BA-52
Directorate of Defence Industries · Submachine Gun · Out Of Production · 1952
Also known as: Ne Win Sten, BA52
Overview
The BA-52 is a Burmese 9x19mm blowback submachine gun, the first locally manufactured small arm produced by the state's Directorate of Defence Industries. It is a licensed copy of the Italian TZ-45, firing from an open bolt with selective semi- and full-automatic fire and feeding from Beretta Model 38-pattern box magazines. Also known as the 'Ne Win Sten', it entered production around 1952 and served the Tatmadaw for decades, remaining in support-troop use into the early 1990s.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3175 g (112.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 845 mm (33.27") |
| Barrel Length | 229 mm (9.02") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 40 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 381 m/s (1250 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 540 J (398 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 550 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Grip Safety
- Features: Grip Activated Safety Lever, Top Folding Stock, Beretta Model 38 Compatible Magazines
Service history
Operators
- Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) · adopted 1952
Conflicts
- Internal conflict in Myanmar (1948-present)
Production
Production years: 1952-1980s
First indigenous small arm produced by Burma; exact totals not published
Origin
Country of origin: Myanmar
Designer: Aldo Zorzoli
Notes
Direct copy of the Italian TZ-45 submachine gun designed by Tonon and Aldo Zorzoli. Muzzle velocity and energy are estimated from the 9x19mm chambering and the copied TZ-45 barrel; BA-52-specific figures are sparsely documented.
Background
The BA-52 was Burma's very first home-built firearm, a straight copy of the Italian TZ-45 nicknamed the 'Ne Win Sten' after strongman Ne Win. Its Italian parent was among the earliest submachine guns to feature a grip safety, a quirk faithfully reproduced in the Burmese version.