| M53/59 Praga | |
|---|---|
 M53/59 Praga self-propelled anti-aircraft gun of the Serbian Army | |
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | Czechoslovakia |
| Service history | |
| Wars | Gulf War[1][2] Yugoslav Wars[3][4] Second Congo War[5] |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1957 |
| Manufacturer | Engineering and metallurgical plants, Trenčín-Kubrá plant (1959–1961) Škoda Works |
| Produced | 1959–1978[6] |
| No. built | 900+[a] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 10.3 tonnes (11.4 short tons)[7] |
| Length | 6.92 m (22 ft 8 in)[7] |
| Barrel length | 2.4 m (94 in)[7] |
| Width | 2.35 m (7 ft 9 in)[7] |
| Height | 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in)[7][b] |
| Crew | 4 (driver, commander and two gun operators)[7] |
| Shell | Fixed QF 30x210mmCz |
| Caliber | 30 mm (1.2 in)[7] |
| Barrels | 2 |
| Elevation | -10° – +85°[7] |
| Traverse | 360°[7] |
| Rate of fire | 450−500 rpm per barrel cyclic 150 rpm per barrel practical[7] |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,000 m/s (3,300 ft/s)[7] |
| Effective firing range | 3 km (2 miles)[7] |
| Armor | Steel, 10 mm (0.39 in) max (estimated)[7] |
Main armament | 30 mm twin AA autocannon (600−900 rounds)[7] |
| Engine | Tatra T 912-2 6-cylinder inline air-cooled diesel 110 hp (82 kW) at 2,200 rpm[7] |
| Power/weight | 11.57 hp/t (8.63 kW/t)[7] |
| Suspension | leaf spring |
| Fuel capacity | 120 litres (32 US gal)[7] |
Operational range | 500 km (310 mi)[7] |
| Maximum speed | 60 km/h (37 mph)[7] |
The M53/59 Praga is a Czechoslovak self-propelled anti-aircraft gun developed in the late 1950s. It consists of an armoured version of the Praga V3S six-wheel drive truck chassis, armed with a modified version of the M53 twin 30 mm (1.2 in) anti-aircraft gun mounted on the rear, which can be removed and used to provide ground support.[8]
In Czechoslovakia, it was known as Praga PLDvK vz. 53/59 (PLDvK Model 53/59). PLDvK stands for Protiletadlový dvojkanón, or "twin anti-aircraft cannon"). Vehicles for the export market were sold under the designation Praga M53/59 "Ještěrka" ("Lizard").[6]
- ^ Cullen & Foss 1992, p. 11.
- ^ National Training Center 1991, p. 132.
- ^ Department of Defense 1995, p. 17-4.
- ^ Bacevich & Cohen 2002, p. 34.
- ^ Cooper 2013, p. 7.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
stoplusjednicka.czwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s O'Halloran & Foss 2002, p. 52.
- ^ O'Halloran & Foss 2002, pp. 51−52.
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