Back 7,62mm lehký kulomet vz. 52 Czech Maschinengewehr vz. 52 German Ametralladora vz. 52 Spanish Vz. 52 French Vz. 52軽機関銃 Japanese Karabin maszynowy ZB vz. 52 Polish Vz. 52 (metralhadora) Portuguese Vz. 52 (пулемёт) Russian ZB vz. 52 Vietnamese
| vz. 52 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Light machine gun |
| Place of origin | Czechoslovak Socialist Republic |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1952–1964 |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Bay of Pigs Invasion[1][2] Escambray Rebellion Nigerian Civil War Portuguese Colonial War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Václav Holek |
| Designed | 1950s |
| Manufacturer | Zbrojovka Brno |
| No. built | 8.000 |
| Variants | vz. 52/57 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 8.0 kg (17.64 lb) |
| Length | 1,045 mm (41.1 in) |
| Barrel length | 583 mm (23.0 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.62×45mm (vz. 52), 7.62×39mm (vz. 52/57) |
| Action | Gas-operated, tilting breechblock |
| Rate of fire | 900-1150 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 760 m/s |
| Effective firing range | 900/800 m |
| Maximum firing range | 2800 m |
| Feed system | 50-round belt or 25-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron sights |
The vz. 52 (7,62mm lehký kulomet vzor 52) is a Czechoslovak light machine gun developed after the Second World War for the Czechoslovak Armed Forces.
- ^ Rodríguez, Juan Carlos (2013). "Chapter 9 En route to the Southern Coast". The Inevitable Battle: From the Bay of Pigs to Playa Girón (in Spanish). Havana: Editorial Capitan San Luis. ISBN 978-959-211-337-4.
Interview of the author with José Ramón González Suca : 'We had....a VZ machine gun with bipod and 200 rounds for belt or magazine feed...After the battle I found out the VZ belts are crap. They're more effective with magazines. But the guys wanted it to be like in the movies. '
- ^ Rodríguez, Juan Carlos (2013). "Chapter 15 The Inevitable Battle". The Inevitable Battle: From the Bay of Pigs to Playa Girón (in Spanish). Havana: Editorial Capitan San Luis. ISBN 978-959-211-337-4.
Interview of the author with Luis "Oriente" Clemente Carralero : 'I told the people with the three BZs[sic] to remove the cartridge belts and use the magazines. We had 200 rounds for each BZ[sic] and 80 for each rifle - nothing compared to what they used against us.'