Star Model Z-45
{{short description|Spanish submachine gun}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Z-45
| image = Museo Eibar Subfusil Z-45 STAR 2.JPG
| caption = Star Z-45
| type = Submachine gun
| service = 1945
| wars = Ifni War
Cuban Revolution
Portuguese Colonial War
Rhodesian Bush War
Angolan Civil War
| designer =
| number =
| spec_label =
| length = {{convert|850|mm|in|abbr=on}} stock extended/{{convert|610|mm|abbr=on|1}} stock folded
| width =
| height =
| action = Open bolt, Simple blowback operation
| image_size = 300
| origin = Spain
| is_ranged = yes
| used_by = See Users
| design_date = 1942–1945
| manufacturer = {{ubl|Star Bonifacio Echeverria}}
| unit_cost =
| production_date =
| variants =
| weight = {{convert|3.5|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}} unloaded{{cite web|title=Semiautomática y automática.|url=https://armia-eibar.eus/armas/arma_larga/EA192|website=armia-eibar.eus|publisher={{ill|Museo de la Industria Armera de Éibar|es}}}}/{{convert|4.54|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}} loaded
| part_length = {{convert|210|mm|abbr=on|1}}
| cartridge = 9×23mm Largo
9×19mm Parabellum
.38 Super
.45 ACP
| velocity = {{convert|1250|ft/s|m/s}}
| range = 100–200 m
| max_range =
| feed = 30-round detachable box magazine{{cite book|title=The armies of the NATO nations: Organization, concept of war, weapons and equipment|series=Truppendienst Handbooks Volume 3|year= 1987|first=Friedrich |last=Wiener |page=433|publisher=Herold Publishers|location=Vienna}}
| sights =
}}
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).{{cite book | last = de Quesada | first = Alejandro | title = MP 38 and MP 40 Submachine Guns | publisher = Osprey Publishing | year = 2014 | isbn = 978-1780963884 }} The gun was made in both folding stock and wood stock versions.{{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| pages= [https://archive.org/details/smallarmsofworld00smit/page/544 544]–546|isbn=978-0-8117-1566-9 }} 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.Hogg, Ian V. and Weeks, John, Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, 6th ed. DBI Books, Inc. (1991)
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.{{cite web|title= Star Z-45 submachine-gun|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30029994|website=iwm.org.uk|publisher=Imperial War Museum}} 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.{{cite magazine|title=The STAR Z-45 Submachine Gun|first=Jean|last=Huon|url=http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=1468|magazine=Small Arms Review|volume=11|issue= 2|date=November 2007}} It was used in combat during the Ifni War against the Moroccan Army of Liberation.{{cite book|language=es|title=La Legion: 75 años de uniformes legionarios|url=http://www.a2mminiaturistasmilitares.com/media/articulospdf/uniformeslegionarios.pdf|page=94|first1=José María |last1=Bueno Carrera|first2= José Glez. |last2=Bueno|date=1994|publisher=Ramos Pérez |isbn=9788460495529}}
Users
- {{flag|Angola}}{{cite encyclopedia|first=Terry J.|last=Gander|title=National inventories, Angola|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n447|page=447|year=2000}}
- {{flag|Chile}}
- {{flag|Cuba}}{{cite encyclopedia|first=Terry J.|last=Gander|title=National inventories, Cuba|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n1508|page=1508|year=2000}}
- {{flag|Egypt}}{{cite encyclopedia|first=Terry J.|last=Gander|title=National inventories, Egypt|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n1638|page=1638|year=2000}}
- {{flag|Mauritania|1959}}{{cite encyclopedia|first=Terry J.|last=Gander|title=National inventories, Mauritania|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n3103|page=3103|year=2000}}
- {{flag|Peru}}{{cite encyclopedia|first=Terry J.|last=Gander|title=National inventories, Peru|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n3247|page=3247|year=2000}}
- {{flag|Portugal}}{{cite encyclopedia|first=Terry J.|last=Gander|title=National inventories, Portugal|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n3371|page=3371|year=2000}}
- {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
- {{flag|Spain}}{{cite encyclopedia|first=Terry J.|last=Gander|title=National inventories, Spain|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n4250|page=4250|year=2000}}
- {{flag|Uruguay}}
- {{flag|Zimbabwe}}