View source for Engineering:M2 Browning

{{Infobox weapon
 |image= File:M2 Browning, Musée de l'Armée.jpg
 |image_size= 300px
 |caption= M2HB heavy machine gun
 |name= Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB
 |type= Heavy machine gun
 |origin= United States
 |is_ranged=yes
 |platform= Tripod, vehicle
 |target=Personnel, light-armored vehicles, aircraft
 |designer= John M. Browning
 |design_date= 1918<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m2-50cal.htm|work=GlobalSecurity|title=M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun}}</ref>
 |manufacturer= Current: General Dynamics, Fabrique Nationale,Ohio Ordnance Works Inc., U.S. Ordnance, and Manroy Engineering (UK)<br />Former: Sabre Defence Industries, Colt's Patent Fire Arms Company, High Standard Company, Savage Arms Corporation, Buffalo Arms Corporation, General Motors Corporation (Frigidaire, AC Spark Plug, Saginaw Steering, and Brown-Lipe-Chappin Divisions), Kelsey Hayes Wheel Company, Springfield Armory, Wayne Pump Company, ERMCO, and Ramo Manufacturing, Rock Island Arsenal
 |production_date= 1921–present (M2HB)
 |number= 3 million<ref name="worldpolicy2000">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/smallarms.htm |title=Report: Profiling the Small Arms Industry - World Policy Institute - Research Project |date=November 2000 |publisher=World Policy Institute |accessdate=2010-07-15}}</ref>
 |service= 1933–present
 |used_by= See ''Users''
 |wars= [[Social:World War II|World War II]]<br />Indonesian National Revolution<br />Korean War<br />First Indochina War<br>Algerian War<ref name ="Algeria">{{cite magazine|language=fr|magazine=Gazette des Armes |issue=220 |date=March 1992|title=L'armement français en A.F.N.|pages=12-16|url=http://fr.1001mags.com/parution/gazette-des-armes/numero-220-mars-1992/page-16-17-texte-integral|first=Jean|last=Huon}}</ref><br>Suez Crisis<br />Portuguese Colonial War<br />Vietnam War<br>Six-Day War<br />Yom Kippur War<br />Lebanese Civil War<br />Colombian Internal Conflict<br />Cambodian Civil War<br />Moro conflict<br />Shaba II<ref name="Congo">{{cite magazine|title=Les armes de Kolwezi|first=Jacques|last=Sicard|pages=25-30|magazine=La Gazette des armes|language=fr|url=http://fr.1001mags.com/parution/gazette-des-armes/numero-111-novembre-1982/page-28-29-texte-integral|issue=111|date=November 1982}}</ref><br>[[Religion:Soviet–Afghan War|Soviet–Afghan War]]<br>Cambodian-Vietnamese War<br />Iran–Iraq War<br />Falklands War<br />South African Border War<br />Invasion of Grenada<br />Bougainville Civil War<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDpvxQe_Jhg&list=LLItb2dLp-6NlYuBFl4AwvKg&index=151|title=The Coconut Revolution (2001, 50min) (480x360)|website=YouTube|accessdate=4 June 2017}}</ref><br />Invasion of Panama<br />Persian Gulf War<br />Somali Civil War<br />Yugoslav Wars<br />Kosovo War<br />War in Afghanistan<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiA_W9-pW9Y|title=50 Cal Gunner Engages Taliban Positions During Ambush|first=|last=FUNKER530 - Veteran Community & Combat Footage|date=21 June 2013|publisher=|accessdate=4 June 2017|via=YouTube}}</ref><br />Iraq War<br>Mexican Drug War <br>Syrian Civil War<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp9BxEWm0xE|title=Syria War 2016 - FSA in Heavy Intense Firefights Against ISIS in Aleppo Governorate|first=|last=War Clashes|date=30 November 2016|publisher=|accessdate=4 June 2017|via=YouTube}}</ref><br>Iraqi Civil War (2014–present)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du8J30kRNMA|title=Iraqi Capture Of Saqlawiyah Northwest Of Fallujah From Da'esh|website=YouTube|accessdate=4 June 2017}}</ref><br>[[Social:Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)|Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBWXZ1mRPVM|title=Yemen: Scores killed as heavy clashes return to Taiz after failed ceasefire|first=|last=Ruptly TV|date=22 November 2016|publisher=|accessdate=4 June 2017|via=YouTube}}</ref> <br>Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCgCw0U5FDA|title=Fierce Confrontation Between Yemeni Houthis And Saudi Arabian Army In Saudi Town Of Rabuah|first=|last=WarLeaks - Daily Military Defense Videos & Combat Footage|date=8 November 2015|publisher=|accessdate=4 June 2017|via=YouTube}}</ref><br>Conflict in Najran, Jizan and Asir<br>Battle of Marawi<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/06/22/arming-maute-group-marawi-city/|title=Arming the Maute Group in Marawi City - The Firearm Blog|author=|date=22 June 2017|website=thefirearmblog.com}}</ref><br>2017 Iraqi–Kurdish conflict
 |spec_type=2017
 |weight= {{convert|38|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}}<br />{{convert|58|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}} with tripod and T&E (Traverse and Elevation Mechanism)
 |length= {{convert|1654|mm|in|abbr=on}}
 |part_length= {{convert|1143|mm|abbr=on|1}}
 |cartridge= .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO)
 |action= [[Engineering:Recoil operation|Short recoil-operated]]
 |rate= 450–600 rounds/min (M2HB)<ref name="M2HB-QCB">{{cite web |url=http://www.fnherstal.com/index.php?id=280&backPID=306&productID=61&pid_product=233&pidList=306&categorySelector=2&detail=&cHash=b6f6442733 |title=FN M2HB-QCB |publisher= |accessdate=25 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated310">Dunlap, Roy F., ''Ordnance Went Up Front'', Samworth Press (1948), pp.&nbsp;310–311</ref><br />750–850 rounds/min (AN/M2)<br />1,200–1,300 rounds/min (AN/M3)<ref>{{harvnb|Chinn|1951|loc='''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."</ref>
 |velocity= {{convert|2910|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}} for M33 ball
 |range= {{convert|1800|m|yd|abbr=on}}<ref name="M2HB-QCB"/>
 |max_range= {{convert|2500|m|yd|abbr=on}}
 |feed= Belt-fed (M2 or M9 links)
 |sights=
}}

