The vz.52 is a Czechoslovakian self-loading rifle that began development in the 1940s as a replacement for the vz.24 Mauser type rifle in service with the Czechoslovakian army. Its development was stopped during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia but following the end of WWII the need for modernizing small arms accelerated as the Cold War began.
After WWII ended many nations realized the need for an intermediate cartridge that would better serve the changing ways of modern combat. Russia developed the 7.62x39mm M43 round during the war and accelerated its improvement after the war ended. Czechoslovakia was also working along the same lines at the same time and developed the 7.62x45mm M52 that they believed to be superior to the Russian cartridge.
The first years after WWII found the eastern block countries in relative disarray under the Soviet Union and as a result ammunition standardization had not been finalized. Because of this the Czechoslovakians were able to keep their unique cartridge. While the Russians developed the SKS and later AK-47 for their chosen caliber and auto-loading rifle Czechoslovakia would create the vz.52.
The vz.52, full name 7.62mm SamonabÃjecà PuÅ¡ka vzor 52, was designed by brothers Jan and Jaroslav KratochvÃl in the early 1950s. The brothers were well regarded small arms designers and would also design the vz.52 pistol (aka CZ 52). The vz.52 rifle (vz an abbreviation of vzor meaning ‘model’) came into service in 1952 hence the name vz.52. It was considered both accurate and reliable and was manufactured by Považské Strojárne Považská Bystrica and later by ÄŒeská Zbrojovka Uherský Brod (famously known as CZ).
While the vz.52 does have superficial similarities to the Russian SKS in terms of operation the vz.52 is quite unique. Both the vz.52 and SKS are semi-automatic and magazine fed but the vz.52 magazine is detachable. Both can also feed from stripper clips which was beneficial for the vz.52 as the Czechoslovakian army only issued two magazines per soldier.
The vz. 52 has a tilting-bolt locking mechanism powered by an annular short-stroke gas piston system. The bolt is locked by two lugs that recess into slots machined into the receiver. The rifle’s bolt is different by tipping to the front to lock the mechanism where most other tipping bolt designs tip to the rear. The piston is actuated by residual gases from the bore that vent into a sleeve surrounding the barrel to overcome the inertia of the bolt carrier and bolt as well as the resistance of the return spring to unlock the chamber and eject the spent cartridge case. The ejection pattern is unusual as well ejecting to the left or forward left.
The vz.52 trigger mechanism closely resembles the U.S. M1 Garand and the safety switch is inside the trigger guard as well. In another similarity to the SKS it has a folding bayonet but the vz.52 bayonet folds to the side into a recess in the stock.
The vz.52 would serve the Czechoslovakian army for five years but as the Soviet Union coalesced under the Warsaw Pact of 1955 the Russians would demand that Czechoslovakia switch to their 7.62x39mm cartridge. The Czechoslovakians would make the caliber switch but retained their rifle as the vz.52/57. The vz.52/57 would be retired shortly after and replaced with the select fire vz.58
Though it had a very short service life with Czechoslovakia the vz.52 and vz.52/57 would continue to be used in many other nations allied with the Eastern Bloc. Cuba under Fidel Castro purchased a very large quantity of both models and they would be used famously during the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961. Many were then sent from Cuba to African conflicts in Angola as well as the 1960-65 Congo Crisis. The vz.52 and vz.52/57 have also turned up in the Vietnam War, the Ogaden War Somalia vs Ethiopia, the Soviet-Afghan War, the Somali Civil War and quite notably the U.S. invasion of Grenada in 1983. Captured cz.52s and 52/57s from Grenada came back to the United States with soldiers as either authorized legal ‘bring backs’ or by unapproved means.