502:
transitional model designed to use the new simplified parts but was compatible with the Mark II. All those versions had a selector to give a high rate of fire (750–850 rounds per minute) for close combat or focused targets or a low rate of fire (450–550 rounds per minute) for long-range combat or area targets. The Mark III and Mark III* versions did away with this selector and had simplified parts like the Mark II* but were incompatible with the Mark II. The Mark III had a fixed high rate of fire (750–850 rpm) and the Mark III* had a fixed low rate of fire (450–550 rpm) Damaged or malfunctioning Mark IIIs were converted to Mk III* at factories during repair.
449:
627:
490:
22:
135:
501:
The Mark II version, license-produced by BSA in
Birmingham as opposed to ZB's Mk I, entered service in June 1940. The design was modified to be more rapidly and economically produced and three simplified models, the Mark II*, Mark III and Mark III*, entered service in August 1943. The Mark II* was a
664:
cartridge with a muzzle velocity of 818.3 m/s (2,685 ft/s) at a rate of 450 rounds per minute. The 15 mm Besa was fed from 25-round metal belts, which limited its practical rate of fire, although the weapon was usually used for single shots as it was difficult to fire accurately in
485:
The .303 version of the ZB-53 was presented to the
British officials in early 1937 and passed field trials in November 1937 with flying colours (0.5% of stoppages), however in September 1937 the Small Arms Committee had already decided it wanted the 7.92 mm version for which BSA was already
505:
The earlier wartime Mark I, Mark II and Mark II* versions of the Besa 7.92 mm were declared obsolete in 1951 and all Mark III versions were converted to Mark III*. The Mark III/2 introduced in 1952 was a conversion of the Mark III* with a new bracket and body cover. The later Mark III/3
506:
introduced in 1954 was a conversion of the Mark III/2 that replaced the barrel and sleeve and made the gas vents larger on the gas cylinder to make it easier to use belts of mixed ammunition. The post-war Mark III/2 and Mark III/3 remained in service until the late 1960s.
481:
and the round was not changed for
British production. Since the Besa used the same ammunition as Germany used in its rifles and machine guns, the British could use stocks of captured enemy ammunition, albeit without the ability to use their ammunition belts as packaged.
467:
round; referred to by the
British as the 7.92 mm. The British had intended to move from rimmed to rimless ammunition but with war imminent, wholesale change was not possible. It was falsely believed by BSA and the
472:
that the industrial, technical and supply difficulty of converting the design to the .303 round would be more onerous than retaining the original calibre, especially given that the chain of supply for the
982:
637:
A larger, heavier (121 lb (55 kg) in total, 50.5 lb (22.9 kg) of complete barrel) 15 mm version (also belt-fed) was developed by BSA from the
Czechoslovak
641:
heavy machine gun as vehicle armament. It could be fired in semi-automatic mode as well as fully automatic. It was introduced in
British service in June 1940 and was used on the
1646:
1641:
1043:
654:
653:
Marks I–III. Over 3,200 15 mm Besa were manufactured until it was declared obsolete in 1949. It fired a 75 grams (1,160 gr) bullet from a
1586:
1508:
754:
1006:
975:
919:
1616:
1530:
1576:
1611:
1621:
1036:
86:
772:
58:
659:
65:
1636:
1029:
1016:
1021:
953:
809:
737:
105:
39:
990:
72:
893:
876:
43:
1352:
436:
as a mounted machine gun for tanks and other armoured vehicles as a replacement for the heavier, water-cooled
1392:
416:
240:
54:
1626:
1007:
https://web.archive.org/web/20120322211957/http://www.churchilltank.com/Home_Page/THE_BESA_MACHINE_GUN.html
195:
1462:
1347:
849:
758:
1448:
1377:
1314:
1367:
778:
1430:
1425:
1329:
1174:
923:
828:
Britain's Czech-made WW2 tank machine gun in.. .303? With
Curatorial Assistant, Christian Wellard
32:
1518:
1415:
1294:
1289:
1284:
646:
79:
1410:
1402:
1382:
1324:
1319:
1420:
1362:
1309:
474:
325:
1262:
1252:
1242:
8:
1220:
650:
630:
497:
ball ammunition dating from 1941. This ammunition could be used in the Besa if necessary.