The '''M2 Machine Gun''' or '''Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun''' is a heavy machine gun designed toward the end of [[Social:World War I|World War I]] by John Browning. Its design is similar to Browning's earlier [[Engineering:M1919 Browning machine gun|M1919 Browning machine gun]], which was chambered for the .30-06 cartridge. The M2 uses the much larger and much more powerful .50 BMG cartridge, which was developed alongside and takes its name from the gun itself (BMG standing for ''Browning Machine Gun''). It has been referred to as "Ma Deuce",<ref>{{cite book |last=Rottman |first=Gordon |title=The Us Army in the Vietnam War 1965–73 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Reading |year=2008 |isbn=1-84603-239-3 |page=56}}</ref> in reference to its M2 nomenclature. The design has had many specific designations; the official designation for the current infantry type is '''Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, Flexible'''. It is effective against infantry, unarmored or lightly armored vehicles and boats, light fortifications and low-flying aircraft.

The Browning .50 caliber machine gun has been used extensively as a vehicle weapon and for aircraft armament by the United States from the 1930s to the present. It was heavily used during [[Social:World War II|World War II]], the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Falklands War, the [[Religion:Soviet–Afghan War|Soviet–Afghan War]], the Gulf War, the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan in the 2000s and 2010s. It is the primary heavy machine gun of NATO countries, and has been used by many other countries as well. The M2 has been in use longer than any other [[Engineering:Small arms|firearm]] in U.S. inventory except the .45 ACP [[Engineering:M1911 pistol|M1911 pistol]], also designed by John Browning.

The current M2HB is manufactured in the U.S. by [[Company:General Dynamics|General Dynamics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=4360 |title=Contracts for Friday, September 03, 2010 |publisher=Defense.gov |date= |accessdate=2011-09-19 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529135851/http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=4360 |archivedate=May 29, 2011 |df= }}</ref> and U.S. Ordnance<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=4072 |title=Contracts for Wednesday, July 15, 2009 |publisher=Defense.gov |date= |accessdate=2011-09-19 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529135853/http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=4072 |archivedate=May 29, 2011 |df= }}</ref> for use by the U.S. government, and for allies via Foreign Military Sales, as well as foreign manufacturers such as FN Herstal.

==History==
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 defeat the armor that was being introduced to the battlefield, both on the ground and in the air. During World War I, the Germans introduced a heavily armored airplane, the Junkers J.I. The armor made aircraft machine guns using conventional rifle ammunition (such as the .30-06) ineffective.<ref name="Chinn 1951 333">{{Harvnb|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.<!-- The dramatic incident that caused it was the shooting down by such an aircraft of the young pilot, Quentin Roosevelt. -->"</ref>

Consequently, the American Expeditionary Force's commander General John J. Pershing asked for a larger caliber machine gun.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chinn|1951|pp=181–182}}</ref> Pershing asked the Army Ordnance Department to develop a machine gun with a caliber of at least {{Convert|0.50|in|mm|sigfig=3}} and a muzzle velocity of at least {{Convert|2700|ft/s|m/s}}.<ref name="Chinn 1951 333"/> U.S. Col. John Henry Parker, commanding a machine gun school in France, observed the effectiveness of a French {{convert|11|mm|in|abbr=on|adj=on}} incendiary armor-piercing round. The Army Ordnance Department ordered eight experimental Colt machine guns rechambered for the French 11&nbsp;mm cartridge.<ref name="Chinn182">{{harvnb|Chinn|1951|p=182}}</ref> The French 11&nbsp;mm round was found to be unsuitable because its velocity was too low. Pershing wanted a bullet of at least {{convert|670|gr|g|abbr=on}} and a muzzle velocity of {{convert|2700|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}. Development with the French round was dropped.<ref name="Chinn182"/>

Around July 1917, John M. 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.<ref name="Chinn182"/> The first .50 machine gun underwent trials on 15 October 1918. It fired at less than 500 rounds per minute, and the muzzle velocity was only {{convert|2300|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}. Cartridge improvements were promised.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chinn|1951|p=183}}</ref> The gun was heavy, difficult to control, fired too slowly for the anti-personnel role, and was not powerful enough against armor.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chinn|1951|p=184}}</ref>

While the .50 was being developed, some German T Gewehr 1918 anti-tank rifles and ammunition were seized. The [[Engineering:13.2mm TuF|German rounds]] had a muzzle velocity of {{convert|2700|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}, an {{convert|800|gr|g|abbr=on}} bullet, and could pierce {{clarify|date=December 2016}}{{convert|1|inch|mm|abbr=on}} at {{convert|250|yard|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chinn|1951|p=184}}. Chinn states that the German round was 12.7-mm anti-tank, but it may have been the [[Engineering:13.2mm TuF|13.2mm TuF]] round. The Germans were working on their MG 18 TuF heavy machine gun.</ref> Winchester improved the .50 caliber round to have similar performance. Ultimately, the muzzle velocity was {{convert|2750|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Chinn|1951|p=186}}</ref>

Efforts by John M. Browning and Fred T. Moore resulted in the water-cooled Browning machine gun, caliber .50, M1921. An aircraft version was termed the Browning aircraft machine gun, caliber .50, M1921. These guns were used experimentally from 1921 until 1937. They had light-weight barrels and the ammunition fed only from the left side. Service trials raised doubts whether the guns would be suitable for aircraft or for anti-aircraft use. A heavy barrel M1921 was considered for ground vehicles.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chinn|1951|pp=333–335}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chinn|1951|pp=336–337}}</ref> FN Herstal (Fabrique Nationale) has manufactured the M2 machine gun since the 1930s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fnherstal.com/index.php?id=655 |title=Major Product Achievements |publisher=Fnherstal.com |date= |accessdate=2011-09-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927060025/http://www.fnherstal.com/index.php?id=655 |archive-date=2011-09-27}}</ref>  General Dynamics, U.S. Ordnance, and Manroy Engineering (UK) are other current manufacturers.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

