Wikipedia

M2 Browning

(Redirected from M2 browning)
"Fifty cal" and ".50 cal" redirect here. For cartridges in this caliber, see 12 mm caliber.

The M2 machine gun or Browning .50 caliber machine gun (informally, "Ma Deuce")[14][15] 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
1958 Lebanon crisis
Cuban Revolution
Portuguese Colonial War
Vietnam War
Laotian Civil War
Cambodian Civil War
Colombian Armed Conflict
Dominican Civil War[1]
Ethiopian Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
Cambodian–Vietnamese War
Sino-Vietnamese War
Nicaraguan Revolution
Falklands War
Operation Urgent Fury
Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)
Iran-Iraq War
Operation Just Cause
Persian Gulf War
Rwandan Civil War[2]
Somali Civil War
Yugoslav Wars
Operation Uphold Democracy
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)[3]
Iraq War
Syrian Civil War (2011–present)
War in Iraq (2013–2017)[4]
Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)
Russo-Ukrainian War[5]
Production history
DesignerJohn M. Browning
Designed1918
Manufacturer
Produced1921–present (M2HB/M2A1)
No. built3 million[6]
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)
  • 24 lb (11 kg) barrel weight[7]
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)[8][9]
  • 750–850 rounds/min (AN/M2)
  • 1,200–1,300 rounds/min (AN/M3)[10]
Muzzle velocity2,910 ft/s (890 m/s) (M33 ball), 78 ft (24 m) from muzzle[11]
3,050 ft/s (930 m/s) in manual[12][13]
Effective firing range1,800 m (2,000 yd)[8]
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,[16] Ohio Ordnance Works,[17] U.S. Ordnance,[18] and FN Herstal for sale to the U.S. government and other nations via Foreign Military Sales.

History

edit

Machine guns were heavily used in World War I, and weapons of larger than rifle caliber began appearing on both sides of the conflict. The larger rounds were needed to pierce the armor that was being introduced to the battlefield, both on the ground and in the air. Germany introduced the Junkers J.I aircraft, whose armor could render ineffective aircraft machine guns that used conventional rifle ammunition such as the .30-06.[19] Consequently, the American Expeditionary Force's commander General John J. Pershing asked for a larger-caliber machine gun.[20] Pershing asked the Army Ordnance Department to develop a machine gun with a caliber of at least 0.50 inches (12.7 mm) and a muzzle velocity of at least 2,700 feet per second (820 m/s).[19]

Around July 1917, John Browning started redesigning his .30-06 M1917 machine gun for a larger and more powerful round. Winchester worked on the cartridge, which was a scaled-up version of the .30-06. Winchester initially added a rim to the cartridge because the company wanted to use the cartridge in an anti-tank rifle, but Pershing insisted the cartridge be rimless.[21] The first .50-caliber machine gun underwent trials on 15 October 1918. It fired at less than 500 rounds per minute, and the muzzle velocity was only 2,300 ft/s (700 m/s). Cartridge improvements were promised.[22] The gun was heavy, difficult to control, fired too slowly for the anti-personnel role, and was not powerful enough against armor.[23]

While the .50-caliber was being developed, some 13.2×92mmSR Mauser 1918 T-Gewehr anti-tank rifles and its ammunition were captured. The 13.2 mm German rounds had a muzzle velocity of 2,700 ft/s (820 m/s), an 800 gr (52 g) bullet, and could penetrate armor 1 in (25 mm) thick at a range of 250 yd (230 m).[24] Winchester improved the .50 caliber round to have similar performance. Ultimately, the muzzle velocity was 2,750 ft/s (840 m/s).[25]

Efforts by Browning and Fred T. Moore resulted in the water-cooled, .50 caliber M1921 Browning machine gun and an aircraft version. These guns were used experimentally from 1921 until 1937. They had lightweight barrels and the ammunition fed only from the left side. Service trials raised doubts about whether the guns would be suitable for aircraft or for anti-aircraft use. A heavy barrel M1921 was considered for ground vehicles.[26]

John M. Browning died in 1926. Between 1927 and 1932, S.H. Green studied the design problems of the M1921 and the needs of the armed services. The result was a single receiver design that could be turned into seven types of .50 caliber machine guns by using different jackets, barrels, and other components. The new receiver allowed right or left side feed. In 1933, Colt manufactured several prototype Browning machine guns (including what would be known as the M1921A1 and M1921E2). With support from the Navy, Colt started manufacturing the M2 in 1933.[27] FN Herstal (Fabrique Nationale) has manufactured the M2 machine gun since the 1930s.[28] General Dynamics, U.S. Ordnance and Ohio Ordnance Works Inc. are other current manufacturers.[citation needed]

A variant without a water jacket, but with a thicker-walled, air-cooled barrel was designated the M2 HB (HB for Heavy Barrel). The added mass and surface area of the heavy barrel compensated somewhat for the loss of water-cooling, while reducing bulk and weight: the M2 weighs 121 lb (55 kg) with a water jacket, but the M2 HB weighs 84 lb (38 kg). Due to the long procedure for changing the barrel, an improved system was developed called QCB (quick change barrel). The lightweight "Army/Navy" prefixed AN/M2 "light-barrel" version of the Browning M2 weighing 60 pounds (27 kg) was also developed, and became the standard .50-caliber aviation machine gun of the World War II–era for American military aircraft of nearly every type,[29][better source needed] readily replacing Browning's own air-cooled .30 caliber machine gun design in nearly all American aircraft installations.[citation needed]

Design details

edit

The Browning M2 is an air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun. The M2 fires from a closed bolt, operated on the short recoil principle. The M2 fires the .50 BMG cartridge, which offers longer range, greater accuracy, and immense stopping power. The closed bolt firing cycle made the M2 usable as a synchronized machine gun on aircraft before and during World War II, as on the early versions of the Curtiss P-40 fighter. The M2 is a scaled-up version of John Browning's M1917 .30 caliber machine gun.

Features

edit

The M2 has varying cyclic rates of fire, depending on the model. The M2HB air-cooled ground gun has a cyclical rate of 450–575 rounds per minute.[30] The early M2 water-cooled AA guns had a cyclical rate of around 450–600 rpm.[31] The AN/M2 aircraft gun has a cyclic rate of 750–850 rpm; this increases to 1,200 rpm for AN/M3 aircraft guns. These maximum rates of fire are generally not achieved in use, as sustained fire at that rate will wear out the bore within a few thousand rounds, necessitating replacement. In addition to full automatic, the M2HB can be selected to fire single shots, fire slowly at less than 40 rounds per minute, or fire rapidly for more than 40 rounds per minute. Slow and rapid firing modes use 5–7 round bursts with different lengths of pause between bursts.[32]

 
A U.S. Marine mans a .50 caliber machine gun as part of a security force during a training exercise with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in November 2002.

The M2 has an effective range of 1,830 metres (2,000 yd) and a maximum effective range of 2,000 metres (2,200 yd) when fired from the M3 tripod. In its ground-portable, crew-served role as the M2HB, the gun itself weighs 84 pounds (38 kg) and the assembled M3 tripod another 44 pounds (20 kg). In this configuration, the V-shaped "butterfly" trigger is located at the very rear of the weapon with a "spade handle" handgrip on either side of it and the bolt release in the center. The spade handles are gripped and the butterfly trigger is depressed with one or both thumbs. Recently, new rear buffer assemblies have used squeeze triggers mounted to the handgrips, doing away with the butterfly triggers.

