M2 Browning

The M2 machine gun or Browning .50 caliber machine gun (informally, "Ma Deuce") is a heavy machine gun that was designed near the end of World War I by John Browning. While similar to Browning's M1919 Browning machine gun, which was chambered for the .30-06 cartridge, the M2 uses Browning's larger and more powerful .50 BMG (12.7 mm) cartridge. The design has had many designations; the official U.S. military designation for the infantry type is Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, Flexible. It has been used against infantry, light armored vehicles, watercraft, light fortifications, and low-flying aircraft.

Browning machine gun, cal. .50, M2, HB
M2E2 with a quick change barrel and tripod
TypeHeavy machine gun
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1933–present
Used bySee Users
WarsWorld War II
Indonesian National Revolution
Korean War
First Indochina War
Suez Crisis
Vietnam War
Colombian Armed Conflict
Dominican Civil War
Cambodian–Vietnamese War
Sino-Vietnamese War
Falklands War
Operation Urgent Fury
Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)
Operation Just Cause
Persian Gulf War
Rwandan Civil War
Somali Civil War
Yugoslav Wars
Operation Uphold Democracy
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Iraq War
Syrian Civil War (2011–present)
War in Iraq (2013–2017)
Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)
Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
DesignerJohn M. Browning
Designed1918
Manufacturer
Produced1921–present (M2HB/M2A1)
No. built3 million
Specifications
Mass
  • 38 kg (84 lb)
    28 kg (62 lb) (AN/M2)
  • 58 kg (128 lb) with tripod and traverse and elevation mechanism (T&E)
Length1,654 mm (65.1 in)
1,429 mm (56.3 in) (AN/M2)
Barrel length1,143 mm (45.0 in)
910 mm (35.8 in) (AN/M2)

Cartridge.50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO)
ActionShort recoil-operated
Rate of fire
  • 450–600 rounds/min (M2HB)
  • 750–850 rounds/min (AN/M2)
  • 1,200–1,300 rounds/min (AN/M3)
Muzzle velocity2,910 ft/s (890 m/s) for M33 ball
Effective firing range1,800 m (2,000 yd)
Maximum firing range7,400 m (8,100 yd)
Feed systemBelt-fed (M2 or M9 links)

The gun has been used extensively as a vehicle weapon and for aircraft armament by the United States since the 1930s. It was heavily used during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Falklands War, the Soviet–Afghan War, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan. It is the primary heavy machine gun of NATO countries and has been used by many other countries as well. U.S. forces have used the M2 longer than any other firearm except the .45 ACP M1911 pistol, which was also designed by John Browning.

The M2HB (heavy barrel) is manufactured in the U.S. by General Dynamics, Ohio Ordnance Works, U.S. Ordnance, and FN Herstal for sale to the U.S. government and other nations via Foreign Military Sales.

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