A variant without a water jacket, but with a thicker-walled, air-cooled [[Engineering:Gun barrel|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 {{convert|121|lb|abbr=on}} with a water jacket, but the M2 HB weighs {{convert|84|lb|abbr=on}}. 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 {{convert|60|lb|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,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skylighters.org/history/mgs/ |title=Skylighters, The Web Site of the 225th AAA Searchlight Battalion: AAA Weapons in Focus - The M2 .50-Caliber Machine Gun |publisher=Skylighters.org |date= |accessdate=2008-09-08}}</ref> readily replacing Browning's own [[Engineering:M1919 Browning machine gun#AN/M2|air-cooled .30 caliber machine gun]] design in nearly all American aircraft installations.

==Design details==
The Browning M2 is an air-cooled, belt-fed [[Engineering:Machine gun|machine gun]]. The M2 fires from a [[Engineering:Closed bolt|closed bolt]], operated on the short recoil principle. The M2 fires the .50 BMG cartridge, which offers long range, accuracy and immense [[Physics:Stopping power|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, even using the same timing gauges.

===Features===
The M2 has varying cyclic rates of fire, depending on the model. The M2HB (heavy barrel) air-cooled ground gun has a cyclical rate of 450-575 rounds per minute.<ref>Dunlap, Roy F., ''Ordnance Went Up Front'', Samworth Press (1948), pp.&nbsp;310–311: the official rate during WWII was 450–575&nbsp;rpm, but it was extremely rare to encounter a M2HB that exceeded 550&nbsp;rpm.</ref> The early M2 water-cooled AA guns had a cyclical rate of around 450–600&nbsp;rpm.<ref>DiGiulian, Tony, ''USA 0.50"/90 (12.7 mm) M2 Browning Machine Gun'' (2007) [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_50cal-M2_MG.htm Article]</ref> The AN/M2 aircraft gun has a cyclic rate of 750–850&nbsp;rpm; this increases to 1,200&nbsp;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 or at less than 40 rounds per minute, or rapid fire for more than 40 rounds per minute. Slow and rapid firing modes use 5-7 round bursts with different lengths of pause between bursts.<ref>[http://m2hb.net/manuals/fm23_65.pdf FM 23-65, "Browning Machine Gun Caliber .50 HB, M2"]. U.S. Department of the Army, December 2002.</ref>

[[File:M2 - 24th MEU.jpg|thumb|left|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 {{Convert|1830|m|yard}} and a maximum effective range of {{Convert|2000|m|yard}} when fired from the [[Engineering:M3 tripod|M3 tripod]]. In its ground-portable, crew-served role as the M2HB, the gun itself weighs {{Convert|84|lb|kg}} and the assembled M3 tripod another {{Convert|44|lb|kg}}. In this configuration, the V-shaped "butterfly" trigger is located at the very rear of the weapon with a "spade handle" hand-grip 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 hand grips, 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.<ref>[http://mcdetflw.tecom.usmc.mil/usmc-mp2006/READ%20AHEAD/ADVANCE%20COURSE%20READ%20AHEAD/ADVANCE%20COURSE%20OUTLINES/Crew%20Served%20Weapons%20lesson%20plan.doc Crew Served Weapons lesson plan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227120628/http://mcdetflw.tecom.usmc.mil/usmc-mp2006/READ%20AHEAD/ADVANCE%20COURSE%20READ%20AHEAD/ADVANCE%20COURSE%20OUTLINES/Crew%20Served%20Weapons%20lesson%20plan.doc |date=2009-02-27 }}</ref> The upgraded M2A1 has a manual trigger block safety.

[[File:Twin M2HB machine gun.jpg|thumb|upright|Twin M2HB machine gun during a Pre-aimed 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 are 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 2 the Frankford Arsenal developed a [[Engineering:Squeeze bore|squeeze bore]] version of the M2HB which reduced the bullet size from .50 to .30 caliber.<ref name="WeaponsMan">{{cite web |title=Exotic Barrels Part 1: Squeeze Bores {{!}} WeaponsMan |url=http://weaponsman.com/?p=21443 |website=weaponsman.com |publisher=WeaponsMan |accessdate=18 July 2018}}</ref>

===Ammunition===
[[File:M2-Catlanit002.jpg|thumb|left|M2 Browning on a Samson RCWS of the Israel Defense Forces]]

There are several different types of ammunition used in the M2HB and AN aircraft guns. From [[Social:World War II|World War II]] through the Vietnam War, the big 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 {{Convert|0.875|in|mm}} of hardened steel armor plate at a distance of {{Convert|100|yd|m}} and {{Convert|0.75|in|mm}} at {{Convert|547|yd|m}}.<ref name="Barnes, Frank C. 1989 p.432">Barnes, Frank C., ''Cartridges of the World'', U.S. Army .50 BMG Cartridge Specifications, DBI Books (1989), {{ISBN|0-87349-033-9}}, p.432</ref> 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.<ref>Dunlap, Roy F., ''Ordnance Went Up Front'', Samworth Press (1948), pp.&nbsp;311–312.</ref>

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 {{Convert|1.34|in|mm}} of FHA (face-hardened steel plate) at {{Convert|500|m|yd}}, {{Convert|0.91|in|mm}} at {{Convert|1200|m|yd}}, and {{Convert|0.75|in|mm}} at {{Convert|1500|m|yd}}. This is achieved by using a {{convert|0.30|in|mm|adj=mid|-diameter}} tungsten penetrator. The SLAP-T adds a tracer charge to the base of the ammunition. This ammunition was type classified in 1993.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/slap.htm M903 Caliber .50 Saboted Light Armor Penetrator (SLAP), M962 Saboted Light Armor], GlobalSecurity.org</ref><ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/50.htm Caliber .50 Cartridges], GlobalSecurity.org</ref>

