Latest revision as of 14:06, 24 November 2023

ZB 53 / vz. 37 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The ZB-53 or vz.37 air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun was manufactured by the Czechoslovak arms ZB factory. It was a gas-operated, automatic-only weapon (with a selectable rate of fire), which fires from an open bolt. The ZB-53 uses belt feed, from non-disintegrating steel belts which are fed from the right side only. The ZB-53 was issued with tripods of several designs.

These machine guns were also mounted into tanks by various nations like the Czech LT vz. 35 and LT vz. 38, the German Panzerkampfwagen 35(t) and Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) and most British tank designs of the WW2 period. The British Birmingham Small Arms Company manufactured a licensed modification of the tank version of ZB-53 named the Besa Machine Gun. It also served in large quantities in the German Army of WW2 under the designation MG 37(t) (infantry tripod and tank version).

ZB-53: The original name of the manufacturer.
vz.37: Name adopted by the Czechoslovak Army. It is no different from the original.
MG 37(t): Versions taken over by the German Army and deployed to service. It is no different from the original.
Besa: British versions of the machine gun. 3 versions were created. (Mk.1/Mk.2/Mk.3). Photos of all versions can be seen on the talk page.

Specifications

Caliber: 7.92x57mm Mauser
Weight: 21 kg (41.9 lb) gun + 17.5 (38.6 lb) tripod
Length: 1096 mm (43.1 in)
Barrel length: 733 mm (28.9 in)
Rate of fire: Selectable, 500 or 700-800 rpm
Capacity: 100 or 200 rounds belt

The ZB-53 / vz. 37 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
Ivan Nikulin: Russian Sailor (Ivan Nikulin - Russkiy Matros)		German soldiers and Soviet sailors		1944
Little Partisan (Malý partyzán)		Czechoslovak soldier		1950
Action B (Akce B)		Czechoslovak soldiers		1952
The Unconquered (Neporazení)	Jirí Sovák	Pvt. Jarda	Mounted in the bunker loopholes	1958
Hell Is for Heroes		German soldiers	Stock footage	1962
At Your Threshold (U Tvoyego Poroga)		German troops	Mounted in Pz.Kpfw.38(t) light tank	1964
Cast a Giant Shadow		Haganah troops	mounted on Haganah jeeps	1966
Judith		Haganah troops		1966
Revenge (Revansa)			Seen in the weapon room	1978
Go and Don't Say Goodbye (Chod a nelúc sa)		German soldiers		1979
Signum Laudis	Vlado Müller	Cpl. Hoferik	Mocked as Schwarzlose M.07/12	1980
Signum Laudis		Russian soldiers	Mocked as Maxim M1910	1980
Until the End (Až do konce)	Vítezslav Jandák	SS-Scharführer Otto		1984
	Eduard Cupák	SS-Hauptsturmführer
	Daniel Netušil	Sigi
Romeo Must Die		Chinese prison guard		2000
Hart's War		German soldiers		2002
Deathwatch		German soldiers	Mocked up as Maxim MG08	2002
Our Own (Svoi)		German troops	Mounted in Pz.Kpfw.38(t) light tank	2004
The Red Baron		German soldiers	Mocked up as Maxim MG08	2008
Lieutenant Suvorov		German troops	Mounted on Pz.Kpfw.38(t) light tank; possibly mockups	2009
Stalingrad		German soldiers		2013
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum			Seen in armory	2019

Television

Title	Actor	Character	Date
The Interpreter (Perevodchik)		German soldiers	2014
Snow and Ashes (Sneg i pepel)	Antonis Shamanidi	Aslan Bodoev	2015
Snow and Ashes (Sneg i pepel)		A German soldier	2015

Video Games

Game Title	Appears as	Note	Date
Hidden & Dangerous 2			2003
Forgotten Hope 2	MG37(t)	Mounted in Marder III	2006
Heroes & Generals	MG37(t)	Mounted in Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf. E	2016
Post Scriptum	"ZB-53"	Mounted in Panzer 38(t)	2018
Battlefield V	MG37(t)	MG37(t); mounted on German Panzer 38 (T)	2018
Enlisted		MG37(t) Mounted on Pz.38 (t) F tanks	2021
Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront		MG37(t) Mounted on Pz.38 (t) F tanks	2021