When the bolt release is locked down by the bolt latch release lock on the buffer tube sleeve, the gun functions in fully automatic mode. Conversely, the bolt release can be unlocked into the up position resulting in single-shot firing (the gunner must press the bolt latch release to send the bolt forward). Unlike virtually all other modern machine guns, it has no safety (although a sliding safety switch has recently been fielded to USMC armorers for installation on their weapons and is standard-issue for the U.S. Army for all M2s). Troops in the field have been known to add an improvised safety measure against accidental firing by slipping an expended shell casing under the butterfly trigger.[33] The upgraded M2A1 has a manual trigger block safety.

 
Twin M2HB machine gun during a pre-action calibration fire (PACFIRE) exercise in May 2005

Because the M2 was designed to operate in many configurations, it can be adapted to feed from the left or right side of the weapon by exchanging the belt-holding pawls, and the front and rear cartridge stops (three-piece set to include link stripper), then reversing the bolt switch. The operator must also convert the top-cover belt feed slide assembly from left to right-hand feed as well as the spring and plunger in the feed arm. This will take a well-trained individual less than two minutes to perform.

The charging assembly may be changed from left to right-hand charge. A right-hand charging handle spring, lock wire, and a little "know-how" are all that is required to accomplish this. The M2 can be battle-ready and easily interchanged if it is preemptively fitted with a retracting slide assembly on both sides of the weapon system. This eliminates the need to have the weapon removed from service to accomplish this task.

At some point during World War II, the Frankford Arsenal developed a squeeze bore version of the M2HB which reduced the bullet size from .50 to .30 caliber.[34]

Ammunition

edit

There are several different types of ammunition used in the M2HB and AN aircraft guns. From World War II through the Vietnam War, the Browning was used with standard ball, armor-piercing (AP), armor-piercing incendiary (API), and armor-piercing incendiary tracer (APIT) rounds. All .50 ammunition designated "armor-piercing" was required to completely perforate 0.875 inches (22.2 mm) of hardened steel armor plate at a distance of 100 yards (91 m) and 0.75 inches (19 mm) at 547 yards (500 m).[35] The API and APIT rounds left a flash, report, and smoke on contact, useful in detecting strikes on enemy targets; they were primarily intended to incapacitate thin-skinned and lightly armored vehicles and aircraft, while igniting their fuel tanks.[36]

Current ammunition types include M33 Ball (706.7 grain) for personnel and light material targets, M17 tracer, M8 API (622.5 grain), M20 API-T (619 grain), and M962 SLAP-T. The latter ammunition along with the M903 SLAP (Saboted Light Armor Penetrator) round can perforate 1.34 inches (34 mm) of FHA (face-hardened steel plate) at 500 metres (550 yd), 0.91 inches (23 mm) at 1,200 metres (1,300 yd), and 0.75 inches (19 mm) at 1,500 metres (1,600 yd). This is achieved by using a 0.30-inch-diameter (7.6 mm) tungsten penetrator. The SLAP-T adds a tracer charge to the base of the ammunition. This ammunition was type classified in 1993.[citation needed]

 
M2 with blank-firing adapter

When firing blanks, a large blank-firing adapter (BFA) of a special type must be used to allow the recoil-operated action to cycle. This functions on the principle of a recoil booster, to increase the recoil force acting on the short recoil action. This is the exact antithesis of a muzzle brake. Without this adaptor, the reduced-charge blank cartridge would develop too little recoil to cycle the action fully. The adapter is very distinctive, attaching to the muzzle with three rods extending back to the base. The BFA can often be seen on M2s during peacetime operations.

Deployment

edit
 
An M2 fired from a rigid-hulled inflatable boat.
 
B-25H "Barbie III" showing four M2 feeds and 75 mm M5 gun

The M2 .50 Browning machine gun has been used for various roles:

United States

edit
 
A U.S. soldier in Normandy stands guard with the M2HB installed on a dual-purpose mounting, 1944.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, the United States had versions of the M2 in service as fixed aircraft guns, anti-aircraft defensive guns (on aircraft, ships, or boats), infantry (tripod-mounted) guns, and as dual purpose anti-aircraft and anti-vehicular weapons on vehicles.[38][39]

The .50 AN/M2 light-barrel aircraft Browning used in planes had a rate of fire of approximately 800 rounds per minute and was used singly or in groups of up to eight guns for aircraft ranging from the P-47 Thunderbolt to the B-25 Mitchell bomber, which in the last J-version of the Mitchell could have up to fourteen M2s firing forward for ground attack missions – eight in a solid metal-structure nose, four more mounted in a pair of conformal twin-gunned gun pods on the lower cockpit sides, and two more if the forward dorsal turret's pair of M2 guns were also aimed straight forward. The later A-26 bested this with up to a maximum of 16/18 machine guns, 8 in the nose, four more per wing in flush-mount pods, plus 2 guns in the dorsal turret.

In the dual-purpose vehicle mount, the M2HB proved extremely effective in U.S. service: the Browning's .50 caliber AP and API rounds could easily penetrate the engine block or fuel tanks of a German Bf 109 fighter attacking at low altitude,[40] or perforate the hull plates and fuel tanks of a German half-track or light armored car. It could even penetrate the sides and rear of the Panzer I, Panzer II, Panzer III, and Panzer IV tanks.[35][41][42] While the dual-purpose mounting was undeniably useful, it did normally require the operator to stand when using the M2 in a ground role, exposing him to return fire.[43] Units in the field often modified the mountings on their vehicles, especially tanks and tank destroyers, to provide more operator protection in the anti-vehicular and anti-personnel role.[44] The weapon was particularly hated by the Germans, whose attacks and ambushes against otherwise helpless stalled motor convoys were frequently broken up by .50 caliber machine gun fire.[45][46] Vehicles would frequently "recon by fire" with the M2 Browning, i.e. they would fire continuously at suspected points of ambush while moving through areas still containing enemy forces. One vehicle would fire exclusively to the right, the following vehicle to the left, the next one to the right, and so on in order to cover both flanks of the advancing convoy.

Besides vehicle-mounted weapons, the heavy weapons companies in a World War II U.S. Army infantry battalion or regiment were each issued one M2 Browning with tripod (ground) mount.[47] Mounted on a heavily sandbagged tripod, the M2HB proved very useful in either a defensive role or to interdict or block road intersections from use by German infantry and motorized forces.[48] Hearing the sound of an M2 could often cause enemy infantry to take cover.[49] There are numerous instances of the M2 Browning being used against enemy personnel, particularly infantry assaults[50] or for interdiction or elimination of enemy artillery observers or snipers at distances too great for ordinary infantry weapons.[51][52][53]

 
An M2 overlooking the Korengal Valley at Firebase Phoenix, Afghanistan, in 2007

The M2HB was not widely used in the Pacific campaign for several reasons, including the weight of the gun, the nature of infantry jungle combat, and because road intersections were usually easily outflanked.[54][non-primary source needed] However, it was used by fast-moving motorized forces in the Philippines to destroy Japanese blocking units on the advance to Manila.[48] The quad mount .50 was also used to destroy Japanese emplacements.[55]

The M2HB was used in Korea and Vietnam, and later in both Operation Desert Storm, the Afghan theater of Operation Enduring Freedom and in Iraq. In 2003, U.S. Army SFC Paul Ray Smith used his M2HB mounted on an M113 armored personnel carrier to kill 20 to 50 enemies who were attacking a U.S. outpost, preventing an aid station from being overrun and allowing wounded soldiers to be evacuated,[56] SFC Smith was killed during the firefight and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

M45 Quadmount

edit
Main article: M45 Quadmount
 
An M45 Quadmount installed on an M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage

The M45 Quadmount was a mounting of four .50 M2HB guns with a single gunner situated behind an armored housing. This was used by U.S. anti-air battalions, fitted either on a towed trailer or mounted on a half-track carrier. With 200 rounds per gun in a powered tracking mount, the guns proved very effective against low-flying aircraft. The use of four guns adequately compensated for the fact that the individual M2HB's rate of fire (450–550 rounds per minute) was low for an effective anti-aircraft weapon.[57]

Towards the end of the war, as Luftwaffe attacks became less frequent, the quad .50 (nicknamed the Meat Chopper or Krautmower[57]) was increasingly used in an anti-personnel role, similarly to the earlier-introduced (1940) and more powerful—but much more difficult to keep well-fed with ammunition when in action—German 20 mm Flakvierling. Snipers firing from trees were engaged by the quad gunner at trunk level; the weapon would cut down and destroy the entire tree, and the sniper with it.[49][55]

The M45 Quadmount was still in use during the Vietnam War.