448:
437:
1247:
494:
464:
330:
1631:
1545:
1051:
469:
207:
149:
1257:
1387:
1304:
1299:
949:
805:
768:
733:
463:
rimmed round for rifles and machine guns, the ZB-53 had been designed for the German
460:
440:. Although it required a rather large opening in the tank's armour, it was reliable.
349:
1017:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051457/http://www.municion.org/15/15x104Besa.htm
1581:
642:
452:
433:
191:
626:
1440:
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1339:
1272:
1212:
988:
371:
1560:
489:
222:
1357:
1133:
1080:
1075:
421:
409:
402:
159:
826:
429:
ordered the weapon in 1938 and production began in 1939, after modifications.
1605:
1234:
1100:
760:
The
Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History
1550:
1498:
1493:
1483:
1276:
1011:
995:– via Historical Breechloading Small Arms Association (Flickr album).
478:
359:
1090:
1085:
1156:
432:
It was used extensively by the armed forces of United
Kingdom during the
342:
203:
969:
426:
309:
199:
891:. BSA Guns – via Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association.
1540:
1535:
1503:
1488:
1203:
1169:
1164:
1146:
1108:
21:
1522:
1052:
764:
674:
134:
1058:
337:
315:
29 in (740 mm), 4-groove rifling with right-hand twist
1141:
1118:
1113:
1067:
989:
Central Ordnance Depot (Technical Branch), Weedon (July 1942).
946:
Universal Tank: British Armour in the Second World War – Part 2
992:
Guns Machine, Besa, 7.92 m.m.: Illustrated Identification List
1555:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1123:
638:
412:
machine gun (called the TK vz. 37 in the Czechoslovak army).
405:
261:
7.92mm: 39,332 in all variants. 15mm: 3,218 total production
1475:
1230:
753:
Tucker, Spencer C.; Pierpaoli, Paul G. Jr., eds. (2010).
477:
was already separate from the other fighting arms of the
598:Cartridge S.A. Armour-Piercing 7.92 m/m W Mark IIz
46:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
587:Cartridge S.A. Armour-Piercing 7.92 m/m W Mark Iz
732:. Men-at-Arms 127. Osprey Publishing. p. 8.
1603:
730:The Israeli Army in the Middle East Wars 1948–73
752:
824:
1037:
609:Cartridge S.A. Incendiary 7.92 m/m B Mark Iz
804:. Elite 18. Osprey Publishing. p. 13.
1642:World War II weapons of the United Kingdom
1044:
1030:
565:Cartridge S.A. Tracer 7.92 m/m G Mark IIz
621:
576:Cartridge S.A. Tracer 7.92 m/m G Mark 3z
554:Cartridge S.A. Tracer 7.92 m/m G Mark Iz
241:The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited
106:Learn how and when to remove this message
1012:http://en.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/t/32150
625:
488:
447:
1647:Czechoslovakia–United Kingdom relations
1604:
727:
677:– another ZB design taken up by the UK
543:Cartridge S.A. Ball 7.92 m/m Mark IIz
443:
425:to manufacture the gun in the UK. The
1025:
970:The ZB-53, heavy machine gun model 37
532:Cartridge S.A. Ball 7.92 m/m Mark Iz
1474:
799:
419:(BSA), who signed an agreement with
44:adding citations to reliable sources
15:
850:"BESA (Gun, Machine, 7.92mm, BESA)"
763:. Vol. 1. A–L (2nd ed.).
486:tooling up because of the urgency.
13:
1617:Machine guns of the United Kingdom
14:
1658:
1000:
604:Green annulus, WIIZ on Headstamp
549:Purple annulus, IIz on headstamp
538:Purple annulus, Iz on headstamp.
459:Although British forces used the
985:wwiiequipment.com 1 January 2009
889:The BESA 15 mm Heavy Machine Gun
593:Green annulus, WIZ on headstamp
133:
20:
938:
912:
874:Illustrated Identification List
825:Royal Amouries (1 March 2023),
703:"heavy machine gun"; "vz" from
615:Blue annulus, BIZ on headstamp
571:Red annulus, GIIZ on headstamp
183:United Kingdom, Ireland, Israel
120:Tank-mounted medium machine gun
31:needs additional citations for
1622:Machine guns of Czechoslovakia
898:
881:
867:
842:
818:
802:Israeli Elite Units since 1948
793:
746:
721:
693:
582:Red annulus, G3Z on headstamp
560:Red annulus, GIZ on headstamp
376:2,700 ft/s (823 m/s)
255:
1:
1612:7.92Ă—57mm Mauser machine guns
1393:305 mm howitzer M1939 (Br-18)
983:Other British Tank Armaments
728:Laffin, John (29 July 1982).
