ZB-60

The ZB-60 was a heavy machine gun designed by Zbrojovka Brno in Czechoslovakia during the 1930s. Weapons acquired after the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in March 1939 were taken into Wehrmacht service as the 15 mm FlaMG 39(t); Former Yugoslav guns were designated as the 15 mm FlaMG 490(j). The Germans used them as light anti-aircraft guns during World War II. The British developed their 15 mm Besa Mk I from the ZB-60 for service on armored fighting vehicles.

ZB-60
Type	Heavy machine gun
Place of origin	Czechoslovakia
Service history
In service	1935?–45
Used by	Czechoslovakia  Nazi Germany  Slovakia  Yugoslavia
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Zbrojovka Brno
Manufacturer	Zbrojovka Brno
Specifications
Mass	55 kg (121 lb) (gun only)
Length	2,050 mm (6 ft 9 in)
Barrel length	1,400 mm (4 ft 7 in)
Cartridge	15×104mm Brno
Caliber	15 mm (0.59 in)
Rate of fire	420 rpm
Muzzle velocity	860–930 m/s (2,800–3,100 ft/s)
Feed system	40-round belts

A ZB-60 on a tripod.

Bibliography

• Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter. Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939-1945. New York: Doubleday, 1979 ISBN 0-385-15090-3
• Kliment, Charles K. and Nakládal, Bretislav. Germany's First Ally: Armed Forces of the Slovak State 1939-1945. Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 1997 ISBN 0-7643-0589-1