Commonwealth and other forces

edit
 
Australian M113 with twin mounted M1919 Browning and M2 Browning Quick Change Barrel machine guns, 17 May 2002
 
Israel Defense Forces M2HQCB

The Commonwealth use of the M2 Browning .50 caliber machine gun (known as the .5 Browning in British and Commonwealth service) began in World War II, though from 1942 it was standard armament on US-built AFVs provided under lend-lease such as the M4 Sherman, M7 Priest, M8 Greyhound, or M10 tank destroyer variously used by British, Canadian, Australian, South African, and New Zealand units. Nevertheless, the heavy Browning's effectiveness was praised by many British and Commonwealth soldiers in infantry, armored, and ordnance branches.[58][59] Many commanders thought that the .50 Browning was the best weapon in its class, certainly the best of the American weapons, including the M1 Garand and M1 Carbine.[59][60] In North Africa, after Commonwealth units began to obtain sufficient parts, manuals, gauges, and ammunition for the new weapon, the .50 Browning was increasingly used, eventually replacing the 15 mm Besa,[59] but in Italy it was often deleted from top turret mountings because the mount exposed the operator to low branches and enemy fire.[61] All LRDGs, and some SAS units used the aircraft (AN/M2) version of the gun, while beam/waist-mounted and turret-mounted Brownings were used later in the war in such aircraft as the Short Sunderland and Lancaster bomber.

After World War II, the .50 Browning continued to see action in Korea and other theaters, in aircraft, tripod (ground), ground AA (hip-ring), and vehicle mounts. One of its most notable actions in a ground role was in a fierce battle with a nine-man Special Air Service team at the Battle of Mirbat in Oman in July 1972, where the heavy Browning and its API ammunition was used to help repulse an assault by 250 Yemeni Adoo guerrillas, though the more famous weapon from the battle is a 25 pounder gun.[62] The Scots Guards used the weapon in the 1982 Falklands War.[63]

A .50 caliber Browning was installed along with a .30 caliber Browning machine gun in each compact one-man turret on M113 APCs used by the Royal Australian Armoured Corps in South Vietnam.

The M2HB has been in service with the Israel Defense Forces since its establishment and has served in all of Israel's wars, operations, and conflicts. In 2012, the IDF upgraded its M2HB machine guns to the M2HQCB model, with a heavy quick-change barrel. Today the M2 serves as an infantry crew-served heavy machine gun, as a remote-controlled external coaxial gun on Merkava main battle tanks, as the main weapon on the Samson RCWS, and as a secondary weapon on Israeli Sea Corps gunboats and missile boats.

Nigerian troops have extensively deployed the 50 caliber Browning, mounted on Otokar Cobra APCs, Panhard VBL M11s and Landcruiser gun-trucks in counterinsurgency operations in the Niger Delta, N.E Nigeria, the Jos Plateau, and in Mali.

Sniper rifle

edit
 
USMC M2 fitted with a Leupold CQBSS variable power scope

The M2 machine gun has also been used as a long-range sniper rifle when equipped with a high-powered telescopic sight. Soldiers during the Korean War used scoped M2s in the role of a sniper rifle, but the practice was most notably used by US Marine Corps sniper Carlos Hathcock during the Vietnam War. Using an Unertl telescopic sight and a mounting bracket of his own design, Hathcock could quickly convert the M2 into a sniper rifle, using the traversing-and-elevating (T&E) mechanism attached to the tripod. When firing semi-automatically, Hathcock hit man-size targets beyond 1,800 metres (2,000 yd)—twice the range of the standard-caliber sniper rifle of the time (a .30-06 Winchester Model 70). Hathcock set the record for the longest confirmed kill at 2,250 metres (2,460 yd), a record which stood until 2002, when it was broken in Afghanistan by Canadian Army sniper Arron Perry.[64]

Variants and derivatives

edit

Manufacturers

edit

Licensed historic production:[65][66]

Current production (2023):[citation needed]

  • FN Herstal (Fabrique Nationale)
  • General Dynamics
  • US Ordnance
  • Ohio Ordnance Works Inc, and
  • Manroy Engineering (UK)

Variants

edit
 
An M2HB in the French Foreign Legion's 2nd Infantry Regiment during an exercise
 
Jungle Infantry soldier of the Brazilian Army manning an M2HB in the Amazon rainforest

The basic M2 was deployed in U.S. service in a number of subvariants, all with separate complete designations as per the US Army system. The basic designation as mentioned in the introduction is Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, with others as described below.

The development of the M1921 water-cooled machine gun which led to the M2, meant that the initial M2s were, in fact, water-cooled. These weapons were designated Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, Water-Cooled, Flexible. There was no fixed water-cooled version.

Improved air-cooled heavy barrel versions came in three subtypes. The basic infantry model, Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, Flexible, a fixed developed for use on the M6 Heavy Tank designated Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, Fixed, and a "turret type" whereby "Flexible" M2s were modified slightly for use in tank turrets. The subvariant designation Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, TT was only used for manufacturing, supply, and administration identification and separation from flexible M2s.

A number of additional subvariants were developed after the end of World War II. The M2 Heavy Barrel, M48 Turret Type was developed for the commander's cupola on the M48 Patton tank. The cupola mount on the M48A2 and M48A3 was thoroughly disliked by most tankers, as it proved unreliable in service.[68][non-primary source needed] An externally mounted M2 was later adopted for the commander's position on the M1 Abrams tanks. Three subvariants were also developed for use by the U.S. Navy on a variety of ships and watercraft including the soft mount and fixed type versions. The fixed types fire from a solenoid trigger and come in left- or right-hand feed variants for use on the Mk 56 Mod 0 dual mount and other mounts.