Anime

Anime Title	Character	Note	Date
Girls und Panzer	Panzer 38(t)	ZB-53	2012 - 2013
Girls und Panzer: This is the Real Anzio Battle!	Panzer 38(t)	ZB-53	2014
Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 2	Panzer 38(t)	ZB-53	2019

Besa Machine Gun

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Besa Mark 2 tank machine gun - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The Besa machine gun was developed in Czechoslovakia and was used by the British Army during the Second World War. Great Britain agreed with Zbrojovka Brno on the licensed reproduction of two weapons. One was the Bren light machine gun and the other was a heavy machine gun that corresponded to the Czech ZB vz. 37. BESA is derived from the pronounced abbreviation BSA of the manufacturer Birmingham Small Arms Company.

While the light Bren could be converted to the British ordnance cartridge .303 British, this was not possible with the Besa. The ammunition belts and the loading mechanism would have had to be converted to the British rimfire cartridge. The original 7.92 mm Mauser caliber with its rimless case therefore had to be retained. This cartridge was the standard ammunition of the Czechoslovakian army, as well as that of the German Wehrmacht. A special factory was built in Great Britain to ensure the supply of ammunition for this weapon. In order to limit the logistical problems, the Besa was only issued to the armored forces, but not to the infantry. A total of around 60,000 were produced.

The Besa-MG is a gas-operated loader. In contrast to other weapons of this type, the barrel is not rigidly mounted but slides back slightly after the shot. The subsequent forward movement of the barrel is synchronized with the release of the next shot in such a way that the forces roughly cancel each other out. As a result, the recoil is comparatively low, making the weapon easy to control and precise.

There is also an extra-heavy machine gun in 15x104 mm caliber, also known as the Besa. Technically, it is quite similar to the 7.92 mm version, but the 15 mm variant is more than 2 meters long and weighs almost three times as much at 57 kg.

The Besa Machine Gun and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Film

Title	Character	Note	Date
Paratrooper	British troops	Mounted on Daimler Armoured Car	1953
A Hill in Korea		Mounted in Centaur tank	1956
Gorgo	British troops	Mounted on Daimler Armoured Car	1961

Video Games

Game Title	Appears as	Note	Date
Call of Duty 2		Mounted on Crusader tanks	2005
Company of Heroes		Mounted on British tanks	2006
Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45		Mounted on Cromwell Mk IV	2006
Company of Heroes 2		Mounted on British Tanks	2013
Sniper Elite III		Mounted on British Matilda Tanks	2014
Call of Duty: WWII		Mounted on a British Light Tank Mk VI	2017
Post Scriptum	"Besa"	Used in British armor	2018
Battlefield V		Mounted on British Tanks	2018
Call of Duty: Vanguard		Mounted on Crusader tanks	2021
Enlisted		Mounted on British tanks	2021
Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront		Mounted on British tanks	2021

Anime

Anime Title	Note	Date
Girls und Panzer	Mounted on Churchill and Matilda Tanks	2012 - 2013
Girls und Panzer: der Film	Mounted on Churchill, Crusader and Matilda tanks	2015
Witch Craft Works	Ep. 08; mounted in Churchill Mk IV	2014
Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 2	Churchill and Matilda Tanks	2019

ZB-53 / vz. 37: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 14:06, 24 November 2023

