100 mm vz. 53

• Name — 100 mm vz. 53 • Origin — Czechoslovakia • Type — Field gun Anti-tank gun • Is Ranged — yes • Is Artillery — yes • Service — 1956–present • Used By — Czechoslovakia • Designer — Škoda • Design Date — 1953 • Manufacturer — Škoda • Production Date — 1956–1960 • Number — 600 • Weight — 3400 kg • Length — 8.5 m • Part Length — 6.4 m L/64 (with muzzle brake) • Width — 2.17 m • Height — 2.6 m • Crew — 8 • Cartridge — Fixed QF 100 × 695 mm R • Caliber — 100 mm • Rate — 10 rpm • Velocity — APHE: 1000 m/s HE: 900 m/s HEAT: 800 m/s • Max Range — 21 km • Breech — Semi-automatic vertical sliding-wedge • Recoil — Hydro-pneumatic • Carriage — Split-trail • Elevation — -6° to +42° • Traverse — 60°

When Czechoslovakia was created with the dissolution of Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I it inherited a large and capable arms manufacturing industry. This allowed the new state to both design and produce its weapons for domestic use and for export. After World War II this design and manufacturing experience allowed Czechoslovakia to not only produce Soviet designs under license but to produce equipment for its use and for export to its Warsaw Pact allies. A consequence of its membership in the Warsaw Pact was that the military hardware it produced used Soviet caliber ammunition. This standardization was also pursued by NATO members, but with their own calibers of ammunition.

Design and development of the vz. 53 began in 1948 at the Škoda Works in Plzeň under the company designation of A20. Problems with the design of ammunition led to production being discontinued in 1950. It wasn't until 1953 that the problems were resolved and development resumed with designation vz.53. The vz.53 was designed to fill the same roles as the Soviet 100 mm field gun M1944 (BS-3) and used the same ammunition. Its performance was similar to that of the M1944 but since it was a unique design it had different dimensions. For night fighting it could be fitted with an infra-red sight. Similarities • Fixed QF 100 x 695 mm R ammunition • Split-trail carriage • Semi-automatic vertical sliding-wedge breech • Gun shield • Hydro-pneumatic recoil system • Double-baffle muzzle brake Differences • Weight • Length • Barrel length • Single tires • Elevation • Traverse Ammunition • Type — Model — Weight — Penetration • Armor Piercing — BR-412 — 15.88 kg —? • Armor Piercing Ballistic Capped — BR-412B, BR-412D — 15.88 kg —? • High Explosive/Fragmentation —? — 15.6 kg —? • High Explosive Anti-tank —? —? — 380 mm