The Vz. 52 is a Czechoslovak light machine gun

Light machine gun

A light machine gun is a machine gun designed to be employed by an individual soldier, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. Light machine guns are often used as squad automatic weapons.-Characteristics:...

 developed after the Second World War for the Czechoslovak Armed Forces.

The Vz. 52 was originally called the ZB 501, and was designed by Václav Holek. It is gas-operated and uses a tilting bolt that locks into the roof of the receiver. Its overall action is based on the Czech ZB-26 light machine gun. It has an integral bipod

Bipod

A bipod is a support device that is similar to a tripod or monopod, but with two legs. It provides significant stability along two axes of motion .-Firearms:...

 and interchangeable barrels, and its feed system is designed to take metallic belts or box magazines interchangeably and withouth any modifications.

The Vz. 52 initially used the Czech 7.62x45mm vz. 52 cartridge, but in the mid-1950s it was converted to the standard 7.62x39mm Warsaw Pact

Warsaw Pact

The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...

 round by Jaroslav Myslík, and named the vz.52/57.

Both models were replaced in 1963-64 by the Universal Machine Gun Model 1959

Uk vz. 59

The Universal Machine Gun Model 1959 is a machine gun developed in Czechoslovakia in the 1950s. This weapon is still used by the Czech Army and the Slovak Armed Forces....

, also known as the Uk vz. 59.

Sources

• http://www.valka.cz/newdesign/v900/clanek_11420.html
• http://www.militaria.wz.cz/cs/kulomet-52.htm
• http://www.historieavojenstvi.cz/2007/clanky/holek.pdf
• http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg29-e.htm