When firing blanks, a large [[Engineering:Blank-firing adapter|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 [[Engineering:Muzzle brake|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==
[[File:M2 on a RHIB.jpg|thumb|upright|An M2 fired from a [[Engineering:Rigid-hulled inflatable boat|rigid-hulled inflatable boat]].]]
[[File:B-25H.jpg|thumb|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:
* A medium infantry support weapon
* As a light anti-aircraft (AA) gun in some ships; up to six M2 guns could be mounted on the same turret.
* As an anti-aircraft gun on the ground. The original water-cooled version of the M2 was used on a tall AA tripod or vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft weapon on a sturdy pedestal mount. In later variants, twin and quadruple M2HB Brownings were used, such as the M45 Quadmount (aka "meat chopper") used on the US M16 half-track carrier. Twin or quad-mount .50 M2 guns normally used alternating left-hand and right-hand feed.
* Primary or secondary weapon on an armored fighting vehicle.
* Primary or secondary weapon on a naval patrol boat.
* Spotting for the primary weapon on some armored fighting vehicles.
* Secondary weapon for anti-boat defense on large naval vessels (corvettes, frigates, destroyers, cruisers, etc.).
* Coaxial gun or independent mounting in some tanks.
* Fixed-mounted forward-firing primary aircraft armament (AN/M2 and AN/M3 light-barrel versions only). The AN/M2 was used as primary armament in almost all World War II U.S. pursuit aircraft (such as the [[Engineering:North American P-51 Mustang|North American P-51 Mustang]], [[Engineering:Republic P-47 Thunderbolt|Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]], [[Engineering:Lockheed P-38 Lightning|Lockheed P-38 Lightning]], [[Engineering:Bell P-39 Airacobra|Bell P-39 Airacobra]], [[Engineering:Curtiss P-40 Warhawk|Curtiss P-40 Warhawk]], [[Engineering:Grumman F6F Hellcat|Grumman F6F Hellcat]] and [[Engineering:Vought F4U Corsair|Vought F4U Corsair]]). It was also used in fixed mountings in bombers and ground attack aircraft like the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber, [[Engineering:Grumman TBF Avenger|Grumman TBF Avenger]] torpedo bomber, and medium bombers such as [[Engineering:North American B-25 Mitchell|North American B-25 Mitchell]], [[Engineering:Martin B-26 Marauder|Martin B-26 Marauder]] and [[Engineering:Douglas A-26 Invader|Douglas A-26 Invader]]; usually 4-8 per aircraft but the bombers could mount 12 or more in certain configurations. The later, faster-firing electrically feed-boosted AN/M3 was used in many Korean War-era U.S.A.F. fighter aircraft such as the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, [[Engineering:Republic F-84 Thunderjet|Republic F-84 Thunderjet]], [[Engineering:North American F-86 Sabre|North American F-86 Sabre]], and early versions of the [[Engineering:Martin B-57 Canberra|Martin B-57 Canberra]] bomber. The US Navy had largely completed their move to the (unrelated) [[Engineering:Hispano-Suiza HS.404|M2/AN]] 20mm [[Engineering:Autocannon|autocannon]] for aircraft armament by this time.
* [[Engineering:Gun turret|Turret]]-mount or flexible-mounted defensive armament, again only with the AN/M2 light-barrel version, in almost all US World War II-era bombers and patrol aircraft such as the [[Engineering:Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress|Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]], [[Engineering:Consolidated B-24 Liberator|Consolidated B-24 Liberator]] and [[Engineering:Boeing B-29 Superfortress|Boeing B-29 Superfortress]] heavy bombers, North American B-25 Mitchell and Marin B-26 Marauder medium bombers, [[Engineering:Consolidated PBY Catalina|Consolidated PBY Catalina]] patrol flying boats, Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, and in a combined offensive/defensive turret mounting in many [[Engineering:Northrop P-61 Black Widow|Northrop P-61 Black Widow]] night fighters. The AN/M3 was used as a flexible, quad-mounted, radar-directed tail-defence gun as late as 1980 on the [[Engineering:Boeing B-52 Stratofortress|Boeing B-52 Stratofortress]], until replaced by 20mm [[Engineering:M61 Vulcan|M61 Vulcan]] Gatling-type [[Engineering:Autocannon|cannon]] on the H model.
* Variants of the AN/M3 are used as flexible door guns or as flexible remotely-controlled armament subsystems on many US Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard helicopters, such as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk and variants, Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion, Bell OH-58 Kiowa and others.

===United States===
[[File:Browning M2HB Normandy.jpg|thumb|A U.S. soldier in [[Place:Normandy|Normandy]] stands guard with the M2HB installed on a dual-purpose mounting.]]

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.<ref>Dunlap, Roy F., ''Ordnance Went Up Front'', Samworth Press (1948), p. 225</ref><ref>George, John B., ''Shots Fired In Anger'', NRA Press (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.</ref>