Contents

Specifications

Film

Television

Video Games

Anime

Besa Machine Gun

Film

Video Games

Anime

See Also

Navigation menu

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The '''ZB-53 / Vz.37''' air-cooled, belt-fed machine-gun was manufactured by the Czechoslovak arms ZB factory. It was a gas operated, automatic-only weapon (with selectable rate of fire), which fires from an open bolt. The ZB-53 uses belt feed, from non-disintegrating steel belts which are fed from the right side only. The ZB-53 was issued with tripods of several designs. ZB-53/Vz.37 also used as a tank guns. Also British Birmingham Small Arms Company manufactured licensed modification of the tank version of ZB-53 named the '''Besa Machine Gun'''.
+[[File:ZB-53 machine gun no turret.jpg|thumb|right|451px|ZB 53 / vz. 37 - 7.92x57mm Mauser]]
+The '''ZB-53''' or '''vz.37''' air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun was manufactured by the Czechoslovak arms ZB factory. It was a gas-operated, automatic-only weapon (with a selectable rate of fire), which fires from an open bolt. The ZB-53 uses belt feed, from non-disintegrating steel belts which are fed from the right side only. The ZB-53 was issued with tripods of several designs.
+These machine guns were also mounted into tanks by various nations like the Czech LT vz. 35 and LT vz. 38, the German Panzerkampfwagen 35(t) and Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) and most British tank designs of the WW2 period. The British Birmingham Small Arms Company manufactured a licensed modification of the tank version of ZB-53 named the '''Besa Machine Gun'''. It also served in large quantities in the German Army of WW2 under the designation '''MG 37(t)''' (infantry tripod and tank version).
+<br>
+*'''ZB-53''': The original name of the manufacturer.
+*'''vz.37''': Name adopted by the Czechoslovak Army. It is no different from the original.
+*'''MG 37(t)''': Versions taken over by the German Army and deployed to service. It is no different from the original.
+*'''Besa''': British versions of the machine gun. 3 versions were created. (Mk.1/Mk.2/Mk.3). Photos of all versions can be seen on the [[Talk:ZB-53_/_vz._37|talk page]].
+<br>
-[[Image:ZB-53.jpg|thumb|right|400px|ZB 53 / Vz.37 machine gun on tripod - 7.92x57mm Mauser]]
+=Specifications=
-[[Image:BESA.jpg|thumb|right|400px|British Besa tank machine gun - 7.92×57mm Mauser]]
-==Specifications==
 *'''Caliber''': 7.92x57mm Mauser
 *'''Weight''': 21 kg (41.9 lb) gun + 17.5 (38.6 lb) tripod
@@ Line 13: / Line 18: @@
 *'''Capacity''': 100 or 200 rounds belt
+<br clear=all>
+{{Gun Title}}
+-----
-'''The ZB-53 / Vz.37 machine guns have appeared in the following movies used by the following actors:'''
+===Film===
-==Film==
 {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
 |-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
@@ Line 30: / Line 35: @@
 | ''[[Little Partisan (Malý partyzán)]]'' ||  || Czechoslovak soldier  || || 1950
 |-
-| ''[[Unconquered, The (Neporazení)|The Unconquered (Neporazení)]]'' || [[Jirí Sovák]] || Pvt. Jarda || Mounted in the bunker loopholes || 1958
+| ''[[Action B (Akce B)]]'' || || Czechoslovak soldiers || || 1952
+|-
+| ''[[The Unconquered (Neporazení)]]'' || [[Jirí Sovák]] || Pvt. Jarda || Mounted in the bunker loopholes || 1958
 |-
-| ''[[At Your Threshold (U Tvoyego Poroga)]]'' ||  || German troops  || Mounted in Pz.Kpfw.38(t) light tank || 1964
+| ''[[Hell Is for Heroes]]'' || || German soldiers || Stock footage || 1962
+|-
+| ''[[At Your Threshold (U Tvoyego Poroga)]]'' || || German troops || Mounted in Pz.Kpfw.38(t) light tank || 1964
 |-
 | ''[[Cast a Giant Shadow]]''|| ||Haganah troops||mounted on Haganah jeeps||1966
+|-
+| ''[[Judith]]'' || || Haganah troops ||  || 1966
 |-
 | ''[[Revenge (Revansa)]]'' || || || Seen in the weapon room || 1978
@@ Line 40: / Line 51: @@
 | ''[[Go and Don't Say Goodbye (Chod a nelúc sa)]]''|| || German soldiers || || 1979
 |-
-| ''[[Signum Laudis]]'' || [[Vlado Müller]] || Cpl. Hoferik || Mocked as [[Schwarzlose M1907/24]]  || 1980
+| rowspan="2"|''[[Signum Laudis]]'' || [[Vlado Müller]] || Cpl. Hoferik || Mocked as [[Schwarzlose M.07/12]] || rowspan="2"|1980
+|-
+|  ||Russian soldiers || Mocked as [[Maxim M1910]]
+|-
+| rowspan="3"|''[[Until the End (Až do konce)]]'' || [[Vítezslav Jandák]] || SS-''Scharführer'' Otto || rowspan="3"| || rowspan="3"|1984
