Star Model Z-45

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
TypeSubmachine gun
Place of origin Francoist Spain
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[1]/4.54 kg (10.01 lb) loaded[2]
Length850 mm (33 in) stock extended/610 mm (24.0 in) stock folded[3]
Barrel length210 mm (8.3 in)[1]
Cartridge9×23mm Largo
9×19mm Parabellum
.38 Super
.45 ACP
ActionRecoil operated[2]
Rate of fire450 rounds/min[2]
Muzzle velocity1,250 feet per second (380 m/s)[4]
Effective firing range100–200 m[2]
Feed system30-round detachable box magazine[2]

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).[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

Versions chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, .38 Super and .45 ACP were also produced, since the barrel can be easily removed.[7]

Service

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

See also

References
  1. "Semiautomática y automática". armia-eibar.eus. Museo de la Industria Armera de Éibar.
  2. 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. "Star Z-45 submachine-gun". iwm.org.uk. Imperial War Museum.
  4. Smith, Joseph E. (1969). Small Arms of the World (11 ed.). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Stackpole Company. pp. 544–546.
  5. de Quesada, Alejandro (2014). MP 38 and MP 40 Submachine Guns. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1780963884.
  6. Hogg, Ian V. and Weeks, John, Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, 6th ed. DBI Books, Inc. (1991)
  7. 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). 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.
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