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 [[Engineering:Gun pod|gun pod]]s 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 (heavy barrel) 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,<ref>Bird, James, ''Recollections of James R. Bird, A Battery, 160th F.A., 45th Inf. Div.'', [http://www.45thdivision.org/Veterans/BirdA160.htm Article]</ref> or perforate the hull plates and fuel tanks of a German half-track or light armored car.<ref name="Barnes, Frank C. 1989 p.432"/><ref>Green, Michael, and Green, Gladys, ''Weapons of Patton's Armies'', Zenith Imprint Press (2000), {{ISBN|0-7603-0821-7}}, {{ISBN|978-0-7603-0821-9}}, p. 34</ref><ref>Bishop, Chris, ''The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II'', Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. (2002), {{ISBN|1-58663-762-2}}, {{ISBN|978-1-58663-762-0}}, p. 86</ref> 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.<ref>Green, Michael, and Green, Gladys, ''Weapons of Patton's Armies'', Zenith Imprint Press (2000), {{ISBN|0-7603-0821-7}}, {{ISBN|978-0-7603-0821-9}}, pp.&nbsp;32–34</ref> 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.<ref>Yeide, 2004. p. 185</ref> 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.<ref>Burgett, Donald, ''Seven Roads To Hell'', Dell Publishing (1999), {{ISBN|0-440-23627-4}}, p. 129</ref><ref>Jarymowycz, Roman J., ''Tank Tactics: From Normandy to Lorraine'', Lynne Rienner Publishers (2001), {{ISBN|1-55587-950-0}}, {{ISBN|978-1-55587-950-1}}, p. 212</ref> 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.<ref>Rush, Robert S., ''GI: The US Infantryman in World War II'', Osprey Publishing Ltd. (2003), {{ISBN|1-84176-739-5}}, p. 33</ref> 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.<ref name="Dunlap, Roy F. 1948 pp. 225, 311">Dunlap, Roy F., ''Ordnance Went Up Front'', Samworth Press (1948), pp. 225, 311-312</ref> Hearing the sound of an M2 could often cause enemy infantry to take cover.<ref name="Henry, Mark R. 2000 p. 20">Henry, Mark R., ''The US Army in World War II (2): The Mediterranean'', Osprey Publishing (2000), {{ISBN|1-84176-085-4}}, {{ISBN|978-1-84176-085-8}}, p. 20</ref> There are numerous instances of the M2 Browning being used against enemy personnel, particularly infantry assaults<ref>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</ref> or for interdiction or elimination of enemy artillery observers or snipers at distances too great for ordinary infantry weapons.<ref>Wolfe, Clarence B., ''I Kept My Word'', AuthorHouse Press (2006), {{ISBN|1-4259-6951-8}}, {{ISBN|978-1-4259-6951-6}}, p. 68</ref><ref>''The United States Army in World War II'', Ch. XXI: Artillery & Armored Units in the ETO, Washington, D.C.: Historical Division, U.S. Army (1993), p. 645</ref><ref>Jarymowycz, Roman J., ''Tank Tactics: From Normandy to Lorraine'', Lynne Rienner Publishers (2001), {{ISBN|1-55587-950-0}}, {{ISBN|978-1-55587-950-1}}, p. 212: 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'').</ref>

[[File:Firebase Phoenix overlooking the Korengal Valley.jpg|thumb|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.<ref>George, John B., ''Shots Fired In Anger'', NRA Press (1981), p. 404</ref> However, it was used by fast-moving motorized forces in the Philippines to destroy Japanese blocking units on the advance to Manila.<ref name="Dunlap, Roy F. 1948 pp. 225, 311"/> The quad mount .50 was also used to destroy Japanese emplacements.<ref name="Article"/>

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 [[Engineering:M113 armored personnel carrier|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,<ref>Schmitt, Eric, [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E7D7123FF933A05750C0A9639C8B63 ''Medal of Honor to Be Awarded to Soldier Killed in Iraq, a First''], New York Times, 30 March 2005</ref> SFC Smith was killed during the firefight and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

====M45 Quadmount====
[[File:Multiple Gun Motor Carriage.jpg|thumb|left|M45 .50 AA Quad aka the 'Meat Chopper']]

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. AA battalions, fitted either on a towed trailer or mounted in a half-track carrier (M16 AA half-track). 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.<ref name="RottmanBrowning">Rottman, Gordon L., ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=TaixfxwdCwEC&pg=PA20 Browning .50-Caliber Machine Guns]'', Osprey Publishing (2010), {{ISBN|978-1-84908-331-7}}, p.&nbsp;19–20</ref>

Towards the end of the war, as Luftwaffe attacks became less frequent, the quad .50 (nicknamed the ''Meat Chopper'' or ''Krautmower''<ref name="RottmanBrowning" />) 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&nbsp;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.<ref name="Henry, Mark R. 2000 p. 20"/><ref name="Article">AAA Weapons of the U.S. Army, Part I: The "Quad 50" Machine Gun Mount, 225th AAA Searchlight Battalion (Skylighters) [http://www.skylighters.org/quad50/index.html Article]</ref>

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

===Commonwealth and other forces===
{{Multiple image
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| caption2 = Israel Defense Forces M2HQCB.
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[[Organization:Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] use of the M2 Browning .50 caliber machine gun (known as the .5 Browning in British and Commonwealth service) was limited in World War II, though from 1942 it was standard armament on US-built AFVs provided under lend-lease such as the [[Engineering:M4 Sherman|M4 Sherman]], [[Engineering:M7 Priest|M7 Priest]], [[Engineering:M8 Greyhound|M8 Greyhound]], or M10 tank destroyer variously used by British, Canadian, {{wipe|Australia}}n, 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.<ref>Shore, C. (Capt.), ''With British Snipers to the Reich'', Boulder: Lancer Militaria, p.&nbsp;197–198</ref><ref name="Dunlap, Roy F. 1948 p. 35, 145">Dunlap, Roy F., ''Ordnance Went Up Front'', Samworth Press (1948), p. 35, 145</ref> Many commanders thought that the .50 Browning the best weapon in its class, certainly the best of the American weapons, including the M1 Garand and M1 Carbine.<ref name="Dunlap, Roy F. 1948 p. 35, 145"/><ref>Shore, C. (Capt.), ''With British Snipers to the Reich'', Boulder: Lancer Militaria, p.&nbsp;197–198: They especially liked the "hell's brew" of AP, API, and APIT ammunition.</ref> 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&nbsp;mm Besa,<ref name="Dunlap, Roy F. 1948 p. 35, 145"/> but in Italy it was often deleted from top turret mountings because the mount exposed the operator to low branches and enemy fire.<ref>Dunlap, Roy F., ''Ordnance Went Up Front'', Samworth Press (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.</ref> 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 [[Engineering:Short Sunderland|Short Sunderland]] and [[Engineering:Avro Lancaster|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 SAS 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.<ref>Kennedy, Michael Paul, ''Soldier I: SAS'', London: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (1990), {{ISBN|0-7475-0750-3}}</ref>

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 heavy quick change barrel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.idf.il/1133-14686-he/Dover.aspx |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2016-08-29 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911000141/http://www.idf.il/1133-14686-he/Dover.aspx |archivedate=2016-09-11 |df= }} (Hebrew)</ref> Today the M2 serves as an infantry crew-served heavy machine gun, as a remote-controlled external coaxial gun on Merkava [[Engineering:Main battle tank|main battle tank]]s, as the main weapon on the Samson RCWS and as a secondary weapons on Israeli Sea Corps [[Engineering:Gunboat|gunboat]]s and [[Engineering:Missile boat|missile boat]]s.

