Sa 23

{{short description|Czechoslovak submachine gun}} {{Infobox weapon | name = CZ Model 23/25 | image = Samopal vz 25 TBiU 14.jpg | image_size = 300 | caption = | origin = Czechoslovakia | type = Submachine gun | is_ranged = YES | service = 1948–present | used_by = See ''Users'' | wars = {{plainlist| *1967 Israeli-Arab war *Vietnam War *Cambodian Civil War *Portuguese Colonial War *Bay of Pigs Invasion *The Troubles *Basque conflict *Communist insurgency in Thailand *Nigerian Civil War *Rhodesian Bush War *South African Border War *Angolan Civil War *Mozambican Civil War *Chinese-Vietnamese War *Invasion of Grenada<ref name="Grenada"/> *Salvadoran Civil War *Lebanese Civil War *Syrian Civil War }} | designer = | design_date = | manufacturer = Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod | production_date = 1948–1968 | number = Approx. 100,000{{sfn|Ezell|1988|page=121}} | weight = 3.27 kg empty (folding stock models Sa 25, Sa 26); 3.5 kg empty (fixed wood stock models Sa 23, Sa 24) | length = 445 mm folding stock model folded (Sa 25, Sa 26); 686 mm fixed stock and unfolded folding stock | part_length = 284 mm | cartridge = 7.62×25mm Tokarev<br/>9×19mm Parabellum | action = Blowback, open bolt | rate = 600 rpm | velocity = | range = | max_range = | feed = 24 or 40 round (9mm Sa 23, Sa 25); 32 round (7.62mm Sa 24, Sa 26) | sights = Iron sights }}

The '''CZ Model 23/25''' (properly, '''Sa 23/25''' or '''Sa vz. 48b'''/'''samopal vz. 48b''' – ''samopal vzor 48 výsadkový'', "submachine gun model year 1948 para") was a series of Czechoslovak designed submachine guns introduced in 1948. There were four generally very similar submachine guns in this series: the '''Sa 23''', '''Sa 24''', '''Sa 25''', and '''Sa 26'''. The primary designer was Jaroslav Holeček (15 September, 1923–12 October 1997), chief engineer of the Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod arms factory.

==Design== The Sa 23 series utilize a straightforward blowback action, with no locked breech, and fire from the open bolt position. They also use a progressive trigger for selecting between semi-automatic fire and fully automatic fire. Lightly pulling on the trigger will fire a single shot. Pulling the trigger farther to the rear in a continuous motion will fire fully automatically, until the trigger is released or the magazine is empty.

The Sa 23 series were submachine guns with a telescoping bolt, in which the forward part of the moving bolt extends forwards past the back end of the barrel, wrapping around that barrel. This feature reduces the required length of the submachine gun significantly and allows for better balance and handling. Handling was further improved by using a single vertical handgrip housing the magazine and trigger mechanism, roughly centered along the gun's length. The gun's receiver was machined from a single circular steel tube.

The design of the Sa 23 series submachine guns is most notable in the West for having inspired the open-bolt, blowback-operated, telescoping bolt design of the slightly later Uzi submachine gun.<ref>Hogg 1979:157</ref>

==Variations== *The Sa 23 (vz. 48a) was the first variant, using a fixed wood stock and firing standard 9×19mm Parabellum ammunition. Has a straight vertical pistol grip and ammunition magazine. Magazines were issued with 24 and 40 round capacity. *The Sa 25 (vz. 48b) was the second and perhaps best known variant, using a folding metal stock, still firing 9×19mm Parabellum ammunition. Other than the folding stock, is identical to the Sa 23 and uses the same 24 and 40 round magazines. The Sa 24 and Sa 26 were introduced after Czechoslovakia joined the Warsaw Pact, and were redesigned to fire 7.62×25mm Tokarev standard Soviet type pistol ammunition. *The Sa 24 (vz. 48a/52) corresponds to the Sa.23, using a fixed wood stock and firing 7.62×25mm Tokarev ammunition. Can be visually distinguished from Sa.23 as it has a slightly forwards-slanted pistol grip and ammunition magazine, though the main receiver and other components are otherwise visibly identical. It was issued with 32-round magazines. *The Sa 26 (vz. 48b/52) corresponds to the Sa.25, with a folding metal stock but otherwise identical to the Sa.24, using the same 32-round magazines.

