Fusil ametrallador Oviedo

The Fusil ametrallador Oviedo is a Spanish copy of the ZB vz. 26 and ZB vz. 30 Czechoslovak light machine guns.

History

In 1943, Francoist Spain ordered 7.92×57mm Mauser ZB vz. 30 machine guns from the German-occupied Zbrojovka Brno but received only 100 guns. It was decided to produce a copy in Oviedo. The first prototype was built in 1951 and production began. 10.508 were produced until 1958 and Egypt received 700 of them. Some were modified in 1959 to use a 7.62×51mm NATO 50-round belt loaded in a drum. This modified variant, sometimes used on a tripod, was known as the FAO Model 59.

Service

The FAO was nicknamed Pepito and saw service during the Ifni War against the Moroccan Army of Liberation. It was replaced by the MG 42/59 (MG1).

References

• Smith, Joseph E. (1969). Small Arms of the World (11 ed.). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Stackpole Company.

External links

• Image of a 7.62mm FAO 59

1. ZB vz. 30
2. FAO (disambiguation)
3. List of 7.62×51mm NATO firearms
4. ZB vz. 26
5. List of 7.92×57mm Mauser firearms
6. Hotchkiss M1922 machine gun