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

===M2 as a sniper rifle===
[[File:USMC-110909-M-UO859-002.jpg|thumb|left|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 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 {{convert|2000|yd|m|order=flip}}—twice the range of a standard-caliber sniper rifle of the time (a .30-06 [[Engineering:Winchester Model 70|Winchester Model 70]]). Hathcock set the record for the longest confirmed kill at {{convert|2460|yd|m|order=flip}}, a record which stood until 2002, when it was broken in Afghanistan by Canadian Army sniper Arron Perry.<ref name="Hathcockshota">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/sniper.htm |title=Sniper Rifles |publisher=GlobalSecurity |accessdate=2008-03-24 |quote=When a 24-year old Marine sharpshooter named Carlos Norman Hathcock II chalked up the farthest recorded kill in the history of sniping—2,500 yards (a distance greater than 22 football fields) in February 1967, he fired a Browning M2 .50 Cal. Machine Gun. }}</ref><ref name="Hathcockshotb">{{cite web |title=Marine Corps Sniper Carlos N. Hathcock II |author=Sgt. Grit |year=2006 |accessdate=2008-03-24 |url=http://www.grunt.com/scuttlebutt/corps-stories/heroes/carloshathcock.asp |quote=Viet Cong shot dead by a round fired from a scope-mounted Browning M-2 .50 caliber machine gun at the unbelievable range of {{convert|2500|yd|m}}. }}</ref>

==Geneva Convention prohibition - a misconception==
It is often stated,<ref name="ABA Journal">{{cite journal |last1=Keeva |first1=Steven |title=Lawyers in the War Room |journal=ABA Journal |date=December 1991 |page=55 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AmTKRXXaeOUC&pg=PA55 |publisher=[[Organization:American Bar Association|American Bar Association]] |issn=0747-0088 |access-date=April 12, 2016}}</ref> sometimes even by military trainers,<ref name="Killing a Myth">{{cite web |last=Parks |first=Maj. W. Hays |title=Killing a Myth |url=https://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/killing-myth |publisher=Marine Corps Association |date=January 1988 |accessdate=April 12, 2016}}</ref> that it is illegal under the Geneva Convention to use the M2 against enemy personnel since it would cause "unnecessary suffering". As such, most gunners supposedly aim for enemy troops' belt buckles, since those are technically equipment and thus permissible targets. However, there is no provision of the Geneva Convention that has ever been interpreted to forbid the use of the M2 on personnel. The misconception may have arisen during the Korean or Vietnam Wars when U.S. troops were told to use their M2s only on enemy equipment due to shortages of ammunition.<ref name="Stars and Stripes">{{cite news |last=Schogol |first=Jeff |title=Can you use the .50-caliber on human targets? |url=http://www.stripes.com/blogs/the-rumor-doctor/the-rumor-doctor-1.104348/can-you-use-the-50-caliber-on-human-targets-1.134278 |newspaper=Stars and Stripes |date=February 9, 2011 |accessdate=April 12, 2016}}</ref> 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 equipment only, since the M40 was meant to be used against armor and firing the spotting gun at personnel would have given away the M40's position before it could be used as intended, was mistakenly believed to apply to all weapons of that caliber and given legal justification.<ref name="Killing a Myth" />

==Variants and derivatives==

===M2 variants===
{{Multiple image
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| caption1 = An M2HB in the French Foreign Legion's 2nd Infantry Regiment during an exercise.
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| caption2 = [[Social:Jungle warfare|Jungle Infantry]] soldier of the Brazilian Army mans an M2HB in the [[Place:Amazon rainforest|Amazon rainforest]].
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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.

[[File:PEO Browning M2 HB Machine Gun.jpg|thumb|left|M2HB heavy machine gun]]
A number of additional subvariants were developed after the end of World War II. The Caliber .50 Machine Gun, Browning, 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.<ref>Zumbro, Ralph, ''Tank Sergeant'', Presidio Press (1986), p. 92</ref> An externally mounted M2 was later adopted for the commander's position on the [[Engineering:M1 Abrams|M1 Abrams]] tanks. Three subvariants were also developed for use by the U.S. Navy on a variety of ships and watercraft. These included the Caliber .50 Machine Gun, Browning, M2, Heavy Barrel, Soft Mount (Navy) and the Caliber .50 Machine Gun, Browning, M2, Heavy Barrel, Fixed Type (Navy). The fixed types fire from a [[Engineering:Solenoid|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 in foreign weapons expo conventions.<ref name="LM6">http://www.qbq.com.cn/a/bencandy.php?fid=73&aid=1632&page=3</ref> It was made with a picatinny rail on the receiver in order to have quick installation of various optics.<ref name="LM6"/> The original M2HB tripod and parts can be used on the CS/LM6.<ref>http://www.zgjunshi.com/Article/Class38/Class88/Class121/200803/20080301200344.html</ref>

===M2A1===
[[File:PEO M2E2-QCB HMG.jpg|thumb|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 shoot, or be too loose in the chamber, resulting in a stoppage or ruptured cartridge. The other dimension that could not be held close enough was when the firing pin would fall. The solution to these problems was adjustable timing and headspace ("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 [[Company:General Dynamics|General Dynamics]], which won the competition.<ref>[http://sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=428 New .50 Cal Machine Guns, No Tanks] - SAdefensejournal.com, 19 August 2011</ref>

