UK vz. 59
Czechoslovak general-purpose machine gun, still in service today.
The UK vz. 59 is a general-purpose machine gun designed in Czechoslovakia during the 1950s. It is still used by the Czech and Slovak armed forces. The weapon fires 7.62×54mmR ammunition from a belt, though a variant called the Vz. 59N exists for 7.62×51mm NATO rounds. It can be configured as a light machine gun (with a light barrel and bipod, designated vz. 59L) or a medium machine gun (with a heavy barrel and tripod), and a co-axial mounted version (Vz. 59T) is also available. The feed mechanism is a lever-type, originally seen in Louis Stange's MG 39 Rh, operated by a lever on the right side of the receiver. The pistol grip doubles as the charging handle. Users include the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, Ukraine (which received 3,200 units as a gift from the Czech Republic in response to the 2022 Russian invasion), and the PAVN and Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Czechoslovakia
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Service
- 1959–present
- Used By
- Czech Republic / Slovakia
- Design Date
- 1956-1959
- Manufacturer
- Zbrojovka Vsetín
- Production Date
- 1959—1990s
- Variants
- Vz. 59 L, vz. 59T, vz. 59N, vz. 68, vz. 95, vz. 98
- Weight
- 9.28 kg (vz. 59) / 8.67 kg (vz. 59 L)
- Length
- 1215 mm (vz. 59) / 1115 mm (vz. 59 L)
- Part Length
- 650 mm (vz. 59) / 550 mm (vz. 59 L)
- Cartridge
- 7.62×54mmR / 7.62×51mm NATO
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The UK vz. 59 was developed in Czechoslovakia during the 1950s as a general-purpose machine gun. It fires 7.62×54mmR ammunition from an ammunition belt, with a Vz. 59N variant also existing for 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition. The weapon can serve as a light machine gun (vz. 59L model with light barrel and bipod) or as a 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, 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.
The weapon has been used by the Czech Army and the Slovak Armed Forces, as well as by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, and the PAVN and Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, 3,200 UK vz. 59s were gifted from the Czech Republic as part of a military package.
Reader's Guide
The UK vz. 59 represents a significant development in Czechoslovak small arms design, combining the roles of light and medium machine gun in a single platform. Its adoption by the Czech and Slovak armed forces, as well as its use by multiple other military and non-state actors, demonstrates its durability and adaptability. The weapon's design incorporates a lever-type feed mechanism derived from Louis Stange's MG 39 Rh, and its pistol grip serves as the charging handle, a distinctive feature. The gift of 3,200 units to Ukraine in response to the 2022 Russian invasion highlights its continued relevance in modern conflicts. The existence of a NATO-caliber variant (Vz. 59N) further extends its potential user base. Its service with the PAVN and Viet Cong during the Vietnam War places it within a broader historical context of Cold War-era arms transfers.
Did You Know?
- The UK vz. 59 is also known as the Univerzální kulomet vzor 59.
- The weapon was used by the PAVN and Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.
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