681:
557:October 1939 – November 1941
417:Birmingham Small Arms Company
401:was a British version of the
296:47 lb (21 kg) empty
283:15mm Besa Mark I (1939?–1949)
304:43.5 in (1,100 mm)
7:
1353:15 cm hrubá houfnice vz. 25
668:
590:March 1941 – November 1941
10:
1663:
1348:10.5 cm hruby kanon vz. 35
800:Katz, Sam (23 June 1988).
510:7.92x57mm Besa ammunition
453:Vickers Light Tank AA Mk I
1637:World War II machine guns
1569:
1517:
1461:
1439:
1401:
1338:
1271:
1229:
1211:
1202:
1155:
1132:
1099:
1066:
1057:
978:Accessed 29 November 2007
920:"British Tanks Equipment"
535:May 1939 – November 1941
380:
370:
366:750–850 rounds/min (High)
358:
348:
336:
324:
319:
308:
300:
292:
287:
265:
254:
246:
236:
228:
218:
213:
187:
179:
171:
166:
156:Place of origin
155:
144:
132:
125:
1378:210 mm gun M1939 (Br-17)
1315:Skoda 100 mm Model 16/19
1310:Skoda 100 mm Model 14/19
631:Humber Armoured Car Mk 2
455:with 4 Besa machine guns
422:Československá zbrojovka
1431:9 cm kanon PL vz. 12/20
1426:8.35 cm kanon PL vz. 22
1330:Skoda 105 mm Model 1939
944:David Fletcher (1989).
906:Jane's Infantry Weapons
854:www.militaryfactory.com
415:The name came from the
364:450–550 round/min (Low)
204:Second Arab–Israeli War
196:1947–1949 Palestine war
1416:7.5 cm kanon PL vz. 37
1295:Skoda 75 mm Model 1939
1290:Skoda 75 mm Model 1936
1285:Skoda 75 mm Model 1928
634:
622:15 mm Besa machine gun
601:September 1941 – 1966
568:September 1941 – 1945
546:September 1941 – 1966
498:
456:
360:Rate of fire
281:Mark III/3 (1954–1966)
279:Mark III/2 (1952–1966)
1383:Skoda 220 mm howitzer
1368:21 cm Mörser M. 16/18
1325:10 cm houfnice vz. 30
1320:10 cm houfnice vz. 28
629:
492:
451:
387:225 metal link belt.
277:Mark III* (1943–1952)
1421:8 cm kanon PL vz. 37
1363:Skoda Model 1928 gun
1180:TK vz. 35, TK vz. 37
976:Tanks equipment page
926:on 16 September 2011
908:. 1975. p. 453.
475:Royal Armoured Corps
372:Muzzle velocity
275:Mark III (1943–1951)
40:improve this article
1627:Medium machine guns
1221:8 cm minomet vz. 36
781:on 16 November 2018
651:Humber Armoured Car
633:with 15 mm Besa HMG
511:
444:Development and use
438:Vickers machine gun
271:Mark II (1940–1943)
1403:Anti-aircraft guns
635:
579:April 1945 – 1966
509:
499:
470:Ministry of Supply
457:
391:25-round link belt
269:Mark I (1939–1940)
214:Production history
208:Lebanese Civil War
150:medium machine gun
55:"Besa machine gun"
1599:
1598:
1595:
1594:
1457:
1456:
1388:24 cm Haubitze 39
1305:8 cm kanon vz. 30
1300:8 cm kanon vz. 28
1263:4,7cm KPĂšV vz. 38
1253:3,7cm KPĂšV vz. 37
1243:3,7cm KPĂšV vz. 34
1198:
1197:
774:978-1-85109-849-1
619:
618:
395:
394:
127:Besa machine gun
116:
115:
108:
90:
1654:
1472:
1471:
1411:2 cm VKPL vz. 36
1248:4cm kanĂłn vz. 36
1209:
1208:
1064:
1063:
1046:
1039:
1032:
1023:
1022:
996:
957:
942:
936:
935:
933:
931:
922:. Archived from
916:
910:
909:
902:
896:
892:
885:
879:
871:
865:
864:
862:
860:
846:
840:
839:
838:
836:
822:
816:
815:
797:
791:
790:
788:
786:
777:. Archived from
750:
744:
743:
725:
708:
697:
663:
643:Light Tank Mk VI
512:
508:
495:7.92Ă—57mm Mauser
465:7.92Ă—57mm Mauser
434:Second World War
399:Besa machine gun
381:Feed system
331:7.92Ă—57mm Mauser
257:
192:Second World War
162:, United Kingdom
139:Besa machine gun
137:
128:
123:
122:
111:
104:
100:
97:
91:
89:
48:
24:
16:
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1600:
1591:
1565:
1513:
1466:
1464:
1453:
1441:Naval artillery
1435:
1397:
1373:21 cm Kanone 39
1340:Heavy artillery
1334:
1273:Field artillery
1267:
1258:3,7cm ĂšV vz. 38
1225:
1194:
1151:
1134:Submachine guns
1128:
1095:
1053:
1050:
1003:
961:
960:
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834:
832:
823:
819:
812:
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784:
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767:. p. 535.
