7,62mm univerzální kulomet vz. 59

edit: Gebirgsjäger

7.62mm universal machine gun vz. 59, version:
UK vz. 59 L with 550 mm light main and bipod
UK vz. 59 T with 650 mm heavy barrel for shooting from a pedestal (tripod) and for mounting in field permanent fortifications, armored vehicles and aircraft
UK vz. 59 N chambered on charge 7.62 NATO (export version with light barrel)
HM-68 - 500 piece export series 7.62 NATO with heavy barrel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uk_vz._59
https://www.militaria.wz.cz/cs/kulomet-59.htm
https://www.vhu.cz/univerzalni-kulomet-vz-59/

The breech design of the UK vz.59 is based on the UK vz.52, which in turn is based on the LK vz.26. I am talking here about the similarity of the principle of function, not about the similarity of shape.
Otherwise, I attach a promotional photo of the ACR.

7.62 mm Universal machine gun vz.59
7.62 mm universal machine gun is an effective weapon designed to destroy uncovered and masked individual and group targets using a heavy barrel and pedestal to a distance of 1,500 m and to fire on attacking combat helicopters and floating parachutes to a distance of 500 m.
When using a light barrel with a bipod, the machine gun is designed to destroy live and uncovered targets up to a distance of 1,000 m; the greatest effect is the machine gun fire, which is launched with a surprise at a distance of up to 600 m and closer.
7.62 mm universal machine gun vz. 59 is an automatic weapon with a replaceable air-cooled barrel, either a heavy or light barrel. The pressure of dust gas particles on the piston penetrated from the main gas channel into the piston space is used for the operation of the conclusion. Due to their pressure, the dust gases act on the piston connected to the bolt carrier, which creates an automatic movement of the bolt to its rear position during firing. The lock is returned to the front position by the pressure of the return spring.


Caliber ......................................... 7.62 mm
Number of grooves in the barrel .................... 4
Maximum range ......................... 4,800 m
Deadly effect to distance up to. 4,800 m
Weight of machine gun with heavy barrel and base 19.42 kg
Number of rounds in the belt .................... 50 pcs
Combat speed of fire - with a heavy barrel .......... 350 rounds per minute
Combat speed of fire - with a light barrel ......... 150 rounds per minute
Weight of machine gun with light barrel .................. 10.5 kg

No other army has probably introduced a bigger piece of crap than this machine gun....

and so I apologize, but claims about the reliability of these UK or UGs always upset me. I serve as an armourer and this machine gun is quite wet over the years ...... I will add a photo to the reconciled

the filler is caught by the lid of the chest, the cartridges are inserted into the hopper, the cartridge belt is threaded through the fruit under the hopper, the belt is pressed from 1 to 5 cartridges depending on the force acting on the lever, tomorrow I will take a photo of the filler...

7,62 mm universal machine gun vz. 59 L


Characteristics of the weapon :
The 7.62 mm Universal Machine Gun vz.59 is an individual's weapon that is designed to destroy an opponent's living force. It is the most effective means of knocking out single live targets that are uncovered, moving, and appearing for a short period of time. The 7.62 mm Universal Machine Gun is a self-propelled weapon also designed for firing at ground lightly armored targets. The machine gun is fired in small bursts ( up to 10 rounds ), large bursts ( up to 30 rounds ) and without interruption.


Tactical and technical data:
Calibre ... 7,62 mm
Initial rate of fire
with steel core ... 810 m/s
Initial velocity
heavy projectiles ... 760 m/s
Maximum range ... 4800 m
Number of grooves in the barrel ... 4
Rise of the grooves in the barrel ... 240 mm
Sight range after 100 m ... 100-2000
Number of rounds in the cartridge belt ... 50
Number of hanging boxes per cartridge belt ... 2
Length of machine gun ... 1115 mm
Width of machine gun on extendable bipod ... 360 mm
Height of machine gun with folding bipod ... 225 mm
Weight of machine gun with bipod without belt and box ... 8,670 kg
Weight of cartridge belt with 50 cartridges ... 1,380 kg
Weight of hanging box ... 0,600 kg
Combat rate of fire ... 150 rounds/min
Effective range on ground targets ... up to 600 m
Effective fire on lightly armoured vehicles ... 300 m Effective fire on aerial targets ... up to 500 m
Lethal effect of the missile ... up to 4800 m
The barrel can fire continuously ... 350 rounds
Operator ... 1

One photo taken by my "skoropolovicka"

I'm adding a photo interesting lafetace UK-59 on some of the OT-64 CATTLE in a total of 3 pieces on the car.
About the reliability of this LK we have seen at a public event - ready 250 pcs of blanks .After 4 shots with the UK stuck and driving OT in the field was the operator able to do anything about it.
To be on the eastern front of WWII. happen during the retreat before the mass attack I don't know ,I don't know...

Beteer.

1

2

3

4

I enclose three study boards :
Overall view
Use on a base with a heavy barrel
Cut of the weapon

Hopefully it will be useful,....
Pictures of the period (1963 to 1968) slides, manual and the like
Collection Of To.Konvalina via Valleys.