+|-
+| [[Eduard Cupák]] || SS-''Hauptsturmführer''
+|-
+| [[Daniel Netušil]] || Sigi
+|-
+| ''[[Romeo Must Die]]'' || || Chinese prison guard || || 2000
 |-
-| ''[[Signum Laudis]]'' ||  || Russian soldiers || Mocked as [[Maxim M1910]] || 1980
+| ''[[Hart's War]]'' || || German soldiers || || 2002
 |-
-| rowspan="3"|''[[Until the End (Až do konce)]]'' || [[Vítezslav Jandák ]] || Scharführer SS Otto ||  || rowspan="3"|1984
+| ''[[Deathwatch]] || || German soldiers  || Mocked up as [[Maxim MG08]] ||  2002
 |-
-| [[Eduard Cupák]] || Hauptsturmführer SS ||
+| ''[[Our Own (Svoi)]]'' || || German troops  || Mounted in Pz.Kpfw.38(t) light tank || 2004
 |-
-| [[Daniel Netušil]] || Sigi ||
+| ''[[The Red Baron]]'' || || German soldiers || Mocked up as [[Maxim MG08]]  || 2008
+|-
+| ''[[Lieutenant Suvorov]]'' || || German troops || Mounted on Pz.Kpfw.38(t) light tank; possibly mockups || 2009
 |-
-| ''[[Romeo Must Die]]'' ||  || Chinese prison guard  ||  || 2000
+| ''[[Stalingrad (2013)|Stalingrad]]'' || || German soldiers || || 2013
 |-
-| ''[[Our Own (Svoi)]]'' ||  || German troops  || Mounted in Pz.Kpfw.38(t) light tank || 2004
+| ''[[John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum]]'' || || || Seen in armory || 2019
 |-
 |}
-==Video Games==
+===Television===
+{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
+|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="280"|'''Title'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="170"|'''Actor'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Character'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="250"|'''Note'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="50"|'''Date'''
+|-
+| ''[[The Interpreter (Perevodchik)]]'' || || German soldiers || || 2014
+|-
+| rowspan=2|''[[Snow and Ashes (Sneg i pepel)]]'' || Antonis Shamanidi || Aslan Bodoev || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|2015
+|-
+| || A German soldier
+|-
+|}
+===Video Games===
 {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
 |-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
 !align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="280"|'''Game Title'''
-!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Mods'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Appears as'''
 !align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="250"|'''Note'''
 !align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="50"|'''Date'''
 |-
-| ''[[Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45]] || Besa || Mounted on Cromwell Mk IV || 2006
+| ''[[Hidden & Dangerous 2]] || || || 2003
+|-
+| ''[[Forgotten Hope 2]] || MG37(t) || Mounted in Marder III || 2006
+|-
+| ''[[Heroes & Generals]]'' || MG37(t) || Mounted in Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf. E || 2016
+|-
+| ''[[Post Scriptum]]'' || "ZB-53" || Mounted in Panzer 38(t) || 2018
+|-
+| ''[[Battlefield V]]'' || MG37(t) || MG37(t); mounted on German Panzer 38 (T) || 2018
+|-
+| ''[[Enlisted]]'' || || MG37(t) Mounted on Pz.38 (t) F tanks|| 2021
+|-
+| ''[[Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront]]'' || || MG37(t) Mounted on Pz.38 (t) F tanks|| 2021
 |-
 |}
+===Anime===
+{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
+|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="275"|'''Anime Title'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="275"|'''Character'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="300"|'''Note'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="100"|'''Date'''
+|-
+| ''[[Girls und Panzer]]'' || Panzer 38(t) || ZB-53 || 2012 - 2013
+|-
+|''[[Girls und Panzer: This is the Real Anzio Battle!]]'' || Panzer 38(t) || ZB-53 || 2014
+|-
+| ''[[Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 2]]'' || Panzer 38(t) || ZB-53 ||  2019
+|-
+|}
+=Besa Machine Gun=
+[[Image:BESA.jpg|thumb|right|451px|Besa Mark 2 tank machine gun - 7.92x57mm Mauser]]
+The '''Besa''' machine gun was developed in Czechoslovakia and was used by the British Army during the Second World War. Great Britain agreed with Zbrojovka Brno on the licensed reproduction of two weapons. One was the [[Bren]] light machine gun and the other was a heavy machine gun that corresponded to the Czech ZB vz. 37. BESA is derived from the pronounced abbreviation BSA of the manufacturer ''Birmingham Small Arms Company''.
