The M53/59 Praga Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
The M53/59 Praga is a Czechoslovak self-propelled anti-aircraft gun developed in the late 1950s. It consists of a heavily modified Praga V3S six-wheel drive truck chassis, armed with a twin 30 mm AA autocannon mounted on the rear for which the vehicle typically carries 900 rounds of ammunition, each gun being gravity fed from distinctive 50 round magazines. The vehicle has an armored cabin.
In Czechoslovakia, it was known as Praga PLDvK vz. 53/59 - "Ještěrka" (PLDvK Model 53/59 - "Lizard"[2]). PLDvK stands for Protiletadlový dvojkanón = Anti-aircraft twin-gun.
This weapon proved to be very successful during the wars in the former Yugoslavia.
Modification Praga with missiles air - air. |
Self-propelled gun the M-53 was created in Prague at the beginning of the fifties in Czechoslovakia, and the project cannon is under German control developed since the beginning of the Second World War, for the purposes of PA submarine defense. During the war was made a smaller quantity, but for the purposes of the Ground Army. After the war, Czechoslovakia Army was again interested in the project and finally in 1953, this weapon was introduced in weapons under the symbol Vs.53 / 59th.
For this vehicle became interested and former JNA, the first copies were delivered in 1969 and has been included in the armament under the designation the M-53 / 59th The total is up to the beginning of the eighties procured 789 vehicles.
An interesting conversion Prage in the self-propelled howitzer 122mm, the project company Yugoimport |
Prage were part of mixed artillery rocket battalion of Anti-aircraft defense, would Usually this division was made up of 12 vehicles the M-53 and battery PA rocket Strela 1M.
M5359 Praga, selfe-propelled anti.aircraft gun of Serbian Army |
The plan envisaged the modernization in three steps: In the period 1984-1990 to 720 vehicles were to be built, a new, stronger domestic engines. Then it beginning in 1985 to 350 vehicles was built system J171, With the implementation of the plan, was delayed. especially after giving preference to other projects, but only on a small number of installed new equipment. The disintegration of Yugoslavia, shortly thereafter, he put an end to any further attempt at modernization.
detail of 30 mm twin AA gun, |
combat use
M53 / 59 Praga was intended for shooting low-flying aircraft and helicopters of up to 2500 meters it was used during the war in Yugoslavia and against infantry targets on land where they showed as well oružje.Ratna practice has shown that Prage is very reliable and efficient weapons. Delays and failures have occurred, especially in the initial stage of the war, due to lack of trained personnel.
Armament
Top the M-53, the full framework in which stops 50 shells of 30mm and cadence The 840 to 900 shells per minute. Problematic mobility off-road, and the list of shortcomings is completed and that it can not act at night and in bad weather conditions, no NBH subsystem, Marksman is an exposed to counteract, the vehicle is very challenging to drive ...
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