Star Model Z-45

Z-45
Star Z-45
TypeSubmachine gun
Place of originSpain
Service history
In service1945
Used bySee Users
WarsIfni War
Cuban Revolution
Portuguese Colonial War
Rhodesian Bush War
Angolan Civil War
Production history
Designed1942–1945
Manufacturer
Specifications
Mass3.5 kg (7.72 lb) unloaded/4.54 kg (10.01 lb) loaded
Length850 mm (33 in) stock extended/610 mm (24.0 in) stock folded
Barrel length210 mm (8.3 in)
Cartridge9×23mm Largo
9×19mm Parabellum
.38 Super
.45 ACP
ActionOpen bolt, Simple blowback operation
Rate of fire450 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity1,250 feet per second (380 m/s)
Effective firing range100–200 m
Feed system10 or 30-round detachable box magazine

The Star Model Z-45 is a Spanish submachine gun manufactured by Star Bonifacio Echeverria, derived from the German MP 40.

Design

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). The gun was made in both folding stock and wood stock versions. The Z-45 had a fluted chamber to ease extraction with the powerful 9×23mm Largo cartridge. 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.

Variants

Versions chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, .38 Super and .45 ACP were also produced, since the barrel can be easily removed.

Service

It was designed between 1942 and 1945. 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. It was used in combat during the Ifni War against the Moroccan Army of Liberation.

Users

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Semiautomática y automática". armia-eibar.eus. Museo de la Industria Armera de Éibar [es].
  2. 1 2 3 4 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.
  3. 1 2 "Star Z-45 submachine-gun". iwm.org.uk. Imperial War Museum.
  4. 1 2 Smith, Joseph E. (1969). Small Arms of the World (11 ed.). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Stackpole Company. pp. 544–546. ISBN 978-0-8117-1566-9.
  5. ↑ de Quesada, Alejandro (2014). MP 38 and MP 40 Submachine Guns. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1780963884.
  6. 1 2 Hogg, Ian V. and Weeks, John, Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, 6th ed. DBI Books, Inc. (1991)
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Huon, Jean (November 2007). "The STAR Z-45 Submachine Gun". Small Arms Review. Vol. 11, no. 2.
  8. ↑ Bueno Carrera, José María; Bueno, José Glez. (1994). La Legion: 75 años de uniformes legionarios (PDF) (in Spanish). Ramos Pérez. p. 94. ISBN 9788460495529.
  9. ↑ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Angola". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 447.
  10. ↑ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Cuba". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 1508.
  11. ↑ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Egypt". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 1638.
  12. ↑ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Mauritania". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 3103.
  13. ↑ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Peru". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 3247.
  14. ↑ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Portugal". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 3371.
  15. ↑ Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Spain". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 4250.