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365:
320:
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172:In service
167:Service history
140:
126:
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101:
95:
92:
49:
47:
37:
25:
12:
11:
5:
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1101:Service rifles
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1088:
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1081:Pistole vz. 24
1078:
1076:Pistole vz. 22
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96:December 2023
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57: –
56:
52:
51:Find sources:
45:
41:
35:
34:
29:This article
27:
23:
18:
17:
1561:T-32 (Ĺ -I-D)
1519:Armored cars
1484:Kolohousenka
1157:Machine guns
991:
964:Bibliography
945:
940:
928:. Retrieved
924:the original
914:
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888:
883:
873:
869:
857:. Retrieved
853:
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833:, retrieved
827:
820:
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795:
783:. Retrieved
779:the original
759:
748:
729:
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649:such as the
636:
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479:British Army
458:
431:
420:
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408:air-cooled,
403:Czechoslovak
398:
396:
388:
384:
312: length
237:Manufacturer
223:Václav Holek
180:Used by
117:
102:
93:
83:
76:
69:
62:
50:
38:Please help
33:verification
30:
1582:Ĺ koda Ĺ -I-j
981:David Boyd
930:25 December
859:27 December
785:15 November
665:automatic.
658: [
516:Designation
258: built
1606:Categories
1587:Ĺ koda T-24
1570:Prototypes
1551:Ĺ koda MU-4
1509:Ĺ koda T-21
972:– in Czech
699:"TK" from
682:References
612:1942–1966
521:In Service
427:War Office
200:Korean War
175:1939–1960s
66:newspapers
1632:Tank guns
1541:OA vz. 30
1536:OA vz. 27
1531:OA vz. 23
1523:tankettes
1504:ST vz. 39
1499:LT vz. 38
1494:LT vz. 35
1489:LT vz. 34
1204:Artillery
1175:TK vz. 24
1170:LK vz. 30
1165:LK vz. 26
1147:KP vz. 38
1109:vz. 98/22
1091:ÄŚZ vz. 38
1086:ÄŚZ vz. 27
831:, YouTube
715:Citations
655:15Ă—104 mm
645:C and on
326:Cartridge
250:1939–1945
1467:vehicles
1465:fighting
1449:14 cm/56
1059:Firearms
948:. HMSO.
765:ABC-CLIO
675:Bren gun
669:See also
526:Markings
410:belt-fed
266:Variants
247:Produced
229:Designed
219:Designer
1577:F-IV-HE
1463:Armored
1213:Mortars
1068:Pistols
835:16 July
707:"Model"
493:German
461:.303 in
385:7.92mm:
338:Calibre
80:scholar
1142:ZK-383
1119:vz. 33
1114:vz. 24
956:. p.20
952:
808:
771:
736:
350:Action
310:Barrel
301:Length
82:
75:
68:
61:
53:
1556:AH-IV
1476:Tanks
1190:ZB-60
1185:ZB-50
1124:ZH-29
687:Notes
662:]
639:ZB-60
406:ZB-53
389:15mm:
343:7.9mm
87:JSTOR
73:books
1521:and
1275:and
1233:and
1231:Tank
950:ISBN
932:2014
894:p33
861:2007
837:2023
806:ISBN
787:2018
769:ISBN
734:ISBN
705:vzor
397:The
293:Mass
232:1936
188:Wars
145:Type
59:news
256:No.
42:by
1608::
877:p3
852:.
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660:ru
1045:e
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103:(
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94:(
84:·
77:·
70:·
63:·
36:.
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