M53/59 Praga
| M53/59 Praga | |
|---|---|
 M53/59 Praga, self-propelled anti-aircraft gun of Serbian Army | |
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | Czechoslovakia |
| Service history | |
| Wars | Gulf War[1] Yugoslav wars[2][3] Second Congo War[4] |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1957 |
| Manufacturer | Engineering and metallurgical plants, Trenčín-Kubrá plant (1959–1961) Škoda Works |
| Produced | 1959–1978 |
| No. built | More than 1000+[5] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 10.3 tonnes |
| Length | 6.92 m (22 ft 8 in) |
| Barrel length | 2.4 m (94 in) |
| Width | 2.35 m (7 ft 9 in) |
| Height | 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in) |
| Crew | 4 (driver, commander and two gun operators) |
| Shell | Fixed QF 30x210mmCz |
| Caliber | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Barrels | 2 |
| Elevation | -10° – +85° |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Rate of fire | 500 rpm per barrel cyclic 100 rpm per barrel practical |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,000 m/s (3,300 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 3 km (2 miles) effective range[6] |
| Armor | steel |
Main armament | 30 mm twin AA autocannon (900 rounds) |
| Engine | Tatra T 912-2 6-cylinder inline air-cooled diesel 110 hp (82 kW) at 2,200 rpm |
| Power/weight | 10.7 hp/tonne (8 kW/tonne) |
| Suspension | leaf spring |
Operational range | 500 km (310 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 60 km/h (37 mph) |
The M53/59 Praga is a Czechoslovak self-propelled anti-aircraft gun developed in the late 1950s. It consists of a heavily modified Praga V3S six-wheel drive truck chassis, armed with a twin 30 mm AA autocannon mounted on the rear for which the vehicle typically carries 900 rounds of ammunition, each gun being gravity fed from distinctive 50 round magazines. The vehicle has an armoured cabin.
In Czechoslovakia it was known as Praga PLDvK vz. 53/59 – "Ještěrka" (PLDvK Model 53/59 – "Lizard").[7] PLDvK stands for Protiletadlový dvojkanón = Anti-aircraft twin-cannon.
The system is optically aimed and can only be used effectively during the day with good weather conditions. The gun can be dismounted and used independently of the vehicle.
While mostly obsolete in anti-aircraft role, it can be used effectively as a ground support weapon against unarmored or lightly armored targets, as was shown during the Yugoslav wars.
When Czechoslovakia imported one Soviet-made ZSU-57-2 for testing it considered it to be comparable to M53/59 which was the reason Czechoslovakia refused the Soviet SPAAG.[8]
Combat history
Iraq
Prior to the start of the Gulf War, it was estimated that Iraq had around 9,000 to 10,000 AA guns, including M53/59 and M53/70s in service.[1]
Yugoslavia
The M53/59 saw use during the Yugoslav wars, such as Bosnia and Kosovo by the Yugoslav Army.[2][3]
Democratic Republic of Congo
At least one M53/59 remained in use as late as of 2012.[4] While it's exact origin is unknown (possibly from Serbia, Slovakia, or Libya), it is known that the newly reformed DRC Army was armed with weapons left by the former Zairean Army and whatever could be purchased abroad.[9]
Operators
Current
Democratic Republic of Congo − At least one was seen in service as late as 2012[4]
Former
Bosnia and Herzegovina − 100 in 2002[10]
Croatia[10]
Czech Republic[10]- Czechoslovakia[11] − Passed on to sucessor states[10]
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia[10]
Iraq − M53/59 and M53/70 used in the Gulf War,[1] none remained in service by 2002[10]
Libya − In 2002 it was estimated by Janes that Libya had over 100 guns in service.[10]
Slovakia[10]
Slovenia − 9 in 2002[10]
Yugoslavia[11] − Passed on to successor states[10]
See also
- BRAMS design successor
- Praga (vehicle works)
Bibliography
- Bacevich, Andrew J.; Cohen, Eliot A., eds. (2 January 2002). War Over Kosovo: Politics and Strategy in a Global Age. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-50052-4.
- Cooper, Tom (2013). Great Lakes Conflagration: Second Congo War, 1998−2003 (PDF). Helion and Company. ISBN 978-1-909384-66-8. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- Cullen, Tony; Foss, Christopher F, eds. (1992). Jane's Land-based Air Defence 1992-93 (PDF) (5th ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-0979-3. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- Bosnia Country Handbook: Peace Implementation Force (IFOR). Department of Defense. 1995. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- O'Halloran, James C.; Foss, Christopher F., eds. (2002). Jane's Land-Based Air Defense 2002-2003 (15th ed.). Janes Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2437-6.
References
- ^ a b c Cullen & Foss 1992, p. 11.
- ^ a b Department of Defense 1995, p. 17-4.
- ^ a b Bacevich & Cohen 2002, p. 34.
- ^ a b c Cooper 2013, p. 7.
- ^ SIPRI Arms Transfers Database
- ^ Foss, Christopher (1977). Jane's pocket book of towed artillery. New York: Collier. p. 225. ISBN 0020806000. OCLC 911907988.
- ^ Translation of "Ještěrka"
- ^ "Militaria Jowitka". Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
- ^ Cooper 2013, pp. 6−7.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j O'Halloran & Foss 2002, p. 52.
- ^ a b Cullen & Foss 1992, p. 62.
External links
- Czech army shooting training
- "M53/59 at ELDON s.r.o". 2003. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.