Vz.53 anti-aircraft gun
Vz.53 12.7 mm | |
---|---|
Anti-aircraft gun | |
Place of origin | Czechoslovakia |
Service history | |
In service | 1953 Onwards |
Used by | See users
Gas operated, flapper locking |
Carriage | Two wheels, folded upwards in the firing position |
Traverse | 360° |
Muzzle velocity | 850 metres per second (2,800 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 1,500 m |
Maximum firing range | 2,500 m (2,700 yd) |
Feed system | 100-round belts in drums (per gun) |
The Vz.53 (Also widely known as the M53 in Western sources) is an anti-aircraft weapon system produced in Czechoslovakia during the 1950s. It combines four Vz.38/46 (DShK) 12.7 mm Machineguns on a wheeled mount with a 360° traverse. Its full Czech designation was 12.7 mm PL štvorguľomet vz.53.[1]
History
Following
The Vz.53 was similar to the Soviet ZPU-4, but the Vz.53's lighter 12.7 mm cartridge had a lower effective range and did less damage than the Soviet 14.5 mm weapon. However, the Vz.53 was approximately three times lighter than the ZPU-4.[2] Regardless, both weapons were quickly rendered obsolescent as super-sonic jet fighters began to enter service in NATO countries. The Vz.53 was mostly withdrawn from Czech service by the early 1960s, but was not fully replaced until the 9K32 Strela-2 became available in the early 1970s.[3]
Combat history
Many Vz.53s were sold abroad, or given as aid to Soviet client states as part of the Cold War. Cuba was one of the largest operators of the weapon, using several during the Bay of Pigs invasion where they were reportedly responsible for shooting down a Douglas A-26 Invader bomber.,[4] Cuba later brought these to Angola and provided some to the Angolan MPLA to be used during the Angolan Civil War. Cuba used M53s until the 1990s.
Cuba also later provided at least half a dozen M53s to
M53s were also sold to Egypt as part of the
A small number of M53s were provided to North Vietnam and used during the Vietnam War[6]
As of 2021, the Vz.53/M53 is not known to be service anywhere in the world, though some may be in storage in Cuba.
Former Operators
- Czechoslovakia - 1953-1970s
- Cuba - 1961-1990s, provided by Czechoslovakia
- Vietnam
- Angola - Provided by Cuba during the Angolan Civil War
- Grenada
- Egypt - Unknown number purchased from Czechoslovakia in 1955
- Syria
- Iraq
Gallery
See also
References
- ^ "CZK - vz. 53 (12,7 mm čtyřkulomet) : Czechoslovakia / Czech Republic / Slovak Republic (CZK/CZE/SVK)". 28 September 2007.
- ^ "Post-war anti-aircraft guns of Czechoslovakia".
- ^ "Post-war anti-aircraft guns of Czechoslovakia".
- ^ "Post-war anti-aircraft guns of Czechoslovakia".
- ^ Bukvoed (2005-12-04), English: Quadruple DShK machine gun, Batey ha-Osef museum, Tel Aviv, Israel., retrieved 2023-09-13
- ^ "Terror in the Skies: North Vietnam's Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery". 4 December 2018.