The vz. 52 (''7,62mm lehký kulomet vzor 52'') is a

Czechoslovak Czechoslovak may refer to: *A demonym or adjective pertaining to Czechoslovakia (1918–93) **First Czechoslovak Republic (1918–38) **Second Czechoslovak Republic (1938–39) **Third Czechoslovak Republic (1948–60) ** Fourth Czechoslovak Repu ...

light machine gun A light machine gun (LMG) is a light-weight machine gun designed to be operated by a single infantryman, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. LMGs firing cartridge (firearms), cartridges of the same caliber as the othe ...

developed after the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

for the Czechoslovak Armed Forces.

Description

The vz. 52 was originally called the ZB 501, and was designed by

Václav Holek Václav Holek (24 September 1886 – 13 November 1954) was a Czech firearm engineer who applied for over 75 patents. Life Václav Holek was born in Malé Nepodřice, southern Bohemia, on 24 September 1886. He completed his apprenticeship as a ...

. It is gas-operated and uses a tilting bolt that locks into the roof of the receiver. Its overall action is based on the Czech

ZB-26 The ZB vz. 26 was a Czechoslovak light machine gun developed in the 1920s, which went on to enter service with several countries. It saw its major use during World War II, and spawned the related ZB vz. 27, vz. 30, and vz. 33. The ZB vz. 26 influe ...

light machine gun. It has an integral

bipod A bipod is a V-shaped portable attachment that helps support and steady a device, usually a weapon such as a long gun or a mortar. The term comes from the Latin prefix and Greek root , meaning "two" and "foot" respectively. Bipods are design ...

and interchangeable barrels, and its feed system is designed to take metallic belts or

box magazine A magazine, often simply called a mag, is an ammunition storage and feeding device for a repeating firearm, either integral within the gun (internal/fixed magazine) or externally attached (detachable magazine). The magazine functions by holdi ...

s interchangeably and without any modifications. Its compact and light lever-type feeding system was based on the

ZB-53 The ZB-53 was a Czechoslovak machine gun. A versatile weapon, it was used both as a squad support weapon, as a mounted machine gun for tanks and other armoured vehicles, and on fixed positions inside Czechoslovak border fortifications. Adopted be ...

and was later copied in UK vz. 59, PK and

Negev The Negev ( ; ) or Naqab (), is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The region's largest city and administrative capital is Beersheba (pop. ), in the north. At its southern end is the Gulf of Aqaba and the resort town, resort city ...

. The vz. 52 initially used the Czech 7.62×45mm vz. 52 cartridge, but in the mid-1950s it was converted to the standard 7.62×39mm

Warsaw Pact The Warsaw Pact (WP), formally the Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance (TFCMA), was a Collective security#Collective defense, collective defense treaty signed in Warsaw, Polish People's Republic, Poland, between the Sovi ...

round by Jaroslav Myslík, and named the vz. 52/57. Both models were replaced in Czech service in 1963–64 by the Universal Machine Gun Model 1959, also known as the Uk vz. 59.

Users

* * * *

References

Bibliography

* * *

External sources

*http://www.valka.cz/newdesign/v900/clanek_11420.html *http://www.militaria.wz.cz/cs/kulomet-52.htm *http://www.historieavojenstvi.cz/2007/clanky/holek.pdf 7.62×39mm machine guns Infantry weapons of the Cold War Light machine guns Machine guns of Czechoslovakia Military equipment introduced in the 1950s {{Czechoslovakia-mil-stub

Description

Users

See also

Weapons of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Bibliography

External sources