Československé lehké kulomety – group of authors (2008)

The 7.62mm light machine guns vz. 52 and 52/57 became worthy successors to the legendary machine gun vz. 26 in the armament of the Czechoslovak army. Influenced by experiences from World War II, they were designed for medium ballistic performance ammunition. The light machine gun vz. 52 successfully addressed both magazine and belt feeding of ammunition and was characterized by a progressive design, the significance of which has not yet been sufficiently appreciated. This unique book, based on extensive research in the archival sources of the Military Central Archive in Prague and the study of the rich collection of weapons at the Military Historical Institute in Prague, provides the first comprehensive overview of the long and complex development of the light machine gun vz. 52, describes its adaptation to the Soviet cartridge vz. 43, and sheds light on the fates of these weapons after their decommissioning from the then Czechoslovak People's Army. It also includes a detailed description of both machine guns, accessories, the service manuals used, and an overview of the personalities who contributed to the creation of these weapons.