Submachine gun "Uzi": photos, features, device

Uziel Gal (1923-2002) was born on 15 December 1923 in Weimar, Germany, and originally bore the name Gotthard glass. After 10 years in Germany came to power the Nazis began the persecution of the Jews. Gottardo lucky in 1933 to travel to the UK, and then, in 1936, in Palestine, in kibbutz Yagur, where he received a new name.

Israeli Patriot

Interest in the creation of weapons from Galya was evident from childhood when, at the age of 15, he had created an automatic crossbow. He soon supel in “Palm”, an elite unit of the underground Israeli army, as engineer gunsmith. In 1943 he was arrested by the British authorities for smuggling arms and sentenced to 6 years in prison. After serving 2 years of the 6, Gal went to the IDF - armed forces of the newly formed state - to fight in the war for independence.

In the late 1940s the company Israel Military Industries (IMI) - formerly, the underground, and now the official manufacturer of the weapons of Israel had commissioned two engineers to create a decent design weapons for the Israeli soldiers, mainly to replace the failed machine gun STEN. These designers were the officers of the IDF Lieutenant Uziel Gal and major Chaim Kara, head of section of light weapons.

Czechoslovak inspiration

No engineer works in a vacuum, and in the case of Galem inspiration was obvious. In the late 1940s Czech firearms manufacturer Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka started to manufacture an innovative series of submachine guns CZ. They had 2 features. The store was inserted directly into the pistol grip, not separately in front of the trigger guard. This positioning was made possible by the strength of the second features of the gun. In this construction, the front part of the shutter was tubular and covered the rear part of the barrel during the chambering and shot cartridge. Thanks to her continuing need for the action weight for recoil control, which allowed to reduce the overall length of the weapon.

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Thousands CZ was exported to the middle East, including Israel, where this gun was the inspiration for the gala and Kara. In the early 1950s both the designer presented a weapon for competitive tests. Carr has created a 9-mm model K-12. As CZ she had a free telescopic shutter and ammunition supply from 20 - or 40-charging shop inserted in the pistol grip. It was a decent weapon – a simple to use and maintain, high quality. Oddly enough, that has been his problem. For a young nation with a developing economy K-12 was too expensive option.

Cheap and effective

Design Galya worked on the same principles, but was based on cheap and quickly stamped metal construction, not requiring tolerances K-12. This increases its strength and reliability when used in the field. In addition, parts of it were 12 less, which reduced production costs.

In 1951, a total of 12 K-12 and 5 «Uzi» has been tested for endurance and performance in harsh desert conditions. Taking into account all factors the sub-machine gun «Uzi» (photo) was the clear winner, and it was selected for further development.

Gaal has patented the weapon in 1952, giving it the right to manufacture the Israeli defense Ministry, and the gun «Uzi» was held for further testing in field conditions. Eventually, in March 1954, the ordnance service has placed an order for the manufacture of 8,000 units of weapons and 80 000 stores. The design of the Uziel Gal was adopted.

The Gun «Uzi»: device

Gaal has created a revolutionary weapon. He was easy to manipulate when firing 9 × 19 mm Parabellum ammunition at 600 rounds per minute. Placing the store in the pistol grip moved the center of gravity in the area of the palm that gave the opportunity to shoot with one hand. The advantage of this arrangement is intuitive to recharge at night or during the intense battle-soldier, it is sufficient to remember the principle of “the hand finds hand”. Submachine gun «Uzi» can be disassembled in seconds, and a small number of component parts useful in the field – so less chance to lose important detail.

Mechanism of operation

«Uzi» – a weapon with a free shutter and telescopic.When the gun is loaded and cocked, the bolt is held in the rear position by the sear of the trigger. When you press the trigger it is released and moves forward under the action of a return spring by grabbing the cartridge in a stack over the edge of the base of the sleeve. As you move the holder touches the guide chute is lifted and directed into the chamber, leaving the store. The tubular portion of the stopper covers the shaft. In this moment rise the extractors, and the base of the sleeve enters the recess of the breechblock holding the hammer. As stop the shutter firing pin strikes the primer at the base of the sleeve and the shot.

Now needs to be extracted and ejected the empty cartridge case and made the recharge. The gas pressure creates output and back pressure in the breech, the weight of which holds the empty cartridge in place until the bullet leaves the barrel and pressure drops to a safe level. Then the shutter starts its way back, pulling the return spring. At the same time, the extractor grips the base of the liner, holding it in the breech until it is flush with the rear surface of the exhaust hole on the right side of the receiver. At this point ejection mechanism strikes the base of the cartridge, turning around the extractor and pushing the casing through the outlet. When the breech mechanism is moving past the store, the latest spring pushes the cartridges up to prepare it for firing.

Modes of fire

The Breech mechanism is moving backward, until it comes to the rear of the receiver, and recoil accumulates considerable pressure. Then spring begins to move the shutter forward. Submachine gun «Uzi» has three modes of fire, set using a sliding switch on the left side at the top of the grip. It has a three position – A, R and S:

• A – full-automatic fire;
• R – semi-automatic fire, single shot;
• S – fuse blocks firing.

If the selector switch is in position A, the shutter completes the path forward to the track to shoot another cartridge; the cycle will continue as long as the descent is pressed.

If the selector is set to R, the sear engages the bolt and holds it in the rear position before pressing the trigger.

The Gun «Uzi» designed to meet the strict safety requirements, so all versions have three-level security mechanism. The S position on the switch blocks the ability of the descent. In addition, at the rear of the pistol grip is another safety mechanism. In order that it may be shot, it needs to be compressed, protecting against triggering by impact or fall. The last frontier-ratchet cocking mechanism that prevents firing in case of accidental release of the shutter during its cocking.

Butt

The First generation submachine guns were equipped with a solid quick release wooden butts. Some of them had holes for the cleaning rod and the oil container. In total there were about four varieties of the wood of the butt, each of which has multiple dimensions and profiles. Critical configuration change occurred in 1967, when the tree was replaced by a folding metal version. The stock turned out to be very comfortable and durable, reduced the weight by 0.1 kg, increased stealth and portability for special forces, paratroopers and security units.

In addition, the produced polymer version of the original wooden butts, and plastic with rubber butt plates.

Sight

«Uzi» – a submachine gun with basic but functional mechanical sight with the factory adjustment. The front sight consists of a simple steel blade, protected by two deep steel wings on either side. Sight adjustable for windage and elevation elevation. To make changes requires a special tool to loosen the screw of the sight.

The rear Sight, protected by high metal wings, – diopter type with a small custom aperture, 100 or 200 m. the Sights are sturdy and reliable, are effective at the ranges and allow you to aim when shooting offhand.

The ammunition supply

«Uzi» produces 2 types of stores: standard 25-charger weighing 500 g and 32 charging weighing 600 g in a charged state. Their length is reduced due to the double stack.

The Location of the magazine catch on the lower left side of the pistol grip for easy access of the thumb of the left hand, but does not interfere during the shooting. Receiver is made of strains...