Huaqing Machinery has made a clone of the M2HB known as the CS/LM6, which was released publicly in 2010 at foreign weapons expo conventions.[69] It was made with a picatinny rail on the receiver in order to have quick installation of various optics.[69] The original M2HB tripod and parts can be used on the CS/LM6.[70]

M2A1

edit
 
M2E2 modification with quick-change barrel (QCB)

When the M2 was first being designed, John Browning faced two design challenges. With the machine tools available at that time, the dimensions that established the location of the bolt face and the depth of the chamber could not be held tightly enough to control the fit of the cartridge in the chamber. The round can be too tight in the chamber and the gun would not fire, or be too loose in the chamber, resulting in a stoppage or ruptured cartridge. The other dimension that could not be held closely enough was when the firing pin would fall. The solution to these problems was adjustable timing and headspace ("Timing" is the adjustment of the gun so that firing takes place when the recoiling parts are in the correct position for firing; "headspace" is the distance between the face of the bolt and the base of the cartridge case, fully seated in the chamber); the operator had to screw the barrel into the barrel extension, moving the barrel toward the bolt face to reach the proper headspace with simple gauges to allow the operator to adjust to the proper dimensions. By the late 20th century, the M2 was the only adjustable headspace weapon in the U.S. inventory. With rising reports of injuries from improperly headspaced weapons, the U.S. military held a competition for a quick change barrel conversion kit with fixed timing and headspace in 1997. Three companies offered kits and Saco Defense won the competition. However, funding was lost before the design could be fully evaluated and the program ended. In 2007, the military found money to start a new competition. Saco Defense had since been acquired by General Dynamics, which won the competition.[71]

 
U.S. Army Ranger Special Operations Vehicle armed with RAMO M2HB-QCB machine gun

On 15 October 2010, the M2A1 heavy machine gun was type classified by the U.S. Army. Formerly known as the M2E2, the M2A1 incorporates improvements to the design including a quick change barrel (QCB) with a removable carrying handle, a new slotted flash suppressor that reduces muzzle flash by 95 percent, fixed headspace and timing, a modified bolt, and a manual trigger block safety. When a standard M2 had a barrel change, the headspace and timing had to be manually set. Improper adjustment could damage the weapon and cause serious injury to the user. Fixed headspace and timing reduces risk, and the carrying handle allows the barrel to be switched in seconds.[72][73] In June 2011, the Army began conversion of M2HB machine guns to M2A1s.[74] The M2A1 was named one of the greatest Army inventions of 2011.[75] As of 30 November 2012, 8,300 built or converted M2A1s had been fielded by the U.S. Army; the program will upgrade the Army's entire M2 inventory of more than 54,000 guns.[76] The U.S. Marine Corps plans to upgrade all of their ground-mounted M2s to M2A1 standard from 2016 to 2018.[77] The first phase of conversions was completed in March 2017, with 3,600 M2A1s planned to be fielded by the Marines in total.[78] The Israel Defense Forces adopted the M2-HQCB (the commercial version of the M2A1) in 2012 as a replacement to the M2HB.[79]

13,2 mm FN Browning

edit

One derivative of the M2 Browning is the Mitrailleuse d´Avion Browning - F.N. Calibre 13,2 mm, more commonly known as the FN Browning M.1939. The FN Browning M.1939 was a heavily modified M2 Browning for aircraft use designed by FN Herstal for export. Their aim was to make a light, reliable heavy machine gun with the same damage output as a 20 mm autocannon. To achieve this, they raised the firing rate to 1080 rpm and gave it a more powerful cartridge in the form of the 13.2×99mm Hotchkiss.[80] This cartridge was a popular Eurasian analog of .50 BMG developed independently in 1920s with a 13.2 mm bullet (.52 in) and more propellant. A new projectile was designed for this gun. It was of a high explosive type and was designed to take down a small aircraft with a single hit. Tests showed that it was very effective against both cloth and aluminum skinned aircraft.[81]

Due to the aforementioned improvements, the gun received interest from numerous nations when it entered the export market in 1939. Due to the start of World War 2 and the invasion of Belgium it was exported to only Romania and Sweden.[82] Sweden was able to buy the majority of the weapons along with the blueprints to produce the weapon on their own without paying for a license. In Sweden, the weapon received the designation Automatkanon m/39, short Akan m/39, meaning Autocannon m/39 and was later produced by Ericsson as the Akan m/39A. Sweden also gave the blueprints to Finland so they could produce the weapon. Since Finland was already producing 12.7 mm ammunition, the Finnish variant was rechambered to 12.7 mm (.50 BMG). The Finnish variant was designated VKT 12,70 LKk/42 and was produced by Finland.

Aircraft guns

edit

.50 Browning AN/M2

edit
 
.50 AN/M2 aircraft machine gun
 
A P-47 Thunderbolt firing its eight AN/M2 machine guns

The M2 machine gun was widely used during World War II, and in later postwar conflicts, as a remote or flexible aircraft gun. For fixed (offensive) or flexible (defensive) guns used in aircraft, a dedicated M2 version was developed called the ".50 Browning AN/M2" or the "12.7 mm AN/M2".[82] The "AN" stands for "Army/Navy", since the gun was developed jointly for use by both services. The AN/M2 designation was also used for other aircraft guns and therefore it is important to write the caliber before the designation.

The 12.7 mm AN/M2 had a cyclic rate of 600–800 rounds per minute, with the ability to be fired from an electrically operated remote-mount solenoid trigger when installed as a fixed gun.[82] Cooled by the aircraft's slip-stream, the air-cooled 12.7 mm AN/M2 was fitted with a substantially lighter 36-inch (91 cm) length barrel, reducing the weight of the complete unit to 61 pounds (28 kg),[82][83] which also had the effect of increasing the rate of fire. The full official designation for this weapon was "Browning Machine Gun, Aircraft, Cal. .50, AN/M2" (Fixed) or (Flexible).

The 12.7 mm AN/M2 was used on many aircraft during WWII, as it served as the main aircraft armament in the US military. Most US fighter aircraft were armed with four, six or eight AN/M2 MGs mounted in the wings. Some examples being the Curtiss P-40, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, and North American P-51 Mustang for the USAAF and the F4F, F6F, and Vought F4U Corsair for the US Navy. For bombers, the AN/M2 was used in both flexible and fixed positions for both offensive and defensive use. In flexible defensive positions, the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber was armed with 13x AN/M2 guns in both turreted and flexible positions. In fixed offensive configurations, like on the North American B-25 Mitchell, commonly carried 6 to 12 fixed guns for strafing.

In foreign use the AN/M2 is often just referred to as the M2 Browning. In Sweden it was re-designated 12,7 mm automatkanon m/45 (short 12.7mm akan m/45) meaning 12.7 mm autocannon m/45.[82] The Swedish Air Force used a different designation system which recognized the incendiary rounds as grenades, thus it was called autocannon.[82] The AN/M2 was also produced in Finland under the export name Colt MG 53-2.

M296

edit

The XM296/M296 is a further development of the AN/M2 machine gun for the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter. The M296 differs from previous remote firing variants in that it has an adjustable firing rate (500–850 rpm), while lacking a bolt latch (allowing single-shot operation).[84] As an air-cooled gun used aboard a relatively slow rotary-wing aircraft, the M296 has a burst restriction rate of 50 rounds per minute sustained fire or 150 rounds per minute maximum while conducting peacetime training requirements; the combat firing rate is unrestricted but a ten-minute cooling period after prolonged firing is mandated to avoid stoppages due to overheating.[84]

XM213/M213, XM218, GAU-15/A, GAU-16/A, and GAU-18/A

edit

The XM213/M213 was a modernization and adaptation of existing .50 caliber AN/M2s in inventory for use as a pintle-mounted door gun on helicopters using the M59 armament subsystem.

The GAU-15/A, formerly identified as the XM218, is a lightweight member of the M2/M3 family. The GAU-16/A was an improved GAU-15/A with modified grip and sight assemblies for similar applications. Both of these weapons were used as a part of the A/A49E-11 armament subsystem (also known as the Defensive Armament System).

The GAU-18/A is a lightweight variant of the M2/M3 and is used on the USAF's MH-53 Pave Low and HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters. These weapons use the M2HB barrel and are typically set up as left-hand feed, right-hand charging weapons, but on the HH-60 Pave Hawks that use the EGMS (External Gun Mount System) the gun is isolated from the shooter by a recoil-absorbing cradle and all weapons are set up as right-hand charge but vary between left- and right-hand feed depending on what side of the aircraft it is on. A feed chute adapter is attached to the left- or right-hand feed pawl bracket allowing the weapon to receive ammunition through a feed chute system connected to externally mounted ammunition containers holding 600 rounds each.