==Usage== The Sa 23 and 25 models were used by Cuba during the 1960s and 1970s, and some can be seen in photos of the Bay of Pigs invasion.<ref name="Cuba">{{cite book|title=The Bay of Pigs: Cuba 1961|series = Elite 166|first=Alejandro |last=de Quesada |date=10 Jan 2009|isbn=9781846033230|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EE-1CwAAQBAJ|pages= 60-61}}</ref>

After the Sa 25 was declared obsolete in 1968, many of the 9mm weapons were sold around the world. The surplus weapons were exported to other communist countries including North Vietnam. A somewhat-modified copy of the 9×19mm Parabellum model was produced in Rhodesia in the early 1970s as the LDP and given the nickname "Rhogun". Manufacture was later transferred to South Africa where it was briefly marketed as the Sanna 77 in semi-automatic fire only. Some were also used by the Irish Republican Army during The Troubles in the 1980s and early 1990s, likely supplied by Lebanon.

After the Velvet Revolution, many of these guns were still in the inventories of the Czech armed forces, and were sold off as surplus, many ending up on the black market. Others were deactivated for sale to civilian collectors, or demilitarized and sent to the United States where many have been re-built as semi-automatic only carbines.

==Users==  {{Div col}} * {{flag|Angola}}: Sa 24{{sfn|Ezell|1988|page=121}} * {{flag|Biafra}}: Purchased CZ-23s and CZ-25s in 1967.<ref name="auto">{{cite book|last=Jowett|first=Philip|title=Modern African Wars (5): The Nigerian-Biafran War 1967-70|year=2016|publisher=Osprey Publishing Press|location=Oxford|isbn=978-1472816092|page=22}}</ref> * {{flag|Cambodia}}<ref name="jones2009">{{cite book |editor1-first=Richard D. |editor1-last=Jones |editor2-first=Leland S. |editor2-last=Ness |title=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 |date=January 27, 2009 |edition=35th |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=Coulsdon |isbn=978-0-7106-2869-5}}</ref> * {{CPV}}: Unknown users.<ref name= 'bicc'>{{cite web|title= SA vz 23 / 25 |url=https://salw-guide.bicc.de/en/weapon/view/15|website=SALW Guide: Global distribution and visual identification|author1=Bonn International Center for Conversion|author-link1=Bonn International Center for Conversion|author2=Bundeswehr Verification Center|access-date=31 August 2018}}</ref><ref name= 'bicc2'>{{cite web|title= SA vz 24 / 26 |url=https://salw-guide.bicc.de/en/weapon/view/16|website=SALW Guide: Global distribution and visual identification|author1=Bonn International Center for Conversion|author-link1=Bonn International Center for Conversion|author2=Bundeswehr Verification Center|access-date=31 August 2018}}</ref> * {{CHA}}: Sa 23 and Sa 25.{{sfn|Ezell|1988|page=93}} * {{flag|Chile}}<ref name="modernfirearms">{{cite web|title=Sa. 23|url=http://modernfirearms.net/en/submachine-guns/czech-republic-submachine-guns/sa-23-eng/|first=Maxim|last= Popenker|website=Modern Firearms}}</ref> * {{flag|Cuba}}<ref name="jones2009"/><ref name="smallarmsreview">{{cite magazine| url=http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=3038 |title=The Bay of Pigs Museum: Playa Giron, Cuba |author=Rob Krott |date=April 2000 |publisher=Chipotle Publishing|magazine=Small Arms Review|volume=3|number=7 |accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref> * {{flag|Czechoslovakia}}<ref name="jones2009"/> * {{EGY}}: Sa 25{{sfn|Ezell|1988|page=121}} * {{GRD}}: Used by the People's Revolutionary Army.<ref name="Grenada">{{cite book|title=Grenada 1983|url=https://archive.org/details/grenada1983russ|url-access=limited|series=Men-at-Arms 159|first=Lee E.|last= Russell|date=28 Mar 1985|isbn=9780850455830|publisher=Osprey Publishing|page=[https://archive.org/details/grenada1983russ/page/n45 45]}}</ref><ref name= 'bicc'/><ref name= 'bicc2'/> * {{GUA}}{{sfn|English|1984|page=259}} * {{flag|Guinea}}<ref name="jones2009"/> * {{flag|Guinea-Bissau}}<ref name="jones2009"/> * {{flag|Indonesia}}: Sa 24 and Sa 26<ref>{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Joseph E.|title=Small Arms of the World|url=https://archive.org/details/smallarmsofworld00smit|url-access=registration|edition =11|location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|publisher= The Stackpole Company|year=1969|page=461}}</ref> * {{flag|Israel}}: Sa 25{{sfn|Ezell|1988|page=121}} * {{flag|Lebanon}}<ref name="modernfirearms"/> − Also used by the Palestine Liberation Organization and other sectarian militias during the Lebanese Civil War.{{sfn|Ezell|1988|page=241}} * {{flag|Libya|1959}}<ref name="modernfirearms"/>{{sfn|Ezell|1988|page=251}} * {{flagicon|Lithuania}} Lithuanian partisans after World War II.<ref>{{cite book|title= Germany's Eastern Front Allies (2): Baltic Forces|series=Men-at-Arms 363|first1=Nigel|last1= Thomas|first2=Carlos |last2=Caballero Jurado|date= 25 Jan 2002|isbn=9781841761930|page=40|publisher=Osprey Publishing}}</ref> * {{flag|Mozambique}}<ref name="jones2009"/> * {{flag|Nicaragua}}<ref name="jones2009"/> * {{flag|Nigeria}}<ref name="jones2009"/> * {{flag|Poland}}: Used by Biuro Ochrony Rzadu in mid 90s. * {{flag|Rhodesia}} * {{flag|Romania}}<ref name="jones2009"/> * {{flag|Somalia}}<ref name="jones2009"/> * {{flag|South Africa}}<ref name="modernfirearms"/> * {{flag|Syria}}<ref name="jones2009"/> * {{flag|Tanzania}}<ref name="jones2009"/> * {{VNM}} − Sa 24{{sfn|Ezell|1988|page=121}} {{div col end}}