Accessories for UK 59
Base (3-legged tripod) - 1 pc
Hub belt - 22 pcs
Hanging box small - 2 pcs for one cartridge belt with 50 rounds
Large box - 4 pcs for five cartridge belts
Single gun strap - 4 pcs
Lightweight barrel - 1 pc
Barrel cover (holster) - 1 pc
Bipod - 1 pc
Sighting scope 4x8 - 1 pc + scope holder
Machine gun book - 1 pc


Set of spare and equipment parts I.
Wiper
Cloth bore brush
Cloth brush for cartridge chamber
Gunsmith's kit
Oil pan
Special wrench
Grommets (3 pcs)
Shooter's bag
Fly
Extractor spring (2 pcs)
Extractor support (2 pcs)
Extractor (2 pcs)
Firing pin (2 pcs)
Firing pin (2 pcs)
Barrel clutch fuse
1x8 belt catch clamp


Set of gear parts II.
Hub belts - 35 pcs
Belt filler - 2 pcs
Large box - 7 pcs
Filler case - 2 pcs
Box for equipment parts II.


Other accessories
Practice shooting aids : - training barrel handle
- equipment for practice shooting
Infrared telescope holder (PPN 2)


Spare parts kit III.

source: prescription Del-21-6 1961 7,62mm universal machine gun vz.59.

Konštrukta Brno began development of the 7.62 mm light machine gun under the designation " Rachot" in December 1956. The first tests on two prototypes were discontinued in 1957 due to the short breech life and the lack of design of the rim-fed cartridge. After the deficiencies were corrected and further tests were carried out, the 7.62 mm UGĽ vz.59 was introduced into service in February 1959. By the end of 962, Zbrojovka Vsetín had produced 31,500 pieces.
The rearmament of the ground troops was completed at the end of 1964.


Source : pplk. TURZA Peter - Small arms in the armament of the Czechoslovak Army in 1945-1965, ATOM.

Transportation and skladovanie UG vz.59.


Source : www.corvusarmy.sk.

The Slovak contingent in operácii Iracká sloboda




vz. 59 lafetovaný about the vehicle UAZ-469
source: (c) luger

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Slovenskí soldiers in Afganistane (ISAF)
source: vympel, mosr.sk, internet




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from own photo collection

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Machine gun in Ukrainian service.

2 different designs of "grommets" to the belt to facilitate charging.

source: own collection

I had in the army both LK 52/57 (cartridge vz. 43) in combination with TK Gorjunov vz.43 and UK 59 and indeed, I must say: they are related in function, they are both belt fed machine guns and they shoot by batch (52/57 and single).


Otherwise, there are so many differences that talking about relatedness is somewhat belated. Just the fact that the UK is versatile - tripod, anti-aircraft polha, heavy barrel, etc.
Quick release barrel, sights, trigger guard ...

to karaco as a moderator I have to warn you that personal feelings like "no other army probably has a bigger piece of crap than this machine gun" do not belong in a factual forum, if you can prove this statement, if not there are other forums for such posts. The photo is very nice thanks.

at the request of a moderator:
I think that as regards the assessment of the reliability and characteristics of the UK could express better some expert, but from the point of view of the user and repairman I have to negatively rate in particular: too many caps, pins, závlaček, i.e. parts that when shooting from this gun they just fall off, while the absence of some of them means the interruption of the shooting and subsequent repair takes thanks their trivia too long
location dvojnožky - thanks to its absolutely nepraktickému deposit on the barrel is a replacement problematic, the operator must raise, if he has removed the hot barrel, not how to lay the rest of the gun, so without it didn't the dirt - it can only lay on its side, wherein the dirt receiving opening for the barrel in the breech and further to receive the exposed and protruding piston...
on the other hand, this is only theoretical, because the 2 light mainly in weapons not, and the overheat light barrel is no problem and what in the fight then?
the implementation of strips - a big weakness, the manual is in a larger number of impossible and filling machine due to their function requires a lot of strength
shooting blanks - a device for practice shooting consisting of 4 components, and 2 screws is quite tricky, when shooting the gun heavily pollutes
wear part - the most noticeable is omačkání ozubu for the capture of the carriers of the breech bolt hole in the back of the breech position and omačkání breech bolt hole in the place of the imposition of the barrier
insurance system - while shooting at several weapons, release the screw of the fuse, the blockage has occurred spušťadla and the gun didn't stretch
it is argued that all parts of the machine gun can be between different arms replaced, I found that at least especially with some of the weapons trade could not be

this is my personal opinion stemming from my personal experience (about a few 10 000 rounds), if anyone has other experience, I like to learn.

it karaco thank you that you granted my request, I think that such a view of the thing here is quite lacking (hence the look of a man with a gun well seznámeného).
While reading I thought of one thing, no gun no speedloader belt in the photo, still, that without it is the use of weapons quite problematic. Therefore, if anybody got any photos (not only in the UK) put it please to the weapon to which it belongs if you know how it works try to briefly describe..