[[File:RSOV at National War College April 19, 2001.JPEG|thumb|U.S. Army [[Engineering:Ranger Special Operations Vehicle|Ranger Special Operations Vehicle]] (RSOV) armed with RAMO M2HB-QCB machine gun]]
On October 15, 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 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. "Timing" is the adjustment of the gun so that firing takes place when the recoiling parts are in the correct position for firing. 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.<ref>[http://peosoldier.armylive.dodlive.mil/2011/01/03/m2a1/ MA DEUCE version M2A1-Proven Performer gets an Upgrade] - PEOSoldier.mil, January 3, 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/ma-deuce-still-going-strong-03539/ Ma Deuce Still Going Strong] - Defenseindustrydaily.com</ref> In June 2011, the Army began conversion of M2HB machine guns to M2A1s.<ref>[http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2011/08/06/army-to-convert-browning-m2-to-m2a1/ Army to convert Browning M2 to M2A1] - Thefirearmblog.com, August 6, 2011</ref> The M2A1 was named one of the greatest Army inventions of 2011.<ref>[http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2012/09/21/m2a1-among-greatest-army-inventions-of-2011/ M2A1 Among Greatest Army Inventions of 2011] - Thefirearmblog.com, September 21, 2012</ref> As of November 30, 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.<ref>[http://www.army.mil/article/92130/ M2A1 Machine Gun Features Greater Safety, Heightened Lethality] - Army.mil, November 30, 2012</ref> The U.S. Marine Corps plans to upgrade all of their ground-mounted M2s to M2A1 standard from 2016 to 2018.<ref>[http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/tech/2015/09/17/marines-unveil-plan-modernize-their-small-arms-arsenal/72006282/ Marines unveil plan to modernize their small arms arsenal] - MarineCorpstimes.com, 17 September 2015</ref> The first phase of conversions was completed in March 2017, with 3,600 M2A1s planned to be fielded by the Marines in total.<ref>[https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/articles/improved-50-caliber-machine-gun-hits-fleet Improved .50-caliber machine gun hits fleet] - MarineCorpstimes.com, 27 April 2017</ref> The Israel Defense Forces adopted the M2-HQCB (the commercial version of the M2A1) in 2012 as a replacement to the M2HB.<ref>[http://www.idf.il/1133-14686-he/Dover.aspx הכירו את כלי הנשק החדשים של זרוע היבשה] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911000141/http://www.idf.il/1133-14686-he/Dover.aspx |date=2016-09-11 }}, Israel Defense Forces Official Website, 2012 (in Hebrew)</ref>

=== FN Browning M.1939 ===
An important 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, among a lot of other stuff, raised the firing rate to 1080 rpm and gave it a more powerful cartridge in form of the 13.2x99 mm Hotckiss.<ref>{{Cite book|title=La mitrailleuse Browning FN booklet |last=|first=|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> This cartridge was basically a 50 bmg but with a 13.2 mm bullet (.52 in) and more explosive propellant. Besides the new cartridge they designed a new bullet exclusively for this gun. The bullet 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.<ref>{{Cite book|title=La mitrailleuse Browning FN, kapitel XII. Les munitions F.N. calibre 13,2 mm|last=|first=|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":0" /> 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 [[Company:Ericsson|Ericsson]] as the Akan m/39A. Sweden also gave the blueprints to {{wipe|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 the state of Finland.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/warbirdsforum/browning-machine-gun-t1477.html |title=Forum post about LKK/42 history |last= |first= |date= |website= |access-date= |dead-url= |archive-url= |archive-date= }}</ref>{{vs|Forum posts are not reliable sources|date=September 2018}}

==Aircraft guns==<!--"Bell OH-58 Kiowa" links here.-->

===.50 Browning AN/M2===
[[File:P-47 040315-F-9999G-029.jpg|right|thumb|P-47 firing its eight M2 .50 machine guns during night gunnery]]

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".<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Beskrivning över 12,7 & 13,2 mm akan m/39 & m/45 (Swedish for: description of 12.7 & 13.2 mm akan m/39 & m/45. The 12.7 mm akan m/45 was the swedish designation for the 12.7 mm AN/M2, as its described in the book.)|last=|first=|publisher=Svenska flygvapnet (The Swedish air force)|year=1949|isbn=|location=Krigsarkivet (Swedish military archive)|pages=}}</ref> The "AN" stands for "Army/Navy", since the gun was developed jointly for use by both services. The AN/M2<!--intentional link to DAB page--> 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.<ref name=":0" /> Cooled by the aircraft's slip-stream, the air-cooled 12.7 mm AN/M2 was fitted with a substantially lighter {{convert|36|in|cm|adj=on}} length barrel, reducing the weight of the complete unit to {{convert|61|lb|kg}},<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://browningmgs.com/AirGunnery/01_50cal.htm |title=Aircraft Gunnery .50 Cal. |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= |work= |publisher=browningmgs.com |accessdate=March 9, 2013}}</ref> 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 a lot of 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 famous examples being the P-40, P-47 and P-51 for the USAAF and the F4F, F6F and the F4U for the US Navy. For bombers the AN/M2 was used in both flexible and fixed positions for both offensive and defensive use. In flexlible defensive positions, the 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 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.<ref name=":0" /> Note the {{wipe|Swedish Air Force}} used a different designation system which recognized the incendiary rounds as grenades, thus it was called autocannon.<ref name=":0" /> The AN/M2 was also produced in Finland under the export name '''Colt MG 53-2'''.

===M296===
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 adjustable firing rate (500–850&nbsp;rpm), while lacking a bolt latch (allowing single-shot operation).<ref>''M296 .50 cal. (12.7 mm) Machine Gun'' [https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/equip/m296.htm Article]</ref> 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.<ref>''M296 .50 cal. (12.7 mm) Machine Gun''</ref>

===XM213/M213, XM218, GAU-15/A, GAU-16/A, and GAU-18/A===
The XM213/M213 was a modernization and adaptation of existing .50 caliber AN/M2s in inventory for use as a [[Engineering:Pintle|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 Pavehawks 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===
[[File:Doorgunner CH-53GS.jpg|thumb|A German Army ramp gunner mans an M3M on board a CH-53 helicopter]]

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. 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), F-86 Sabre, F-84 Thunderjet and F-80 Shooting Star, and in Vietnam in the XM14/SUU-12/A [[Engineering:Gun pod|gun pod]]. Today, it can be found on the [[Engineering:Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano|Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano]].

