| FAO | |
| Origin: | Czechoslovakia/Spain |
| Type: | Light machine gun |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Used By: | Spain Egypt |
| Wars: | Ifni War |
| Design Date: | 1951 |
| Production Date: | 1951-1958 |
| Number: | 10,508 |
| Weight: | 9.12NaN2 |
| Length: | 11801NaN1 |
| Cartridge: | 7.92×57mm Mauser 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Action: | Gas-operated, tilting breechblock |
| Rate: | 600-650 rounds/min |
| Velocity: | 850m/s |
| Range: | 1000m (3,000feet) |
| Feed: | 20-round detachable box magazine |
The Fusil ametrallador Oviedo is a Spanish copy of the ZB vz. 26 and ZB vz. 30 Czechoslovak light machine guns.
In 1943, Francoist Spain ordered 7.92×57mm Mauser ZB vz. 30 machine guns from the German-occupied Zbrojovka Brno but received only 100 guns. It was decided to produce a copy in Oviedo. The first prototype was built in 1951 and production began. 10.508 were produced until 1958 and Egypt received 700 of them.[1] Some were modified in 1959 to use a 7.62×51mm NATO 50-round belt loaded in a drum. This modified variant, sometimes used on a tripod, was known as the FAO Model 59.
The FAO was nicknamed Pepito[1] and saw service during the Ifni War against the Moroccan Army of Liberation. It was replaced by the MG 42/59 (MG1).[2]