The ZB vz. 26 was a Czechoslovak light machine gun developed in the 1920s, which went on to enter service with several countries. It saw its major use during World War II, and spawned the related ZB vz. 27, vz. 30, and vz. 33.

Mar 4, 2025 · The ZB vz 26 became the Czechoslovak army’s standard light machine gun. In total, almost 150,000 units were produced between 1924 and 1953. Image: Imperial War Museum/CC BY 4.0

Nov 12, 2016 · ZB vz.26 was a Czechoslovakian machine gun, which was designed by Vaclav Holek for the company Eskoslovenská Zbrojovka Brno. In mid-1921 the military of the young Czechoslovakian state embarked on a quest for a light machine gun of their own.

The ZB vz. 26 light machine guns were developed by the Czechoslovakian firm Zbrojovka Brno starting in 1923, with the research project headed by Václav Holek. After production began, they equipped the Czechoslovakian Army.

Oct 26, 2017 · The ZB-26 stands as one of the best magazine-fed light machine guns developed during the 1920s and 30s – it was a very popular gun for small military forces and many countries which did not directly buy it were strongly influenced by it.

Aug 17, 2014 · When Germany occupied Czechoslovakia in March 1939, the ZB-26 and ZB-30 were both incorporated into the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS under the designations MG26(t) and MG30(t), the suffix (t) denominating a captured weapon of Czech (“tschechisch”) origin.

Mar 1, 2021 · Light machine gun "ZB" vz. 26 is a automatic weapon with a fixed, air cooled main, which is after the shot to the ejection of the empty shell casings and re-charge the used gas pressure acting on the piston.

May 10, 2019 · Page details technical specifications, development, and operational history of the Ceska Zbrojovka vz. 26 Light Machine Gun (LMG) / Vehicle Machine Gun including pictures.

Mar 11, 2025 · Under the guidance of Vaclav and Emmanuel Holek, ZB spend the better part of the next two years refining the light machine gun, and it subsequently became the ZB-26 aka vz. 26. Had Praha been more established, the firearm could have become the ZC-26 instead!

Lehky Kulomet ZB vz 26 Description. One of the most influential designs of its day and forerunner of the British Bren Gun the ZB vz 26 was air-cooled with quick barrel change, gas operated via piston under the barrel. The ZB vz 26 was issued to the Czech army and sold all over the world.