ZB30 7.92mm light machine gun
| 01. Original name | VZ-30 (Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka (CZ) Factory in Brno) | |
| 02. Other official names | MG30(t) (Following German occupation of Czechoslovakia), ZB vz.30 Lehky Kulomet ZB vz.30 | |
| 03. Popular names | ||
| 04. Chamberings | 7.92x57mm Mauser (primary chambering), 7x57mm Mauser, 7.65x53mm Mauser Other variants were also chambered in additional calibres including 8x56mmR and 7.7mm (303Brit) | |
| 05. Designed by | Václav Holek | |
| 06. Design date | 1924 (VZ-30 is an improved version of the VZ-24 and VZ-26) | |
| 07. In service date(s) | 1926–present (All variants) | |
| 08. Adopted by | A large number of forces around the world, most notably Czech Army, German SS troops, Japanese, Yugoslavian, Spanish, Romanian, Iranian and Chinese Armies | |
| 09. Production quantities | A figure is not readily available, several countries (including Yugoslavia and China) also manufactured these guns under license | |
| 10. Mechanism | A portable Light Machine Gun. Fires from an open bolt featuring a detachable 20 or 30 round box magazine. Gas operated, air cooled, selective fire (semi- or full-automatic). Cycle rate of 500 rounds per minute and bottom ejection | |
| 11. Weight | 9.65kg | |
| 12. Mountings | Carry handle, fixed bipod, tripod, vehicle mount, removable additional barrel | |
| 13. Practicality in action | A very successful design which is robust and reliable with manageable recoil resulting in a machine gun that can be fired deliberately and accurately both semi automatic or fully automatic in a support role | |
| 14. Comments / Other information | It is the predecessor of the Bren Gun which is almost identical to the VZ-33. 30 7.92mm Light Machine Gun (Czechoslovakia – commercial) Introduced in 1930 by the Brno factory for export; final version of the ZB 26/ZB 27guns which led to the Bren Gun; chambered for the 7.92 x 57mm round; uses a 20-round box magazine; cyclic rate about 500rpm; weight without magazine about 21.25lb; quick change barrel. |