AN/M3, GAU-21/A, and M3P

edit
 
AN/M3 quad mount on a B-52D


During World War II, a faster-firing Browning was developed for aircraft use. The AN/M3 increased the rate of fire to around 1,200 rounds per minute while firing the same round with minimal change in weight or size.[85] The AN/M3 was used in Korea on the F-82 Twin Mustang (the XP-82 mounted a total of 14 AN/M3 machine guns),[citation needed] F-86 Sabre, F-84 Thunderjet, and F-80 Shooting Star, and in Vietnam in the XM14/SUU-12/A gun pod. Two are installed in the Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano aircraft as a fixed wing-mounted standard weapon as designated as M3W with minor modification with reduced weight barrel, electronic box triggered from the cockpit with 250 rounds each.[citation needed]

 
A German Army ramp gunner manning an M3M on a CH-53 Sea Stallion

The M3 series is used by the U.S. military in two versions, the M3M and M3P. The fixed, remote-firing version, the FN M3P, is employed on the Avenger Air Defense System and was used on the OH-58D, augmenting the XM296 .50 cal. machine gun.[86] The FN M3M flexible machine gun has been adopted by the U.S. Navy under the designation GAU-21/A for use on helicopters. The GAU-21/A is also being used by the U.S. Marine Corps to upgrade from the XM-218/GAU-16 .50 cal. machine gun for the CH-53E,[87] on the UH-1Y Venom, on the Canadian Forces' CH-146 Griffon via the INGRESS upgrade[citation needed] and is to be used on the CH-53K.[citation needed] The Air Force is looking to replace the GAU-18 on the HH-60G Pave Hawk with the GAU-21 because of its higher 1,100 rpm rate of fire, longer 10,000-round barrel life, and lower recoil through the use of a soft mount.[88] The M3M is also the primary machine gun used by the British Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm for helicopter armament on Wildcat and Merlin aircraft.[89] It is also used by the German Bundeswehr on their NH-90 helicopters.[90]

Users

edit
 
Map with M2 Browning users in blue

The M2 family has been widely used abroad, primarily in its basic infantry configuration. A brief listing of designations for M2 family weapons follows:

Country NATO Member Designation Description
  Afghanistan[91] No 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB machine gun
  Argentina[92] M2HB
  Australia[92] Global Partner M2HB-QCB[93] (M2HB Quick Change Barrel)
  Austria[92] No üsMG M2
  Bahrain[94]: 77 
  Bangladesh[95] K6 machine gun [ko] (Imported from South Korea)
  Belgium[92] Yes
  Benin[92] No
  Bolivia[92]
  Brazil[92] mtr .50 M2 HB "BROWNING" and M3
  Bulgaria[92] Yes
  Burkina Faso[92] No
  Bosnia[92]
  Burundi[92]
  Cameroon[92]
  Canada[92] Yes FN M2HB-QCB, GAU-21
  Central African Republic[96] No
  Chad[92]
  Chile[92]
  Colombia[92] Global Partner
  Cote d'Ivoire[92] No
  Croatia[92] Yes
  Democratic Republic of Congo[92] No
  Denmark[92] Yes m/50 TMG[97]
M/2001 TMG 12.7 × 99 mm FNH M2HB-QCB[98]
12.7 × 99 mm FNH M3M machine gun[99]
  Czech Republic[92] 12.7 × 99 mm FNH M2HB-QCB[100]
  Djibouti[92] No 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB machine gun
  Dominican Republic[92]
  Ecuador[92]
  Egypt[92]
  El Salvador[92]
  Estonia[101] Yes Browning M2 sometimes as Raskekuulipilduja Browning M2 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB. Usually mounted on vehicles, such as the pasi XA-180 and XA-188, but the tripod version is also in use.
  Ethiopia[92] No 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB machine gun
  France[92] Yes MIT 50 (Mitrailleuse cal. 50)
  Syrian opposition[102] No
  Finland[103] Yes 12,7 RSKK 2005 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB machine gun in protector remote weapon stations in Patria AMV APCs.[104]
  Gabon[92] No 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB machine gun
  Gambia[92]
  Ghana[92]
  Georgia[105]
  Germany[106] Yes M3M, MG50 Produced by FN Herstal.[107]
  Greece[92] 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB machine gun
  Guatemala[92] No
  Honduras[92]
  India[92]
  Indonesia[92]
  Iran[92]
  Ireland[92] No .5 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)[108]
  Israel[92] מק"כ 0.5

[check quotation syntax]|12.7 × 99 mm M2HB-QCB, used by all ground forces (infantry, armored fighting vehicles and tanks) and naval forces

  Italy[92] Yes 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB machine gun
  Ivory Coast[109] No
  Jamaica[92]
  Japan[92] Global Partner 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun M2
  Jordan[92] No
  Katanga[110]
  South Korea[92] Global Partner K6 machine gun [ko] (standard HMG), MG50 (being phased out), M3M (used by Cheonghae Unit[111]) The Armed Forces received 664 M2s before the Korean War, and 4,445 were in service by the end of the war.[112] Later, produced locally by Yehwa Shotgun.
  Kuwait[92] No 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB machine gun
  Lebanon[92]
  Lesotho[113]
  Liberia[92]
  Libya 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB and M3 machine guns[114]
  Latvia[115] Yes M2HB-QCB 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB machine gun
  Lithuania[116]
  Luxembourg[92] Mitrailleuse .50 M2 HB[117]
  Madagascar[92] No
  Malaysia[92]
  Mauritania[92]
  Mauritius[92]
  Mexico[92]
  Morocco[92]
  Myanmar[92]
  Netherlands[92] Yes
  New Zealand[92] Global Partner
  Nicaragua[92] No
  Niger[92]
  Nigeria[92]
  Norway[92] Yes 12,7 mitraljøse
  Oman[92] No
  Pakistan[92] Global Partner
  Panama[92] No
  Paraguay[92]
  Peru[92]
  Philippines[92] M3P[118]
  Poland[119] Yes GAU-21
  Portugal[92] m/951[120]
  Qatar[92] No
  Romania[92] Yes
  Rwanda[92] No
  Saudi Arabia[92]
  Senegal[92]
  Serbia[92]
  Singapore[92]
  Slovenia[121] Yes FN HERSTAL M2HB QCB Heavy Machine Gun
  Somalia[92] No
  South Africa[92] 12.7mm L4 Browning Machine Gun
  Soviet Union M2 AA variant, Lend-Lease, 3100 pieces[122]
  Spain[92][123] Yes
  Sweden[124]
   Switzerland[92] No mG 64
  Sri Lanka[92]
  Taiwan[92]
  Thailand[92]
  Togo[92]
  Tonga[92]
  Tunisia[92]
  Turkey[92] Yes
  Ukraine[125] No
  United Arab Emirates[92]
  United Kingdom[92] Yes L2A1
L6, L6A1 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB machine gun; ranging gun for the L7 105 mm tank gun on the Centurion tank
L11, L11A1 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB machine gun; ranging gun
L21A1 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB machine gun; ranging gun for the 120 mm tank gun on the Chieftain tank
L111A1[126] 12.7 × 99 mm M2QCB machine gun
M3M[127] 12.7 × 99 mm FN Herstal built upgraded M2 for use on Commando Helicopter Force and other units as helicopter door guns.
  United States[92] Browning Caliber .50 M2, M2HB, XM218/GAU-16, GAU-21 12.7 × 99 mm Browning M2HB machine gun
  Uruguay[92] No
  Venezuela[92]
  Yemen[92]
  Zimbabwe[92]

