It was theMaschinengewehr 34, or machine gun 34, a recoil-operated air-cooled general-purpose machine gun.
Such weapons had certainly proved to be highly successful during the First World War.
Though the Czech-based company was already producing theZB vz.
German Schutzstaffel, or SS, soldiers training with an MG 37(t) machine gun. The MG 37(t) was the German designation for captured ZB-53. Image: Public Domain
The ZB-53 was designed as a private venture by firearms engineers Vaclav Holek and Miroslav Rolcik.
Holek, along with his brother Emmanuel had taken lead on the ZB vz.
Was the ZB-53 the Wrong Weapon?
You can see the influence of the AustrianSchwarzlose machine gunwith the ZB-53. It employed some of the features of the former machine gun, notably the wooden hand grips. Image: Author
As envisioned, the ZB-53 which was adopted by the Czechoslovak military as vz.
37 (Model 1937) was an air-cooled, belt-fed, medium machine gun.
For use in the latter configuration, the machine gun was mounted on a very heavy and sturdy tripod.
Instead of a pistol-style grip, the ZB-53 employed folding side grips that typically placed the operator’s hand parallel with ground, or turned further down at approximately 45˚. Image: Author
In that regard it was a throw-back to another era.
Even without the tripod, the ZB-53 weighed nearly 50 pounds empty.
37 or Heavy Machine Gun Mark 1937.
To help dissipate heat, the ZB-53 featured a heavy barrel with fins. It was designed to withstand five minutes of constant fire, after which time the barrel had to be changed due to wear. Image: Author
The heavy barrel also employed numerous fins to help with heat dispersion.
Despite some of its advancements including the variable rate of fire the ZB-53 was prone to jamming.
The weapon was also noted for employing a unique method to charge or cock it.
The ZB-53 was fitted with iron sights, and it had an effective range of 2,500 meters. Image: Author
The grips then pushed back, which reengaged the trigger mechanism and it was ready for firing.
The British, who as noted had adopted an improved version of the ZB vz.
26 as the Bren gun, also liked what they saw in the ZB-53 notably the TK vz.
The ZB-53 was equipped with a carrying handle, which allowed an operator to reposition the gun while it was on a tripod. Image: Author
The War Office ordered the weapon in 1938 and production began in 1939, after modifications.
What was especially noteworthy is that while the British War Office had insisted on the ZB vz.
The ZB-53 was produced as the MG37(t) and initially supplied to Waffen SS units.
Israeli soldiers with a ZB-53 in January 1949. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Israel’s soldiers were equipped with a wide range of weaponry. Image: National Library of Israel
The ZB-53 was reportedly in service with the Cuban forces during the Bay of Pigs Invasion.
It is likely that the ZB-53s were actually Israeli military surplus from the actual conflict.
The ZB-53 has seen been seen in 2000sHarts War, 2013sStalingradand 2019sJohn Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum.
Israeli soldiers seen with the Czech-made ZB-53 in anti-aircraft configuration. Image: National Library of Israel
ZB-53 machine gun in Israeli service during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Image: Israel National Photo Collection
As an infantry weapon, the ZB-53 still required the use of a specialty tripod. Combined, it weighed nearly 100 pounds. Image: Author
