100 mm vz. 53

When Czechoslovakia was created with the dissolution of Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I it inherited a large and capable arms manufacturing industry. This allowed the new state to both design and produce its own weapons for domestic use and for export. After World War II this design and manufacturing experience allowed Czechoslovakia to not only produce Soviet designs under license but to produce equipment for its own use and for export to its Warsaw Pact allies. A consequence of its membership in the Warsaw Pact was that the military hardware it produced used Soviet caliber ammunition. This standardization was also pursued by NATO members, but with their own calibers of ammunition.

Design and development of the vz. 53 began in 1948 at the Škoda Works in Pilsen under the company designation of A20. Problems with the design of ammunition lead to production being discontinued in 1950. It wasn't until 1953 that the problems were resolved and development resumed with designation vz.53.[1] The vz.53 was designed to fill the same roles as the Soviet 100 mm field gun M1944 (BS-3) and used the same ammunition. Its performance was similar to that of the M1944 but since it was a unique design it had different dimensions. For night fighting it could be fitted with an infra-red sight.[2]