ZB-53 / vz. 37

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.

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ZB 53 / Vz.37 machine gun on tripod - 7.92x57mm Mauser

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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
• 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 machine guns have appeared in the following movies 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
Paratrooper		British troops	Besa; mounted on Daimler Armoured Car	1953
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
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 M1907/24	1980
Signum Laudis		Russian soldiers	Mocked as Maxim M1910	1980
Until the End (Až do konce)	Vítezslav Jandák	Scharführer SS Otto		1984
	Eduard Cupák	Hauptsturmführer SS
	Daniel Netušil	Sigi
Romeo Must Die		Chinese prison guard		2000
Our Own (Svoi)		German troops	Mounted in Pz.Kpfw.38(t) light tank	2004
Lieutenant Suvorov		German troops	Mounted on Pz.Kpfw.38(t) light tank; possibly mockups	2009
Stalingrad		German soldiers		2013

Video Games

Game Title	Mods	Note	Date
Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45	Besa	Mounted on Cromwell Mk IV	2006

Anime

Anime Title	Character	Note	Date
Girl Und Panzer	Panzer 38(t)	Two ZB-53 mounted on Panzer 38(t)	2012
Girl Und Panzer	Churchill and Matildta Tanks	Besa variant	2012

See Also

• Zbrojovka Brno - A list of all firearms manufactured by Zbrojovka Brno.