Well, the blanks I never like to shoot not only because they were short and therefore like to cut, but also that kulásek pretty zasvinily, but if there was a shooting sharp, I don't remember one zádržku (those I have killed far more than the practice).
The "lafetace" means the attachment of the arms for an additional mailbox? Nothing else in that photo I can't see, and I think that's probably too reliable lafetace will!.

It looks to me more like it's painted the same way as in photo DSCI0005.jpg (in the same place).

It's really caught by the fork to the lafetation pin in the front of the breech housing.

Gentlemen,
Please forgive this post in English as I do not speak Czech. I have two of the UK vz. 59's that were sold in the USA as parts kits. These weapons had been made inoperative by destroying the receiver (body). I do have the destroyed receiver pieces and I am attempting to "reverse engineer" the receiver so that I can make a semi-automatic version of this weapon which would be legal to own in the USA. Does anyone here know where I may purchase blueprints of the 59's receiver? This would make my task much easier and far more accurate. Also, is there a manual available for purchase? Thanks in advance for your assistance.


Best Regards,
Orin

Hi Orin,
I don't remember seeing any blueprint of vz.59 receiver. Unfotunatelly this is not the answer you are looking for.
But I'm afraid that but this semi-automatic version is not possible because the vz.59 MG of the has only full-auto trigger without the disconnector..

Orinovi it's not about the gun (he writes that he has two devalued), but the drawing of the breech. Would you like one machine gun to work and rebuild the semi-automatic (which, due to the design spušťadla, according to me it's not)..

Hello "Tango",
The fire control for the semi-automatic vz. 59 would be changed completely.
A new system using a linear striker (hammer) with new sear and disconnect would be fitted to change the operation to semi-automatic and prevent full automatic operation.
This type of system has been used on the semi-automatic English BREN as well as the BRNO produced vz. 37 and vz. 39 and also the Russian RPD.


To Adam:
Thanks for the tip - I will inquire with that firm.
And a poor translation....
Být zavázán do člen určitý cíp JÁ vůle bádat nato firma.


Regards,
Orin

larger photos for studying the details are here:
forum.valka.cz
forum.valka.cz
forum.valka.cz

I have a question to use the machine gun in the heavy version with a tripod. Was a heavy barrel and tripod part of the arsenal of each team, or just selected units within higher units? And what application it was assumed in the fight?.

Heavy barrel and tripod are included with each machine gun,i.e. each team is available. In the fight? Probably just for the permanent habitat when defending.....

So, no "machine gun squad" wasn't applied, is it so? I thought it was on the basis of the available sources to the organization, I just wanted to check. Thanks..

machine gunner is a part of the cooperative....dřívávějc had a charger, now has.

The machine gun team (as part of the company and the platoon as part of the battalion) was not, as far as I know, a motor gunner in the seventies. The machine gun, like the armored vehicle, was part of every team. I think that the size of the team was given by the means of transport, in our country it was a CATTLE and everyone fit in there, the Hungarians used something based on the FUG and had them in two transporters (or on a truck)

On UG-59, the bearing bearings were often baked, they were very sensitive to contamination ...... Eg. PKMB machine gun was not so sensitive to pollution and was much more reliable in shooting.

Guide bearings? I'm a little off ...

Well, I have to give a little truth to the "karaco" that the UK vz. 59 was not a great design miracle. Apparently, this was also related to the effort of the designer (or rather with the request of the client) to design something truly universal that would meet the requirements for LK and TK at the same time, but there was no experience with us. In my opinion, the excellent LK vz.52 / 57 should have been left in service (it could have been a little more light) and the development of the second, heavier machine gun was to go in a slightly different direction, just as the Russians did, see. RPK / PK. However, I had the opportunity to shoot from UK 59 quite often, and I must say that we never had any serious technical problems when shooting with sharp bullets at the shooting range. I believe that in terms of accuracy of shooting, it withstood comparisons with other similar weapons. The fact is that he achieved the best results (in my opinion) when shooting with a heavy barrel and from a tripod, possibly if he was mounted in a rotating carriage on OT 810. I think this carriage was designed specifically for this machine gun. However, I have no combat experience with this weapon and it is quite possible that the shortcomings of "karaco" could pose a serious problem in combat, or other critical situations.

Experience from ZVS: There was never a problem with shooting with sharp (this statement is not objective, I fired about 1500 cartridges), but when shooting with drills it was a disaster. We had to combine parts from 4 machine guns so that at least one could be practiced to shoot, and even so, it got stuck every moment. The biggest mistake was the ammunition box, which we simply threw in the field. She was impractical, misleading, and jumping out of her handles. (There are plenty of them in the military forests in Zahora, you just have to look around ) We wandered our passports around the wrist when moving. The excellent thing about 59 was the choir (6th sec.) And disassembly (2nd sec.).
The most common use in the field was clearly as a bench. When it is wet or 30 cents of snow and you are not in the woods where to sit, then a machine gun on a bipod + a bag with a mask and 2-3 boys could sit on dry land, that's for weekly exercises in autumn or winter priceless