The ZB vz. 26 was a Czechoslovak light machine gun developed in the 1920s, which went on to enter service with several countries. It would see 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 FM 24/29 light machine gun, the Bren and the Type 99 Light Machine Gun. The ZB-26 is famous of its reliability, simple components, quick-change barrel and ease of manufacturing.
Development
Development on the ZB-26 began in 1923 after the Czechoslovak Brno arms factory came into existence. A designer by the name of Václav Holek was charged by the Czechoslovak army to produce a new light machine gun. He was assisted by his brother Emmanuel, as well as 2 expatriate Poles; Marek and Podrabsky. Holek was a genius as a firearms designer; he quickly began work on a prototype and within a year the quartet created an automatic light machine gun that would later be known as the ZB. The Czechoslovak army quickly adopted the ZB as the vz. 26, and many other countries later adopted the ZB or similar designs.
Deployment
The ZB-26 saw service with the Czechoslovak infantry, as well as being the primary or secondary armament on many later model Škoda armored vehicles. The gun possessed a bipod and could also be mounted on a tripod for better support fire if needed.
The Wehrmacht soon adopted the ZB-26 after the occupation of Czechoslovakia, renaming it the MG 26(t); it was used in the same role as the MG34, as a light machine gun. In the opening phases of World War II, the ZB-26 in 7.92 mm Mauser caliber was used in large numbers by elements of the German Waffen SS, who at first did not have full access to standard Wehrmacht supply channels. In its most famous incarnation the ZB-26 was modified by ZB and British technicians, entering service as the famous Bren gun. Many more countries imported or produced the design under license, including the USSR, China, Yugoslavia, and Lithuania. Chinese Nationalist forces used the ZB-26 in 7.92 mm Mauser in their struggle with Communist Chinese and later Japanese forces. According to Brno, from 1927 to 1939, a total of 30,249 ZB-26 were exported to China. During this time due to high demand, Chinese small-arms factories, state owned as well as those controlled by various warlords, were producing the ZB-26. During the Korean War, Chinese Communist forces employed the ZB-26 against UN forces, and PVA ZB gunners developed a well-deserved reputation for long-range marksmanship. During the Vietnam conflict with French and later South Vietnamese forces, the ZB-26 was found in the hands of both North Vietnamese army and Viet Minh guerrillas.
Variants
Although the ZB-26 had few variants, some weapons were closely based on it:
- ZGB 30/33: these 2 variants are commonly referred to as the Bren.
- Japanese Type 96 and Type 97 Light Machine Guns: these guns were closely modeled on the ZB-26.
- Finnish KK 62 Light Machine Gun
- In addition, the MKb 42(h) assault rifle uses a virtually identical, although inverted, bolt/bolt carrier system.
- Spanish Fusil Automatico Oviedo (F.A.O.).
Several more designations appear depending on the adopting army, though generally the gun retains its 'ZB-26' initials in one or another form.
Users
See also
External links
Czechoslovakia
Bolivia
Ecuador
Nazi Germany
Lithuania
North Vietnam
Peru
People's Republic of China
Republic of China
Romania
Slovakia
Sweden
Turkey
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
