UK vz. 59

The Universal Machine Gun Model 1959 (Czech: Univerzální kulomet vzor 59) is a general-purpose machine gun developed in Czechoslovakia in the 1950s. It remains in use by the Czech Army and the Slovak Armed Forces.

Uk vz. 59
TypeGeneral-purpose machine gun
Place of originCzechoslovakia
Service history
In service1959–present
Used byCzech Republic
Slovakia
WarsVietnam War
Nigerian Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
Afghanistan Wars
Uganda–Tanzania War
Angolan Civil War
South African Border War
Tajikistani Civil War
Mali War
Kivu conflict
2008 Russo-Georgian War
Libyan Civil War
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designed1956-1959
ManufacturerZbrojovka Vsetín
Produced1959—1990s
VariantsVz. 59 L,vz. 59T, vz. 59N, vz. 68, vz. 95, vz. 98
Specifications
Mass9.28 kg (20.5 lb) (vz. 59)
8.67 kg (19.1 lb) (vz. 59 L)
Length1,215 mm (47.8 in) (vz. 59)
1,115 mm (43.9 in) (vz. 59 L)
Barrel length650 mm (25.6 in) (vz. 59)
550 mm (21.7 in) (vz. 59 L)
Cartridge7.62×54mmR / 7.62×51mm NATO
ActionGas-operated, tilting breechblock
Rate of fire700-800 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity830 m/s (2,723 ft/s) (vz. 59)
810 m/s (2,657 ft/s) (vz. 59 L)
Effective firing range100 to 2000 m sight adjustments
Feed systemBelt-fed 50-round, weight 0.19 kg unloaded or 250 round belt
SightsHooded front post, folding leaf rear sight, sight radius 353 mm (13.9 in)

Description

The Uk vz. 59 fires 7.62×54mmR ammunition (although a Vz. 59N variant for 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition also exists), delivered via an ammunition belt. The weapon can serve as a light (light barrel and bipod, vz. 59L model) and medium machine gun (heavy barrel and tripod), and can also be used as a co-axial mounted weapon (Vz. 59T version).

The machine gun is equipped with a lever-type feed mechanism introduced in Louis Stange's MG 39 Rh,[1] which is operated by the feed lever mounted outside the right wall of the receiver.

The pistol grip acts as the charging handle for the Uk vz. 59.

  • UK-L vz. 59 with bipod.
    UK-L vz. 59 with bipod.
  • Detail of the UK-L vz. 59.
    Detail of the UK-L vz. 59.

Users
  • Ukrainian volunteer with UK vz. 59

See also

References
  1. "MG 39 Rh". 19 December 2012.
  2. Jowett, Philip (2016). Modern African Wars (5): The Nigerian-Biafran War 1967-70. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Press. p. 22. ISBN 978-1472816092.
  3. Popenker, Maxim (27 October 2010). "Vz.59 (UK Vz.59)". Modern Firearms.
  4. Small Arms Survey (2015). "Waning Cohesion: The Rise and Fall of the FDLR–FOCA" (PDF). Small Arms Survey 2015: weapons and the world (PDF). Cambridge University Press. p. 202. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2015.
  5. "Geo-army.ge". Archived from the original on 9 March 2012.
  6. "World Infantry Weapons: Libya". Archived from the original on 5 October 2016.
  7. "Google Sites".
  8. "První česká vojenská pomoc Ukrajině". armadnizpravodaj.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  9. Scarlata, Paul (15 December 2016). "Eastern Bloc Firestorm: The Czech UK vz. 59 Machine Gun". Military Surplus Magazine.
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