historicalfirearms: In Action: Vz.59 Universal Machine Gun & Vz.58 Rifle The photograp
historicalfirearms: In Action: Vz.59 Universal Machine Gun & Vz.58 Rifle The photograph above shows troops of the Czechoslovak People’s Army during an exercise. In the foreground a soldier mans a Vz.59 Universal Machine Gun mounted on a tripod while in the background three riflemen armed with Vz.58s charge through smoke with bayonets fixed. The Vz.59 is being used to pin down the simulated enemy while the rifle section advances under cover fire. The Vz.59 replaced the Vz. 52/57, a dual-feed system general purpose machine gun. Chambered in 7.62x54mmR, the Vz.59 used a 50-round belt and could deploy as both a light machine gun and a medium machine gun when mounted on a tripod. When used in the light machine gun role the 50-round belts were held in an ammunition canister and clamped to the weapon, when used for sustained fire up to five belts could be connected together. When in the light machine gun configuration, designated the Vz.59L, the weapon had a shorter, lighter barrel with a fixed bipod near the muzzle. Like the earlier Vz.52, the Vz.59 was cocked by cycling the pistol grip forward and back to charge the weapon. The other men are armed with the excellent Vz.58 assault rifle, chambered in 7.62x39mm, it replaced the earlier Vz.52 semi-automatic infantry rifle. The rifle uses a tilting block to lock its action with separate gas piston and bolt carrier and unlike the hammer fired AK, the Vz.58 was striker fired. The Vz.58 proved to be a handy, robust rifle, arguably more refined in appearance and operation than the AK.Both weapons continued in service with the Czech and Slovak armies after the collapse of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact. The Czech army has begun replacing the Vz.59 with the 7.62x51mm Mk48 variant of the FN Minimi while the CZ 805/6 Bren has replaced the Vz.58 in frontline service. The Slovak army is also beginning to adopt the CZ 805/6 Bren while the Vz.59 remains in service. Sources:Images: 1 2 3 UK Vz.59 Rachot/Model 59 Machine Gun, ModernFirearms.net, (source) If you enjoy the content please consider supporting Historical Firearms through Patreon! -- source link
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