Machine gun vz. 52
| Machine gun vz. 52 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| general information | |
| Country of operation: | Czechoslovakia , Egypt , Cuba , Syria |
| Developer / Manufacturer: |
Václav Holek , Zbrojovka Brno |
| Manufacturer country: | Czechoslovakia |
| Production time: | 1952 to 1959 |
| Model variants: | vz. 52, vz. 52/57 |
| Weapon Category: | Machine gun |
| Furnishing | |
| Overall length: | 1041 mm |
| Weight: (unloaded) | 8.0 kg |
| Barrel length : | 581 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : | 7.62 × 45 mm (vz. 52), 7.62 × 39 mm M43 (vz. 52/57) |
| Possible magazine fillings : | Magazine: 25 cartridges. Belt: 50 or 100 cartridges |
| Ammunition supply : | Magazine or ammunition belt |
| Cadence : | with magazine: 1200 rounds / min with belt: 900 rounds / min |
| Number of trains : | 4th |
| Twist : | right |
| Charging principle: | Gas pressure charger |
| Lists on the subject | |
The vz. 52 (full name: lehký kulomet vzor 52 , in German: light machine gun model 52 ) was a Czechoslovak infantry weapon.
History and technology
With this machine gun, the Czech designers continued where they were forced to stop before the Second World War. Accordingly, the construction of the model 52 was very similar to the successful pre-war model ZB vz. 26 . The MG was very variable. It could be loaded with magazines as well as with cartridge belts without having to switch. As with the German MG 34 , the trigger was also a selector switch for the type of fire: operating the lower part of the trigger trigger triggered individual shots, the upper part caused continuous fire. The barrels were easily interchangeable, depending on the use, different massive exchangeable barrels were available. With a light barrel and inserted magazine, the weapon could be used as a light machine gun, with a heavy barrel and belt case, however, it could be used as a medium-weight support weapon.
Initially the vz. 52 loaded with the 7.62 × 45 mm medium cartridge developed in Czechoslovakia . In 1957 the conversion to the standard M 43 cartridge of the Warsaw Pact took place , the modified specimens were sold as vz. 52/57 . The many options made the construction of the machine gun quite complex. With the ammunition changeover, the ballistic performance also suffered as the Soviet cartridge was somewhat weaker. A truly universal machine gun required more powerful ammunition, whereupon the weapon was replaced in 1960 by the more powerful universal machine gun vz. 59 was replaced.
literature
- Günter Wollert, Reiner Lidschun, Wilfried Copenhagen : small arms . (1945-1985). In: Illustrated encyclopedia of rifles from around the world . 5th edition. tape 1 + 2 . Brandenburgisches Verlagshaus, Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-89488-057-0 , p. 193-195 .
Web links
- Maxim Popenker: Vz. 52 and Vz. 52/57 Machine gun (Czechoslovakia). In: Modern Firearms. world.guns.ru, accessed January 5, 2016 .