArmaLite, Eugene Stoner, renowned for his military small arms designs, conceived a modular weapon system adaptable to multiple configurations. Collaborating with Cadillac Gage's Howard Carson in Costa Mesa, California, Stoner developed the system, which was built around a common receiver with interchangeable parts. The first prototype, the Stoner M69W, was completed in 1962, followed by the Stoner 62. The focus later shifted to the smaller 5.56×45mm cartridge, leading to the production of the Stoner 63 in 1963.


Despite initial interest and adoption by the U.S. Marines for trials, the Stoner 63 faced reliability issues in Army tests, leading to the improved Stoner 63A in 1966. Further enhancements were attempted in the XM207 variant from 1969 to 1971, including modifications to improve firing rates and structural integrity. However, the project was ultimately discontinued in 1971 after U.S. military priorities shifted following the Vietnam War withdrawal announcement.
==HISTORY==


A small number of Stoner 63 and 63A units were used by U.S. Navy SEALs in Vietnam, but by the late 1980s, the system was phased out in favor of newer designs like the M249 SAW.
After leaving ArmaLite, Eugene Stoner developed a modular weapons system built around a common receiver with interchangeable components that could be reconfigured into multiple roles. Early prototypes were completed in 1962, and production Stoner 63 weapons in 5.56×45mm began in 1963, with Cadillac Gage as the manufacturer. U.S. testing identified reliability and durability issues, leading to an improved production standard—**Stoner 63A**—introduced in 1966.
<br>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoner_63 SOURCE]
<hr>


The “Bren” configuration refers to a Stoner 63A light machine gun setup that uses a **top-mounted magazine** and is optimized for sustained automatic fire in a support role. Like the rest of the Stoner system, it was never widely standardized across U.S. forces, but the Stoner 63/63A family saw limited Vietnam-era use, most notably with U.S. Navy SEALs and in Marine evaluations. In field use, different Stoner 63A configurations could appear within small units depending on mission needs, though overall complexity, cost, and maintenance demands limited broader adoption.


<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
===Sources===
File:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoner_63 Stoner 63 | Wikipedia
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* https://smallarmsreview.com/the-stoner-63as-earliest-days-in-combat/ “The Stoner 63A’s Earliest Days in Combat” | Small Arms Review
 
* https://www.forgottenweapons.com/stoner-63a-automatic-rifle-the-original-modular-weapon/ Stoner 63A (background and context) | Forgotten Weapons


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File:Stoner-AR-left-side-small.jpg
File:Stoner64BREN.jpg
File:5o4endc38l0a1.jpg|Navy SEALS X-Ray Platoon. Taken on a dock near Ben Tre in Southeast Vietnam. The SEAL in the center of the group, Lt. Michael Collins, is carrying a Stoner 63A1 Mk 23 Mod 0 Commando with a short 15.7 in (398.8 mm) barrel. Lt. Michael Collins, KIA March 4th, 1971. Photo credit: US Navy.
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Latest revision as of 08:09, 24 February 2026

Factions Weapon Icon Classes Ammo

US
Stoner 63A Bren		 Gunner
 30 / 120
Damage Base Headshot × Chest × Stomach × Leg × Arm × Bayonet Rifle Grenades Reload Speed
Partial Empty
33 ×2.5 = 82.5 ×1.2 = 39.6 ×1.15 = 37.95 ×0.8 = 26.4 ×0.75 = 19.8 NO NO 3.5 Seconds 4.166 Seconds
Designation Weapon Type Fire Modes Fire Rate Bullet Spread ° Bipod Bullet Spread ° Range Modifier Muzzle Velocity Projectile weight Weight
? LMGs Auto 825 RPM 9.43° & 2.62° ADS 2.21° & 0.71° ADS 0.935 991 m/s 12.3 g (189.8 gr) 8.62 kg (19 lbs)
Full name Caliber Place of Origin Date Manufacturer Barrel Length Total Length Weapon Script Name
Stoner 63A Bren 5.56mm USA 1966 Cadillac Gage
Knight's Armament Company		 20 in (508 mm) 40.25 in (1,022 mm) weapon_stoner63_b


The Stoner 63A Bren is a “Bren-style” light machine gun configuration of the U.S. 5.56×45mm Stoner 63 modular weapon system designed by Eugene Stoner. It is best known for its top-mounted magazine layout (evoking the classic Bren gun handling profile) combined with the Stoner 63A’s modular receiver and quick-change configuration concept.

HISTORY

After leaving ArmaLite, Eugene Stoner developed a modular weapons system built around a common receiver with interchangeable components that could be reconfigured into multiple roles. Early prototypes were completed in 1962, and production Stoner 63 weapons in 5.56×45mm began in 1963, with Cadillac Gage as the manufacturer. U.S. testing identified reliability and durability issues, leading to an improved production standard—**Stoner 63A**—introduced in 1966.

The “Bren” configuration refers to a Stoner 63A light machine gun setup that uses a **top-mounted magazine** and is optimized for sustained automatic fire in a support role. Like the rest of the Stoner system, it was never widely standardized across U.S. forces, but the Stoner 63/63A family saw limited Vietnam-era use, most notably with U.S. Navy SEALs and in Marine evaluations. In field use, different Stoner 63A configurations could appear within small units depending on mission needs, though overall complexity, cost, and maintenance demands limited broader adoption.

Sources

Real-Life Photos
  • Navy SEALS X-Ray Platoon. Taken on a dock near Ben Tre in Southeast Vietnam. The SEAL in the center of the group, Lt. Michael Collins, is carrying a Stoner 63A1 Mk 23 Mod 0 Commando with a short 15.7 in (398.8 mm) barrel. Lt. Michael Collins, KIA March 4th, 1971. Photo credit: US Navy.
    Navy SEALS X-Ray Platoon. Taken on a dock near Ben Tre in Southeast Vietnam. The SEAL in the center of the group, Lt. Michael Collins, is carrying a Stoner 63A1 Mk 23 Mod 0 Commando with a short 15.7 in (398.8 mm) barrel. Lt. Michael Collins, KIA March 4th, 1971. Photo credit: US Navy.
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