Ceska Zbrojovka vz. 30

Light Machine Gun (LMG) [ 1930 ]

Like the British BREN, the CZ vz. 30 was a direct descendant of the Czech vz. 26.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/10/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]

Czechoslovakia proved itself a most capable arms developer during the interwar years between World War 1 (1914-1918) and World War 2 (1939-1945). One resultant design of the period became the Vz. 26 model light machine gun of 1924 which saw use in the grand second global conflict and inspired the famous British BREN LMG of the war as well. From this design came forth the vz. 30 model of 1930 which brought about some improvements to the CZ vz. 26's internals to make for a more robust and generally reliable system. Beyond its internal modifications, the CZ vz. 30 was also granted an improved manufacturing process though it proved no less expensive than the preceding vz. 26 product.

By and large, both guns proved similar in form and function to the casual observer. Tolerances were strong due to the exacting machining processes involved which made for a very good light machine gun. Such quality was what impressed the British to adopted the weapon as the BREN through the ZGB-33 prototype (in British .303 caliber). The vz. 30 was chambered for the 7.9mm Mauser rifle cartridge which gave good penetrative capabilities at range and feeding was by way of a top-mounted 20-round count detachable box magazine. A folding bipod supported the frontal weight of the unit with the operator typically set in a prone position behind the rear sight. The trigger was integrated with the pistol grip which gave good support of the aft section of the weapon coupled to the buttstock at the shoulder. A carrying handle was standard as was finning along the barrel for basic cooling. The gas tube ran under the barrel in a conventional arrangement. Dimensions included an overall length of 1,180mm and a weight of 9 kilograms. Rate-of-fire was 550 to 650 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 750 meters per second. All values were comparable to the earlier vz. 26 offering.

A later model, the vz. 30J brought about an overall length of 1,204mm with an increased weight of 9.58 kilograms. Its rate-of-fire was reduced to 500 to 600 rounds per minute.

Like many powers in Central and Western Europe during World War 2, Czechoslovakia fell to the belligerent Germans under the direction of Adolf Hitler. As such, its arms-producing factories now also fell to the victors and this included stocks of vz. 30 machine guns. The Germans reinforced second-line units with the weapon and assigned it the designation of MG30(t), comparable in battlefield role to their existing MG34 machine guns. Production of the weapon continued throughout the entirety of the war into 1945 and was locally manufactured in Romanian factories as well.

From this, the weapon was also locally produced in China, Iran and Spain, the latter under the Fabrica de Armas de Oviedo (FAO). By the time of the NATO adoption of the 7.62mm cartridge, FAO attempted a belt-fed version of the weapon which did not prove a quantitative success.

The vz. 30 continued in use well after World War 2 into the Cold War years where it made its own solid history apart from the fabled British BREN.©MilitaryFactory.com

Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications

Basics [+]

Manufacturer(s)

Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka, Brno - Czechoslovakia

Operators

China; Czechoslovakia; Iran; Nazi Germany; Romania; Spain

Service Year

1930

National Origin

Czechoslovakia

FIRE SUPPORT
Capable of suppressing enemy elements at range through direct or in-direct fire.

Overall Length

1,160 mm / 45.67 in

Barrel Length

675 mm / 26.57 in

Weight (Empty)

21.16 lb / 9.60 kg

Action

Gas-Operated

GAS-OPERATED
Gas-operated system is featured, typically involving a gas cylinder and rear-driven piston directing energy to the bolt component.

Caliber(s)*

7.92x57mm Mauser
*May not represent an exhuastive list; Calibers may be model-specific dependent; Always consult official manufacturer sources.

Feed

20-Round Detachable Box Magazine.

Sights

Leaf Rear; Front Post.

Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information.

Rate-of-Fire

600 rpm

Muzzle Velocity

2,460 ft/sec / 750 m/sec

vz.30 - Chambered for 7.92mm cartridge; 1180mm length; 20-round magazine.

vz.30J - Evolved model; 1204mm length; increased weight.

MG30(t) - German Wehrmacht Designation

FAO - Spanish local production version by Fabrica de Armas de Oviedo; belt-fed version in 7.62mm NATO also realized.

Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War

Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon representing special forces

Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Images

1 / 3

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

2 / 3

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

3 / 3

Image from the Public Domain.

❮ ❯

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)