Myths regarding M2 Browning use against personnel

edit

It is often stated in military circles that the use of the M2 Browning against human targets is prohibited under the Geneva Conventions. This is false; the Geneva Convention, contrary to popular belief, does not regulate the use of any weapon of war. It only regulates the treatment and protection of prisoners of war and non-combatants.[128][129] There has been controversy surrounding the use of .50 caliber ammunition against enemy personnel, due to the explosive and incendiary Raufoss Mk 211 ammunition. The Saint Petersburg Declaration of 1868 states that the "military or naval" use of explosive or incendiary projectiles with a mass of under 400 g (14 oz) is forbidden by its signatory parties.[130]

The Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, which are the international treaties that do regulate the use of weaponry, do not prohibit the use of .50 caliber weapons like the M2 against personnel. The US Army's own field manual concerning the employment of the M2 actually describes enemy personnel as an intended target.[131] The origin of these myths is likely due to military commanders instructing their troops to conserve ammunition for targets that other lighter machine guns were not well suited to engage, such as aircraft or ground vehicles. One possible source of the misconception is from World War II, when American half-track units in Germany were told to stop firing their M2s at ground targets, to conserve ammunition in case of a Luftwaffe attack.[132] Also, U.S. troops were told to use their M2s only against enemy equipment due to shortages of ammunition during the Korean or Vietnam War.[133] It is also possible that a restriction during the latter period limiting the use of the M40 recoilless rifle's .50-caliber spotting gun to destroy enemy equipment only, since the M40 was meant to be used against armor and firing it at personnel would give away their position before it could be used as intended, was mistakenly applied to all .50 caliber weapons.[129]

