# ZB vz. 30

The ZB-30 and ZB-30J were Czechoslovakian light machine guns that saw extensive use during World War II.

## History

The Zb 30 and Zb 30J were the later versions of the famous Czechoslovak machine gun, the ZB-26. However, the ZB-30 had some design differences, making it similar to the later ZGB-33, which was an early prototype of the Bren gun. Like the ZB-26, the Wehrmacht adopted the ZB-30 after the occupation of Czechoslovakia, renaming it the MG30(t); it was used in the same role as the MG34, as a light machine gun. In the opening phases of World War II, the ZB-30 in 7.92 mm Mauser caliber was used in large numbers by elements of the German Waffen-SS, who did not initially have full access to standard Wehrmacht supply channels.
Comparison of original ZB vz.26 and modifications:
| Machine gun | ZB vz.26 | ZB vz.30 | ZB vz.30J (note) |
| Caliber (mm) | 7.92 | 7.92 | 7.92 |
| Length (mm) | 1165 | 1180 | 1204 |
| Weight (kg) | 8.84 | 9.10 | 9.58 |
| Magazine (rounds) | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Rate (round/min) | 500 | 550-650 | 500-600 |
| Velocity (m/s) | 750 | 750 | 750 |
Note - The ZB 30J was a late design iteration of the ZB 30 for sale to Yugoslavia (originally spelled with a J) that featured an adjustable gas system so that commonly available light and heavy 7.92mm ball ammunition would cycle the mechanism.

## Users

* Kingdom of Afghanistan: 2,000 in 7.92mm Mauser caliber shipped in 1938
* Algeria: used by the National Liberation Army.
* Biafra
* Bolivia: 3,350 in 7.65mm Mauser between 1932 and 1937, used in the Chaco War, still in use in the 1960s
* Bulgaria: used as aircraft gun on Kaproni Bulgarski KB-11 Fazan
* Czechoslovakia
* Republic of China: Imported and produced under license.
* Ecuador 750 7.92mm Mauser in 1935-1936
* Ethiopia: 400-450 in 7.92mm Mauser ZB vz.30 bought in 1934, used by the Kebur Zabagna
* Nazi Germany
* Guatemala: 50 in 7mm Mauser, delivered in 1937
* Iran: produced under license. Modified to fire the .30 cartridge.
* Kingdom of Italy: An unspecified number were captured in Ethiopia and in Yugoslavia. By July 1942, 936 were listed in the Regio Esercito's inventory. Experiments were conducted in converting them to the 8×59mm Rb Breda cartridge. In March 1943, they were issued to territorial units in Lazio, Liguria, and Tuscany.
* Japan: used captured Chinese guns.
* Latvia: 11 in 7.92mm Mauser received in 1936
* Manchukuo
* Nicaragua: 5 in 7mm Mauser supplied in 1937
* Peru: 1,257 in 7.65mm, delivered from 1932 to 1938 Some converted to 7.62 NATO.
* Romania: Produced under license. 17,131 were imported from Czechoslovakia from 1933 and 10,000 were license-produced at Cugir, with a production rate of 250 pieces per month as of October 1942.
* Spain: 20,000 7.92mm Mauser caliber guns ordered but only a few hundred actually delivered. Copied as the Fusil ametrallador Oviedo.
* Turkey: 9,805 7.92mm Mauser caliber supplied in 1935–1939. Produced under license
* Uruguay: 80 in 7mm received in 1937
* Venezuela: 110 in 7mm Mauser caliber ZB-30J received in 1937
* Vietnam: Used by the Việt Minh, supplied by both Nationalist and Communist Chinese
* Yugoslavia: The ZB Model 30J was produced under license as, Пушкомитраљез 7.9mm модел 1937". 15,500 were bought in 1936.