Vz. 52 (machine gun)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Vz. 52 | |
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| Type | Light machine gun |
| Place of origin |  Czechoslovakia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1952-1964 |
| Used by | Czechoslovakia |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Václav Holek |
| Designed | 1950s |
| Manufacturer | Zbrojovka Brno |
| Number built | 8.000 |
| Variants | Vz.52/57 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 8.0 kg (17.64 lb) |
| Length | 1,045 mm (41.1 in) |
| Barrel length | 583 mm (23 in) |
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| Cartridge | 7.62x45mm vz. 52 |
| Action | Gas-operated, tilting breechblock |
| Rate of fire | 900-1150 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 760 m/sec |
| Effective range | 900/800 m |
| Maximum range | 2800 m |
| Feed system | 50-round belt or 25 round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron sights |
The vz. 52 (7,62 mm lehký kulomet vzor 52) is a Czechoslovak light machine gun developed after the Second World War for Czechoslovakian military.
Vz. 52, originally ZB 501 designed by Václav Holek, is a 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 light machine gun. It has integral bipod and interchangeable barrel and its feed system is designed to take metallic belts or box magazines interchangeably and withouth any modifications.
Vz. 52 used Czech 7.62x45mm vz. 52 cartridge, but in mid-50's it was converted to the standard Warsaw Pact round, the 7.62x39mm, by Jaroslav Myslík and named as vz.52/57.
Both models were replaced in 1963-64 by Universal Machine gun model 1959.
