M53 / 59 Praga

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M53 / 59 Praga
M53 / 59 Praga from stocks of the Serbian Army (2007)

M53 / 59 Praga from stocks of the Serbian Army (2007)
General properties
crew 5 men
length 6.92 m
width 2.35 m
height 2.59 m
Dimensions 10,300 kg
Armor and armament
Armor about 10 mm
Main armament 2 × 30 mm automatic cannon
Secondary armament no
agility
drive 6-cylinder Tatra T912-2
110 HP (82 kW)
suspension Torsion bar
Top speed 60 km / h (road)
Power / weight 10.7 hp / t
Range 500 km

The M53 / 59 Praga is a Czech mobile anti-aircraft weapon system with two anti-aircraft guns , known in Czechoslovakia as Praga PLDvK vz. 53/59 (abbreviated from " p roti l etadlový dv oj k anón" for anti-aircraft gun) or the nickname "Ještěrka" (lizard).

history

In the 1950s, Czech designers developed the M53 / 59 anti-aircraft weapon system. The Praga V3S truck served as the basis . The Czech designers basically pursued the goal of escaping dependence on Soviet arms supplies. The vehicle was supposed to replace the Soviet ZSU-57-2 . In addition to a variant as a six-wheel vehicle, a full-track vehicle was also developed. The main task of the weapon system was property protection, that is, the defense of airfields, factories and other important infrastructure.

The system was developed from the anti-aircraft gun Br 303 produced in the Zbrojovka Brno works for the Wehrmacht during the war . After the war it served as the basis for the prototype ZK 454 , from which the system PLDvK vz. 53/59 ( NATO code name : M53 / 59 ) was created. Due to shifts in the armaments industry, the manufacture of the cannon was transferred to the Zbrojovka Vsetín works , and it began in series production in June 1956.

In the wars of the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia, the M53 / 59 was used frequently from all sides.

technology

The M53 / 59 is based on the Praga V3S truck . The cab and chassis were armored (10 mm). Two 30 mm machine guns serve as armament . The two firearms were mounted on the stern in an open gun stand. The resulting gun has a lateral directional range of 360 °.

The M53 / 59 is a fair weather system without IR equipment and radar . The gun has an effective range of 3500 m as an anti-aircraft gun (maximum 6300 m) and 2000 m in ground combat (maximum 9700 m). The theoretical rate of fire is 450 rounds per minute, effectively 120 rounds / min.

disadvantage

The main disadvantage of this weapon system is the limited cross-country mobility. Cross-country operations armored forces ( tank or armored personnel carrier ) can be greatly inhibited. In addition, the M53 / 59 is an absolutely fair weather system. The system is only able to effectively fight objects that have been sighted. Radar must be carried separately. But even then, M53 / 59 is only warned. The attacker must be located by the crew with visual means in order to be able to fight.

Despite these drawbacks, M53 / 59 turned out to be quite a popular weapon system.

User countries

M53-59 of the VRS

literature

swell

  • 30mm canon device 303 Br , description of the Historical Military Institute VHÚ Prague, online at: vhu.cz / ...
  • 30 mm protilietadlový dvojkanón vz. 53 , detailed description of the Historical Military Institute VHÚ in Bratislava, online at: vhu.sk / ... (Slovak)
  • 30 mm PLDVK vz.53 , description in German including technical data, online at: jesterka.wz.cz/

Web links

Commons : M53 / 59 Praga  - collection of images, videos and audio files