Firearms· Interwar· 1930

ZB vz. 30

7.9 mm machine gun

The ZB-30 and ZB-30J were Czechoslovak light machine guns that saw extensive use during World War II.

== History == The Zb 30 and Zb 30J were the later versions of the famous Czechoslovak machine gun, the ZB-26. However, the ZB-30 had some design differences, making it similar to the later ZGB-33, which was an early prototype of the Bren gun. Like the ZB-26, the Wehrmacht adopted the ZB-30 after the occupation of Czechoslovakia, renaming it the MG 30(t); it was used in the same role as the MG34, as a light machine gun. In the opening phases of World War II, the ZB-30 in 7.92 mm Mauser caliber was used in large numbers by elements of the German Waffen-SS, who did not initially have full access to standard Wehrmacht supply channels. Comparison of original ZB vz.26 and modifications:

Users

Kingdom of Afghanistan: 2,000 in 7.92mm Mauser caliber shipped in 1938 Algeria: used by the National Liberation Army. Biafra Bolivia: 3,350 in 7.65mm Mauser between 1932 and 1937, used in the Chaco War, still in use in the 1960s Bulgaria: used as aircraft gun on Kaproni Bulgarski KB-11 Fazan Czechoslovakia Republic of China: Imported and produced under license. Ecuador 750 7.92mm Mauser in 1935-1936 Ethiopia: 400-450 in 7.92mm Mauser ZB vz.30 bought in 1934, used by the Kebur Zabagna Nazi Germany Guatemala: 50 in 7mm Mauser, delivered in 1937 Iran: produced under license. Modified to fire the .30 cartridge. Kingdom of Italy: An unspecified number were captured in Ethiopia and in Yugoslavia. By July 1942, 936 were listed in the Regio Esercito's inventory. Experiments were conducted in converting them to the 8×59mm Rb Breda cartridge. In March 1943, they were issued to territorial units in Lazio, Liguria, and Tuscany. Japan: used captured Chinese guns. Latvia: 11 in 7.92mm Mauser received in 1936 Manchukuo Nicaragua: 5 in 7mm Mauser supplied in 1937 Peru: 1,257 in 7.65mm, delivered from 1932 to 1938 Some converted to 7.62 NATO. Romania: Produced under license. 17,131 were imported from Czechoslovakia from 1933 and 10,000 were license-produced at Cugir, with a production rate of 250 pieces per month as of October 1942. Spain: 20,000 7.92mm Mauser caliber guns ordered but only a few hundred actually delivered. Copied as the Fusil ametrallador Oviedo. Turkey: 9,805 7.92mm Mauser caliber supplied in 1935–1939. Produced under license Uruguay: 80 in 7mm received in 1937 Venezuela: 110 in 7mm Mauser caliber ZB-30J received in 1937 Vietnam: Used by the Việt Minh, supplied by both Nationalist and Communist Chinese Yugoslavia: The ZB Model 30J was produced under license as, Пушкомитраљез 7.9mm модел 1937". 15,500 were bought in 1936.

== Conflicts == Chaco War Second Italo-Ethiopian War Spanish Civil War World War II First Indochina War Algerian War Biafran war Yugoslav Wars War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)