+While the light Bren could be converted to the British ordnance cartridge .303 British, this was not possible with the Besa. The ammunition belts and the loading mechanism would have had to be converted to the British rimfire cartridge. The original 7.92 mm Mauser caliber with its rimless case therefore had to be retained. This cartridge was the standard ammunition of the Czechoslovakian army, as well as that of the German Wehrmacht. A special factory was built in Great Britain to ensure the supply of ammunition for this weapon. In order to limit the logistical problems, the Besa was only issued to the armored forces, but not to the infantry. A total of around 60,000 were produced.
+The Besa-MG is a gas-operated loader. In contrast to other weapons of this type, the barrel is not rigidly mounted but slides back slightly after the shot. The subsequent forward movement of the barrel is synchronized with the release of the next shot in such a way that the forces roughly cancel each other out. As a result, the recoil is comparatively low, making the weapon easy to control and precise.
+There is also an extra-heavy machine gun in 15x104 mm caliber, also known as the Besa. Technically, it is quite similar to the 7.92 mm version, but the 15 mm variant is more than 2 meters long and weighs almost three times as much at 57 kg.
+<br clear=all>
+{{Gun Title|Besa Machine Gun}}
+-----
+===Film===
+{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
+|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="280"|'''Title'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="170"|'''Actor'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Character'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="250"|'''Note'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="50"|'''Date'''
+|-
+| ''[[Paratrooper]]'' || || British troops || Mounted on Daimler Armoured Car || 1953
+|-
+| ''[[A Hill in Korea]]'' || || || Mounted in Centaur tank || 1956
+|-
+| ''[[Gorgo]]'' || || British troops || Mounted on Daimler Armoured Car || 1961
+|-
+|}
+===Video Games===
+{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
+|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="280"|'''Game Title'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Appears as'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="250"|'''Note'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="50"|'''Date'''
+|-
+| ''[[Call of Duty 2]] || || Mounted on Crusader tanks || 2005
+|-
+| ''[[Company of Heroes (2006)|Company of Heroes]]'' || || Mounted on British tanks || 2006
+|-
+| ''[[Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45]] || || Mounted on Cromwell Mk IV || 2006
+|-
+| ''[[Company of Heroes 2]]'' || || Mounted on British Tanks || 2013
+|-
+| ''[[Sniper Elite III]]'' || || Mounted on British Matilda Tanks || 2014
+|-
+| ''[[Call of Duty: WWII]]'' || || Mounted on a British Light Tank Mk VI || 2017
+|-
+| ''[[Post Scriptum]]'' || "Besa" || Used in British armor || 2018
+|-
+| ''[[Battlefield V]]'' || || Mounted on British Tanks || 2018
+|-
+| ''[[Call of Duty: Vanguard]]'' || || Mounted on Crusader tanks || 2021
+|-
+| ''[[Enlisted]]'' || || Mounted on British tanks || 2021
+|-
+| ''[[Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront]]'' || || Mounted on British tanks || rowspan=2| 2021
+|-
+|}
+===Anime===
+{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
+|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="275"|'''Anime Title'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="275"|'''Character'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="300"|'''Note'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="100"|'''Date'''
+|-
+| ''[[Girls und Panzer]]'' || || Mounted on Churchill and Matilda Tanks || 2012 - 2013
+|-
+| ''[[Girls und Panzer: der Film]]'' || || Mounted on Churchill, Crusader and Matilda tanks || 2015
+|-
+| ''[[Witch Craft Works]]'' || || Ep. 08; mounted in Churchill Mk IV || 2014
+|-
+| ''[[Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 2]]'' || || Churchill and Matilda Tanks || 2019
+|-
+|}
+=See Also=
+*[[Zbrojovka Brno]] - A list of all firearms manufactured by Zbrojovka Brno.
 [[Category:Gun]]
 [[Category:Machine Gun]]

ZB-53 / vz. 37: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 14:06, 24 November 2023

Specifications

Film

Television

Video Games

Anime

Besa Machine Gun

Film

Video Games

Anime

See Also

Navigation menu

Search