ZB-53
Sign in to saveAlso known as ZB53, TK vz. 37, VZ37, MG 37(t), MG37T
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 before World War II by the armies of Czechoslovakia (as Těžký kulomet vz. 37, heavy machine gun model 37) and Romania, it was also license-built in the United Kingdom as the Besa machine gun. Following the German invasion of Czechoslovakia, large quantities of the weapon were captured by the Wehrmacht and used during the war under the designation of MG 3
Key facts
- Weapon.is_ranged
- yes
- Weapon.is_UK
- yes
- Weapon.image
- 7,92-мм югославский станковый пулемет системы В. Холека обр. 1938-40 годов.jpg
- Weapon.image_size
- 300
- Weapon.name
- ZB-53, Vz.37
- Weapon.type
- Medium machine gun
- Weapon.origin
- Czechoslovakia
- Weapon.manufacturer
- Zbrojovka Brno
- Weapon.designer
- Václav Holek
- Weapon.design_date
- 1935
- Weapon.production_date
- 1936–early 1950s
- Weapon.service
- 1937–1960s (Czechoslovakia)
- Weapon.used_by
- See Users
- Weapon.wars
- Spanish Civil WarWorld War IISecond Sino-Japanese War1948 Palestine warCyprus EmergencyPortuguese Colonial WarVietnam WarBangladesh Liberation WarBay of Pigs InvasionNigerian Civil WarTurkish invasion of CyprusSouth African Border WarSoviet–Afghan WarUnited States invasion of Panama
- Weapon.cartridge
- 7.92×57mm Mauser7.62×45mm
- Weapon.feed
- 225-round metal link belt
- Weapon.action
- Gas-operated
- Weapon.rate
- 500–800 rounds/min
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Image
- 7,92-мм югославский станковый пулемет системы В. Холека обр. 1938-40 годов.jpg
Show 5 more facts
- inception
- 1936-00-00
- service retirement
- 1950-01-01
- Commons gallery
- ZB vz. 37
- Commons category
- ZB vz. 37
- service entry
- 1939-01-01
Sources (2)
via Wikidata · CC0
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Article
8 sectionsContents
- History
- Description
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- Further reading
- External links
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 before World War II by the armies of Czechoslovakia (as Těžký kulomet vz. 37, heavy machine gun model 37) and Romania, it was also license-built in the United Kingdom as the Besa machine gun. Following the German invasion of Czechoslovakia, large quantities of the weapon were captured by the Wehrmacht and used during the war under the designation of MG 37(t).
== History == The ZB-53 was designed as a private venture by Václav Holek and Miroslav Rolčík of the Zbrojovka Brno works as a replacement for the Schwarzlose machine gun of World War I origin. Czechoslovakia purchased 500 for testing giving them the designation Vz.35 ("1935 Model"). Based on these tests some improvements were requested and the improved ZB-53 was adopted by the Czechoslovak Army with the designation TK vz. 37 ("Heavy Machine Gun Mark 1937"). It was introduced as the standard machine gun of Czechoslovak LT-35 and LT-38 tanks. Czechoslovak Zbrojovka Brno and then produced the gun in large quantities until the 1950s.