Summary
The Star Model Z-45 is a Spanish submachine gun manufactured by Star Bonifacio Echeverria, derived from the German MP 40.
| Z-45 | |
|---|---|
 Star Z-45 | |
| Type | Submachine gun |
| Place of origin |  Francoist Spain |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1945 – present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Ifni War Cuban Revolution Portuguese Colonial War Rhodesian Bush War Angolan Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1942–1945 |
| Manufacturer | |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.5 kg (7.72 lb) unloaded[1]/4.54 kg (10.01 lb) loaded[2] |
| Length | 850 mm (33 in) stock extended/610 mm (24.0 in) stock folded[3] |
| Barrel length | 210 mm (8.3 in)[1] |
| Cartridge | 9×23mm Largo 9×19mm Parabellum .38 Super .45 ACP |
| Action | Recoil operated[2] |
| Rate of fire | 450 rounds/min[2] |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,250 feet per second (380 m/s)[4] |
| Effective firing range | 100–200 m[2] |
| Feed system | 30-round detachable box magazine[2] |
Design edit
The internal mechanisms are similar to the MP 40. Unlike the German version, the Z-45 is a selective fire weapon (full-auto or single shot).[5] The gun was made in both folding stock and wood stock versions.[4] The Z-45 had a fluted chamber to ease extraction with the powerful 9×23mm Largo cartridge.[6] Most Z-45s were issued with a 30-round box magazine, but a short 10-round magazine was available for law enforcement, or for prison forces guarding prisoners.[6]
Variants edit
Versions chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, .38 Super and .45 ACP were also produced, since the barrel can be easily removed.[7]
Service edit
It was designed between 1942 and 1945.[3] The Star Z-45 was adopted by the Guardia Civil in 1945, by the Spanish Police the next year, by the Air Force in 1947 and eventually by the Army in 1948.[7] It was used in combat during the Ifni War against the Moroccan Army of Liberation.[8]
Users edit
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Semiautomática y automática". armia-eibar.eus. Museo de la Industria Armera de Éibar.
- ^ a b c d e Wiener, Friedrich (1987). The armies of the NATO nations: Organization, concept of war, weapons and equipment. Truppendienst Handbooks Volume 3. Vienna: Herold Publishers. p. 433.
- ^ a b "Star Z-45 submachine-gun". iwm.org.uk. Imperial War Museum.
- ^ a b Smith, Joseph E. (1969). Small Arms of the World (11 ed.). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Stackpole Company. pp. 544–546.
- ^ de Quesada, Alejandro (2014). MP 38 and MP 40 Submachine Guns. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1780963884.
- ^ a b Hogg, Ian V. and Weeks, John, Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, 6th ed. DBI Books, Inc. (1991)
- ^ a b c d e f Huon, Jean (November 2007). "The STAR Z-45 Submachine Gun". Small Arms Review. Vol. 11, no. 2.
- ^ Bueno Carrera, José María; Bueno, José Glez. (1994). La Legion: 75 años de uniformes legionarios (PDF) (in Spanish). p. 94. ISBN 9788460495529.
- ^ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Angola". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 447.
- ^ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Cuba". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 1508.
- ^ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Egypt". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 1638.
- ^ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Mauritania". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 3103.
- ^ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Peru". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 3247.
- ^ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Portugal". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 3371.
- ^ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Spain". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 4250.