


ZB vz. 37 (BESA) Machine Gun
Country of Origin | Czechoslovakia |
Type | Machine Gun |
Caliber | 7.920 mm |
Capacity | 100 rounds |
Length | 1,095.000 mm |
Barrel Length | 730.000 mm |
Weight | 19.000 kg |
Rate of Fire | 500 rounds/min |
Muzzle Velocity | 790 m/s |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseThe ZB 1937 machine guns were of Czechoslovakian design. They were air cooled and gas pressure operated, and a switch allowed them to fire either at the standard 500 rounds per minute to an accelerated 700 rounds per minute. Before the German annexation, they were also sold abroad, particularly to the United Kingdom (license to build as the BESA machine guns) and to Romania. After Germany annexed Czechoslovakia, these machine guns were integrated into the German arsenal as the MG37(t) machine guns, and the Czechoslovakian factories continued to build them for the German military until 1942 when the plants switched over to the production of German-designed weapons. ww2dbaseLast Major Revision: Dec 2007
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Visitor Submitted Comments
2.
Bill says:
23 Sep 2012 06:11:52 PM
Please click on photograph for detailed information.

23 Sep 2012 06:11:52 PM
Please click on photograph for detailed information.
All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.
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