==See also== *Daniela Klette (born 1958), suspected former German Red Army Faction (RAF) terrorist, arrested 2024 *List of submachine guns *List of weapons of the Lebanese Civil War *Weapons of the Salvadoran Civil War

==References== {{reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} *{{cite book |last1=English |first1=Adrian J. |title=Armed Forces of Latin America: Their Histories, Development, Present Strength, and Military Potential |date=1984 |publisher=Jane's Publishing Inc. |location=London |isbn=9780710603210 |url=https://archive.org/details/armedforcesoflat0000engl |url-access=registration}} *{{cite book |last1=Ezell |first1=Edward Clinton |title=Small arms today: latest reports on the world's weapons and ammunition |date=1988 |publisher=Stackpole Books |location=Harrisburg, PA |isbn=978-0-8117-2280-3 |edition=2nd |url=https://archive.org/details/smallarmstodayla0000ezel/ |url-access=registration}} *{{cite book | last = Hogg | first = Ian V. | authorlink = Ian V. Hogg | title = Guns and How They Work | publisher = Everest House | year = 1979 | location = New York | isbn = 0-89696-023-4 | page = 157 }} *{{cite book|last = Jones| first = Richard| title = Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009-2010 | publisher = Jane's Information Group| year = 2009| isbn =0-7106-2869-2 | page =894}} {{refend}}

==External links== *{{commons category-inline|Sa 23/24/25/26}}  {{Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sa vz. 23}} Category:7.62×25mm Tokarev submachine guns Category:9mm Parabellum submachine guns Category:Submachine guns of Czechoslovakia Category:Telescoping bolt submachine guns Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1948