See also

edit

References

edit

Citations

edit
  1. ^ Yates, Lawrence A. (July 1988). Power Pack: U.S. Intervention in the Dominican Republic, 1965-1966 (PDF). Leavenworth Papers, Number 15. United States Army Command and General Staff College. p. 123.
  2. ^ "A Rwandan government soldier fires on June 12, 1994 to Rwandan". Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  3. ^ FUNKER530 - Veteran Community & Combat Footage (21 June 2013). "50 Cal. Gunner Engages Taliban Positions During Ambush". YouTube. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Iraqi Capture of Saqlawiyah Northwest of Fallujah From Da'esh". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Ukraine has received Browning .50 caliber heavy machine gun". Bulgarian Military. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Report: Profiling the Small Arms Industry". World Policy Institute. November 2000. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  7. ^ "FM 23-65 Browning Machine Gun caliber.50 HB, M2 2002". 23 December 2002.
  8. ^ a b "FN M2HB-QCB". FN Herstal. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  9. ^ Dunlap 1948, pp. 310–311.
  10. ^ Chinn 1951, III pp. 315, 323–334. In 1939, H. Arnold sought a cyclic rate greater that 1000 rounds/minute. The T25E3 gun was standardized as M3, and 2,400 had been made by September 1945. "The standardized basic machine gun fired at the rate of 1,200 rounds per minute."
  11. ^ "Army Ammunition Data Sheets for Small Caliber Ammunition" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. April 1994. p. 150. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  12. ^ "FM 23-65 Browning Machine Gun caliber.50 HB, M2 2002". 23 December 2002.
  13. ^ https://www.usord.com/content/docs/manuals/usord_m2hb_op-manual.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  14. ^ "24th MEU ACE 'lock and load' Ma Deuce: photo essay". 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  15. ^ Rottman, Gordon (2008). The US Army in the Vietnam War 1965–73. Reading, UK: Osprey Publishing. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-84603-239-4.
  16. ^ "Contracts for Friday, September 3, 2010". Defense.gov. Archived from the original on 29 May 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  17. ^ ".50 M2HB QCB (M2A1)". Ohio Ordnance Military. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Contracts for Wednesday, July 15, 2009". Defense.gov. Archived from the original on 29 May 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  19. ^ a b Chinn 1951, p. 333, stating "The Germans put a heavily armored plane into service during the closing days of World War I. This act made obsolete for all time the rifle-caliber machine gun for aerial use. Some countries were slower to accept the fact than others but nevertheless, it cannot be disputed. The United States was among the first to come to this realization."
  20. ^ Chinn 1951, pp. 181–182
  21. ^ Chinn 1951, p. 182
  22. ^ Chinn 1951, p. 183
  23. ^ Chinn 1951, p. 184
  24. ^ Chinn 1951, p. 184. Chinn states that the German round was 12.7-mm anti-tank, but it may have been the 13.2mm TuF round. The Germans were working on their MG 18 TuF heavy machine gun.
  25. ^ Chinn 1951, p. 186
  26. ^ Chinn 1951, pp. 333–335
  27. ^ Chinn 1951, pp. 336–337
  28. ^ "Major Product Achievements". FN Herstal. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  29. ^ "AAA Weapons in Focus - The M2 .50-Caliber Machine Gun". Skylighters, The Web Site of the 225th AAA Searchlight Battalion. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  30. ^ Dunlap 1948, pp. 310–311: "The official rate during WWII was 450–575 rpm, but it was extremely rare to encounter an M2HB that exceeded 550 rpm."
  31. ^ DiGiulian, Tony (2007). "USA 0.50"/90 (12.7 mm) M2 Browning Machine Gun". Navweaps.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2008.
  32. ^ "FM 23-65: Browning Machine Gun Caliber .50 HB, M2" (PDF). U.S. Department of the Army. December 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2011.
  33. ^ "Lesson Plan: Crew Served Weapons". United States Marine Corps. 25 June 2007. Archived from the original on 27 February 2009.
  34. ^ "Exotic Barrels Part 1: Squeeze Bores". WeaponsMan.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  35. ^ a b Barnes, Frank C. (1989). "U.S. Army .50 BMG Cartridge Specifications". Cartridges of the World. DBI Books. p. 432. ISBN 0-87349-033-9.
  36. ^ Dunlap 1948, pp. 311–312.
  37. ^ Rottman, Gordon (2010). Browning .50-caliber Machine Guns. Osprey Publishing. p. 23.
  38. ^ Dunlap 1948, p. 225.
  39. ^ George 1981, p. 404: "By World War II, the M2HB had been designated as a dual-purpose anti-aircraft and anti-vehicular weapon for motorized, armored, and infantry divisions; the designation "anti-vehicular" included thin-skinned and lightly armored vehicles, as it was already recognized by 1940 that the .50 M2 AP round would not be useful against modern medium or heavy tanks."
  40. ^ Bird, James. "Recollections of James R. Bird, A Battery, 160th F.A., 45th Inf. Div". 45thdivision.org. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008.
  41. ^ Green, Michael & Green, Gladys (2000). Weapons of Patton's Armies. Zenith Imprint Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-7603-0821-9.
  42. ^ Bishop, Chris (2002). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-58663-762-0.
  43. ^ Green, Michael & Green, Gladys (2000). Weapons of Patton's Armies. Zenith Imprint Press. pp. 32–34. ISBN 978-0-7603-0821-9.
  44. ^ Yeide 2004, p. 185.
  45. ^ Burgett, Donald (1999). Seven Roads To Hell. Dell Publishing. p. 129. ISBN 0-440-23627-4.
  46. ^ Jarymowycz, Roman J. (2001). Tank Tactics: From Normandy to Lorraine. Lynne Rienner Publishers. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-55587-950-1.
  47. ^ Rush, Robert S. (2003). GI: The US Infantryman in World War II. Osprey Publishing Ltd. p. 33. ISBN 1-84176-739-5.
  48. ^ a b Dunlap 1948, pp. 225, 311–312.
  49. ^ a b Henry, Mark R. (2000). The US Army in World War II (2): The Mediterranean. Osprey Publishing. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-84176-085-8.
  50. ^ Abramski, Anthony V. (Pfc.), Eyewitness Account of Pfc. Anthony V. Abramski, Citation In Support Of Congressional Medal of Honor Award to 2nd Lt. Audie Murphy at Holtzwihr, France, 26 January 1945.
  51. ^ Wolfe, Clarence B. (2006). I Kept My Word. AuthorHouse Press. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-4259-6951-6.
  52. ^ Lee, Ulysses (1966). "Ch. XXI: Artillery & Armored Units in the ETO". The United States Army in World War II: Special Studies, The Employment of Negro Troops. Washington, D.C.: Historical Division, U.S. Army. p. 646.
  53. ^ Jarymowycz, Roman J. (2001). Tank Tactics: From Normandy to Lorraine. Lynne Rienner Publishers. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-55587-950-1. The M2HB fitted to tanks and M3 half-tracks was frequently employed against German rearguard forces including snipers and anti-tank teams, often firing into locations merely suspected of hiding such forces (so-called speculative fire).
  54. ^ George 1981, p. 404.
  55. ^ a b "AAA Weapons of the U.S. Army, Part I: The "Quad 50" Machine Gun Mount". 225th AAA Searchlight Battalion (Skylighters). Archived from the original on 22 December 2008.
  56. ^ Schmitt, Eric (30 March 2005). "Medal of Honor to Be Awarded to Soldier Killed in Iraq, a First". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017.
  57. ^ a b Rottman, Gordon L. (2010). Browning .50-Caliber Machine Guns. Osprey Publishing. pp. 19–20. ISBN 978-1-84908-331-7.
  58. ^ Shore, C. (1988). With British Snipers to the Reich. Mt. Ida, AR: Lancer Militaria. pp. 197–198. ISBN 978-0-93585-602-6.
  59. ^ a b c Dunlap 1948, pp. 35, 145.
  60. ^ Shore, C. (1988). With British Snipers to the Reich. Mt. Ida, AR: Lancer Militaria. pp. 197–198. ISBN 978-0-93585-602-6. They especially liked the "hell's brew" of AP, API, and APIT ammunition.
  61. ^ Dunlap 1948, p. 153: "The New Zealand and South African divisions, in particular, loved the big Browning and were frequently encountered trading for spare parts and gauges."
  62. ^ Kennedy, Michael Paul (1990). Soldier I: SAS. London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 0-7475-0750-3.
  63. ^ Boyce, D George (2005). The Falklands War. Basingstoke, Hants: Palgrave. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-33375-396-5.
  64. ^ Sgt. Grit (2006). "Marine Corps Sniper Carlos N. Hathcock II". Grunt.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2008. Viet Cong shot dead by a round fired from a scope-mounted Browning M-2 .50 caliber machine gun at the unbelievable range of 2,500 yards (2,300 m).
  65. ^ accessed 3 September 2023, https://www.hitechcreations.com/wiki/index.php/M2_Browning_machine_gun
  66. ^ accessed 3 September 2023, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canadian Firearms Program, Firearms Reference Table (FRT)
  67. ^ Accessed 3 September 2023, https://usautoindustryworldwartwo.com/General%20Motors/onemillionbrownings.htm
  68. ^ Zumbro, Ralph (1986). Tank Sergeant. Presidio Press. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-89141-265-6.
  69. ^ a b "第四届中国（北京）国际警用装备及反恐技术装备展览会新品呈献 - 本刊专递 - QBQ-轻兵器" [New products presented at the 4th China (Beijing) International Police Equipment and Anti-terrorism Technology and Equipment Exhibition - Special Issue - QBQ - Light Weapon]. QBQ.com.cn (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  70. ^ "中国版M2HB：CS/LM6 0.50英寸重机枪" [Chinese version of M2HB: CS/LM6 0.50 inch heavy machine gun]. Zgjunshi.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  71. ^ Kontis, George (19 August 2011). "New .50 Cal Machine Guns, No Tanks". Small Arms Defense Journal. 1 (4). Archived from the original on 14 October 2013.
  72. ^ Dawson, D. (3 January 2011). "Ma Deuce version M2A1 - Proven Performer gets an Upgrade". PEOSoldier.mil. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013.
  73. ^ "Ma Deuce Still Going Strong". Defense Industry Daily. 1 November 2012. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013.
  74. ^ "Army to convert Browning M2 to M2A1". The Firearm Blog. 6 August 2011. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012.
  75. ^ "M2A1 Among Greatest Army Inventions of 2011". The Firearm Blog. 21 September 2012. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012.
  76. ^ Doell, Kevin (30 November 2012). "M2A1 Machine Gun Features Greater Safety, Heightened Lethality". Army.mil. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013.
  77. ^ Sanborn, James K. (17 September 2015). "Marines unveil plan to modernize their small arms arsenal". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016.
  78. ^ South, Todd (27 April 2017). "Improved .50-caliber machine gun hits fleet". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on 28 April 2017.
  79. ^ "הכירו את כלי הנשק החדשים של זרוע היבשה" [Familiarize yourself with the new weapons of the land arm]. Israel Defense Forces (in Hebrew). 2012. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016.
  80. ^ La mitrailleuse Browning FN booklet.
  81. ^ La mitrailleuse Browning FN, kapitel XII. Les munitions F.N. calibre 13,2 mm.
  82. ^ a b c d e f Beskrivning över 12,7 & 13,2 mm akan m/39 & m/45 [Description of 12.7 & 13.2 mm akan m/39 & m/45] (in Swedish). Krigsarkivet [Swedish Military Archive]: Svenska flygvapnet [Swedish Air Force]. 1949. (The 12.7 mm akan m/45 was the Swedish designation for the 12.7 mm AN/M2, as its described in the book.)
  83. ^ "Aircraft Gunnery .50 Cal". BrowningMGs.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  84. ^ a b "M296 .50 cal. (12.7 mm) Machine Gun". FAS.org. 1999. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.
  85. ^ Carel, Dennis C. (1987). The History of the Aerial Gatling Gun (PDF) (Thesis). US Air Command and Staff College. p. 3. 87-0415. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  86. ^ van Geete, Stephanie (6 April 2009). "6-6 Cavalry aircrews field new Kiowa Warrior weapons system". U.S. Army. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009.
  87. ^ Hoke, James B. (21 May 2006). "Sea Stallions Implement New Ramp Mount Weapon System". U.S. Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012.
  88. ^ Amber, Rebecca (14 January 2016). "Test teams aim at new machine gun for Pave Hawk". U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016.
  89. ^ "Royal Marine Fliers Direct 'Rain of Fire' during UK's Biggest Exercise". Royal Navy. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  90. ^ "Doorgunner". www.bundeswehr.de. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  91. ^ "Here's all the US military equipment that likely ended up in Taliban hands". Task & Purpose. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  92. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co Jones, Richard D., ed. (27 January 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  93. ^ "12.7 Millimetre M2 Heavy Barrel Quick Change Barrel Machine Gun (M2HB QCB) | Army.gov.au". Army.gov.au | Australian Army. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  94. ^ Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (PDF) (Report). Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry. 23 November 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  95. ^ "Spare Parts for 12.7 mm Cal 0.50 HMG Type-K-6 (Korea)" (PDF). Directorate General of Defence Purchase. 21 March 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  96. ^ Berman, Eric G.; Lombard, Louisa N. (December 2008). The Central African Republic and Small Arms: A Regional Tinderbox (PDF). Small Arms Survey. pp. 43–44. ISBN 978-2-8288-0103-8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  97. ^ "Armement". Armée luxembourgeoise (in French). Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  98. ^ "Geværer". Forsvaret (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  99. ^ Combat Support Wing (December 2007). "Eskadrille 615 støtter Søværnet" [Squadron 615 aids the Navy] (PDF). Mjølner (in Danish): 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 December 2009.
  100. ^ Kout, Pavel. "Těžký kulomet Browning ráže 12,7 mm M2 HBQCB". Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic (in Czech). Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  101. ^ "Tehnika - Raskekuulipilduja Browning M2 0.50 HB". Eesti Kaitsevägi (in Estonian). Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  102. ^ War Clashes (2 November 2016). "Syria War 2016 – Battle of Aleppo: Heavy Clashes and Intense Urban Fighting". Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2017 – via YouTube.
  103. ^ "Maavoimien kalusto" [Army equipment]. Puolustusvoimat (in Finnish). 13 May 2011. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  104. ^ "Raskas konekivääri 12.7 RSKK 2005" [Heavy machine gun 12.7 RSKK 2005]. Puolustusvoimat (in Finnish). 7 October 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  105. ^ "Georgia Receives New Military Weaponry with U.S. Support". Civil.ge. 11 February 2021.
  106. ^ "Die CH-53 als Brücke in die Zukunft" [The CH-53 as a bridge to the future] (PDF). Hardthöhenkurier (in German). No. 3. 2006. pp. 12–17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2011.
  107. ^ B., Eric (14 January 2021). "German Door Gunners Get More FN Herstal M3M MK3 Heavy Machine Guns". The Firearm Blog.
  108. ^ "Battalion Level Weapons". Óglaigh na hÉireann. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  109. ^ Anders, Holger (June 2014). Identifier les sources d'approvisionnement: Les munitions de petit calibre en Côte d'Ivoire (PDF) (in French). Small Arms Survey and United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire. p. 15. ISBN 978-2-940-548-05-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  110. ^ Abbot, Peter (February 2014). Modern African Wars: The Congo 1960–2002. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-78200-076-1.
  111. ^ "청해부대 M3M 중기관총 사용 사진" [Cheonghae Unit M3M heavy machine gun use photo]. 유용원의 군사세계 (in Korean). 25 January 2015. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  112. ^ Bak, Dongchan (March 2021). Korean War : Weapons of the United Nations (PDF) (in Korean). Republic of Korea: Ministry of Defense Institute for Military History. pp. 57–59. ISBN 979-11-5598-079-8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  113. ^ Berman, Eric G. (March 2019). Beyond Blue Helmets: Promoting Weapons and Ammunition Management in Non-UN Peace Operations (PDF). Small Arms Survey/MPOME. p. 43. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2019.
  114. ^ Neville, Leigh (19 April 2018). Technicals: Non-Standard Tactical Vehicles from the Great Toyota War to modern Special Forces. New Vanguard 257. Osprey Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 9781472822512.
  115. ^ "12,7mm ložmetējs Browning M2HB-QCB". Latvian Land Forces (in Latvian). Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  116. ^ "Ginkluotė ir karinė technika » Kulkosvaidžiai » Sunkusis 12.7 mm (50) kulkosvaidis M-2 Browning" [Weapons and military equipment: Machine guns: Heavy 12.7 mm (50) machine gun M-2 Browning]. Lithuanian Land Forces (in Lithuanian). 15 December 2009. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  117. ^ "Armement: Mitrailleuse .50 M2 HB". Luxembourg Armed Forces (in French). Archived from the original on 20 July 2011.
  118. ^ https://ph.usembassy.gov/us-military-delivers-php183-million-in-new-weapons-and-equipment-to-afp/
  119. ^ Muczyński, Rafał (20 December 2019). "Black Hawki przekazane Wojskom" [Black Hawks handed over to the Army]. MILMAG (in Polish).
  120. ^ Abbott, Peter; Rodrigues, Manuel (1998). Modern African Wars 2: Angola and Mozambique 1961–74. Osprey Publishing. p. 18.
  121. ^ "HECKLER & KOCH GMG Automatic Grenade Launcher". Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  122. ^ "Lend-Lease Shipments, World War II: Section III-A Ordnance". Hyperwar. Archived from the original on 31 January 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  123. ^ "Los helicópteros Cougar y Chinook incorporarán las nuevas ametralladoras MAG-58, M3M y M-240" [The Cougar and Chinook helicopters will incorporate the new MAG-58, M3M and M-240 machine guns]. Noticias Infodefensa España (in Spanish). 20 January 2016. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  124. ^ "Kulspruta 88". Försvarsmakten (in Swedish). 23 August 2007. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  125. ^ "Dall'Italia aiuti all'Ucraina nella guerra contro la Russia con missili, mitragliatrici e munizioni: oggi il decreto" [From Italy, aid to Ukraine in the war against Russia with missiles, machine guns and ammunition: today the decree]. Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 28 April 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  126. ^ "Home". Manroy.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  127. ^ "Commando Helicopter Force get to grips with new gun". UK Ministry of Defence. 25 August 2010. Archived from the original on 21 September 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  128. ^ Keeva, Steven (December 1991). "Lawyers in the War Room". ABA Journal: 55. ISSN 0747-0088. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  129. ^ a b Parks, Maj. W. Hays (January 1988). "Killing a Myth". Marine Corps Association. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  130. ^ "St Petersburg Declaration 1868". International Humanitarian Law. International Committee of the Red Cross. Archived from the original on 29 September 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  131. ^ Training Circular 3-22.50 - Heavy Machine Gun M2 Series. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army. 2017. pp. 2–1.
  132. ^ Rottman, Gordon (2013). The Big Book of Gun Trivia: Everything You Want to Know, Don't Want to Know, and Don't Know You Need to Know. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 317.
  133. ^ Schogol, Jeff (9 February 2011). "Can you use the .50-caliber on human targets?". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

