ZB vz. 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 influenced many other light machine gun designs including the British Bren light machine gun and the Japanese Type 97 heavy tank machine gun. The ZB-26 is famous for its reliability, simple components, quick-change barrel and ease of manufacturing. This light machine gun in the Czechoslovak army was marked as the LK vz. 26 ("LK" means lehký kulomet, light machine gun; "vz." stands for vzor, Model in Czech). ZB vz. 26 is incorrect nomenclature because "ZB-26" is a factory designation (Československá zbrojovka v Brně), while "vzor 26" or "vz. 26" is an army designation.
| ZB vz. 26 | |
|---|---|
vz. 26 at the Great Patriotic War Museum, Smolensk | |
| Type | Light machine gun |
| Place of origin | Czechoslovakia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1926–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Second Sino-Japanese War Constitutionalist Revolution Chaco War Spanish Civil War Second Italo-Ethiopian War Dersim rebellion World War II Ecuadorian–Peruvian War Chinese Civil War Korean War Indochina War Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Biafran war Insurgency in Aceh South African Border War Soviet–Afghan War Yugoslav Wars |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Václav Holek |
| Designed | 1924 |
| Manufacturer | Zbrojovka Brno, Zastava Arms |
| Produced | 1924–1953 |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9.65 kg (21.27 lb) |
| Length | 1,161 mm (45.7 in) |
| Barrel length | 672 mm (26.5 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.92×57mm Mauser |
| Action | Gas-operated, tilting breechblock |
| Rate of fire | 500 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 764 m/s (2,507 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 1,000 m (1,100 yd) |
| Feed system | 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Front blade, rear leaf sight |