M53/59 Praga
< M53
M53/59 Praga self-propelled anti-aircraft gun of the Serbian Army | |
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | Czechoslovakia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1959−1992 (Czechoslovakia) |
| Used by | See operators |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1959–1978 |
| No. built | 900+ |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 10,300 kg (22,700 lb) |
| Length | 6.92 m (22.7 ft) |
| Width | 2.35 m (7 ft 9 in) |
| Height | 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in) |
| Crew | 4 (driver, commander and two gun operators) |
| Shell |
|
| Caliber | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Barrels | 2 |
| Action | Gas-operated |
| Elevation | -10° – +85° |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Rate of fire |
|
| Effective firing range | 3,000 m (9,800 ft) |
| Maximum firing range |
|
| Feed system | 50-round box magazines |
| Armor | Steel, 10 mm (0.39 in) max (estimated) |
Main armament | 30 mm twin AA autocannon (600−900 rounds) |
| Engine | Tatra T912-2 6-cylinder air-cooled diesel 110 hp (82 kW) at 2,200 rpm |
| Power/weight | 11.57 hp/t (8.63 kW/t) |
| Transmission | Manual with 4 forward and 2 reverse gears |
| Fuel capacity | 120 L (26 imp gal; 32 US gal) |
Operational range | 500 km (310 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 60 km/h (37 mph) |
| References | |
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.
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").