General and cited references

edit
  • Chinn, George M. (1951). The Machine Gun: History, Evolution and Development of Manually Operated, Full Automatic, and Power Driven Aircraft Machine Guns. Vol. 1. Department of the Navy, Bureau of Ordnance.
  • Dunlap, Roy F. (1948). Ordnance Went Up Front: Some Observations and Experiences of a Sergeant of Ordnance, who served throughout World War II with the United States Army in Egypt, the Philippines and Japan, including way stations. A Samworth Book on Firearms. Plantersville, SC: Small-Arms Technical Publishing Co. OCLC 6081851.
  • George, John B. (1981). Shots Fired In Anger. NRA Press. ISBN 0-935998-42-X.
  • Gresham, John D. (December 2001). "Weapons: John Browning's (M2) .50-caliber". Military Heritage. Vol. 3, no. 3. pp. 22, 24, 26, 28, 30.
  • Hogg, Ian (2001). The American Arsenal : The World War II official standard ordnance catalog of artillery, small arms, tanks, armored cars, antiaircraft guns, ammunition, grenades, mines, etc. London, UK: Greenhill Books. ISBN 978-1-85367-470-9.
  • "Marine Corps Warfighting Publication 3-15.1: Machine Guns and Machine Gun Gunnery" (PDF). U.S. Marine Corps. 1 September 1996. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2004.
  • Yeide, Harry (2004). The Tank Killers. Havertown, Penn: Casemate. ISBN 978-1-932033-26-7.
  • Zaloga, Steven J. (2002). M8 Greyhound Light Armored Car 1941–91. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-468-9.
edit
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Browning M2.
Records
Preceded by Longest confirmed combat sniper-shot kill
1967–2002
2,286 m (2,500 yd)
by Carlos Hathcock 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=M2_Browning&oldid=1262545102"