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 is currently used on the OH-58D, augmenting the XM296 .50 cal. machine gun.<ref>[http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/04/06/19271-6-6-cavalry-aircrews-field-new-kiowa-warrior-weapons-system/ 6-6 Cavalry aircrews field new Kiowa Warrior weapons system]. US Army.</ref> The M3M flexible machine gun has been adopted by USN 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,<ref>[http://www.marines.mil/unit/3rdmaw/Pages/2006/Sea%20Stallions%20implement%20new%20ramp-mounted%20weapon%20system.aspx/ Sea Stallions Implement New Ramp Mount Weapon System] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.is/20120804203921/http://www.marines.mil/unit/3rdmaw/Pages/2006/Sea%20Stallions%20implement%20new%20ramp-mounted%20weapon%20system.aspx/ |date=2012-08-04 }}. USMC</ref> on the UH-1Y Venom, and on the Canadian Forces' CH-146 Griffon via the INGRESS upgrade.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}} 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 use of a soft mount.<ref>[http://www.eglin.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123466807 Test teams aim at new machine gun for Pave Hawk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208044457/http://www.eglin.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123466807 |date=2016-02-08 }} - AF.mil, 14 January 2016</ref>

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

<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Country
! NATO Member
! Designation
! Description
|-
|{{flag|Argentina}}<ref name="jones2009">Jones, Richard D. ''Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010''. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). {{ISBN|978-0-7106-2869-5}}.</ref>
|No
|M2HB
|rowspan="23"|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB machine gun
|-
|{{flag|Australia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Global Partner
|M2HB-QCB<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adi-limited.com/default.asp?page=141 |title=Light Calibre Weapons |publisher=Adi-limited.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-08}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Austria}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|rowspan="4"|No
|üsMG M2
|-
|{{flag|Bahamas}}{{cn|date=October 2017}}
|-
|{{flag|Bangladesh}}{{cn|date=October 2017}}
|-
|{{flag|Bahrain}}<ref>{{cite report |title=Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry |publisher=Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry |url=http://files.bici.org.bh/BICIreportEN.pdf |date=23 November 2011}}</ref>{{rp|page=77}}
|-
|{{flag|Belgium}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Yes
|
|-
|{{flag|Benin}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|rowspan="3"|No
|
|-
|{{flag|Bolivia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Brazil}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Mtr .50 M2 HB "BROWNING"
|-
|{{flag|Bulgaria}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Yes
|
|-
|{{flag|Burkina Faso}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|rowspan="4"|No
|
|-
|{{flag|Bosnia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Burundi}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Cameroon}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Canada}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Yes
|FN M2HB-QCB, GAU-21
|-
|{{CAF}}<ref>{{cite book|title=The Central African Republic and Small Arms: A Regional Tinderbox|first1=Eric G.|last1= Berman |first2=Louisa N. |last2=Lombard|date= December 2008|publisher=[[Organization:Small Arms Survey|Small Arms Survey]]|isbn=2-8288-0103-9|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/D-Book-series/book-07-CAR/SAS-Central-African-Republic-and-Small-Arms.pdf|pages=43-44}}</ref>
|rowspan="5"|No
|
|-
|{{flag|Chad}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Chile}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Colombia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Cote d'Ivoire}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Croatia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Yes
|
|-
|{{flag|Democratic Republic of Congo}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|No
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |{{flag|Denmark}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
| rowspan="3" |Yes
|M/50 TMG
|-
|M/2001 TMG
|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm FNH M2HB-QCB<ref>{{cite web |title=Geværer |url=http://www2.forsvaret.dk/viden-om/vaaben/gevaerer/Pages/Gevaerer2.aspx |website=forsvaret.dk |publisher=Danish Defence |accessdate=19 October 2014 |language=Danish |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102141727/http://www2.forsvaret.dk/viden-om/vaaben/gevaerer/Pages/Gevaerer2.aspx |archivedate=2 November 2014 |df= }}</ref>
|-
|?
|-
|{{flag|Cyprus}}
|-
|{{flag|Czech Republic}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Yes
|
|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm FNH M2HB-QCB<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acr.army.cz/technika-a-vyzbroj/pechotni/tezky-kulomet-browning-raze-12-7-mm-m2-hbqcb-94773/|title=Těžký kulomet Browning ráže 12,7 mm M2 HBQCB - Armáda |first= Pavel |last= Kout |date= |website= acr.army.cz}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Djibouti}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|rowspan="5"|No
|
|rowspan="5"|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB machine gun
|-
|{{flag|Dominican Republic}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Ecuador}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Egypt}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|El Salvador}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Estonia}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mil.ee/?menu=tehnika1&sisu=browning |title=Uudised - Kaitsevägi |publisher= |accessdate=25 December 2014}}</ref>
|Yes
|''Browning M2'' sometimes as ''Raskekuulipilduja Browning M2''
|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB. Usually mounted on vehicles, such as the [[Engineering:Patria Pasi#Operators|Pasi XA-180 and XA-188]], but the tripod version is also in use.
|-
|{{flag|Ethiopia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|No
|
|rowspan="2"|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB machine gun
|-
|{{flag|France}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Yes
|
|-
|{{flag|Finland}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/wcm/Erikoissivustot/pvsh11/Suomeksi/Joukot+ja+kalusto/Maavoimien+kalusto/ |title=Puolustusvoimat - Pyörremyrsky - Puolustusvoimien sotaharjoitus 2011 |language=fi |publisher=Puolustusvoimat.fi |date=2011-05-13 |accessdate=2011-09-19 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427153713/http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/wcm/Erikoissivustot/pvsh11/Suomeksi/Joukot%2Bja%2Bkalusto/Maavoimien%2Bkalusto/ |archivedate=2012-04-27 |df= }}</ref>
|rowspan="4"|No
|12,7 RSKK 2005
|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB machine gun in Protector remote weapon stations in [[Engineering:Patria AMV|Patria AMV]] APCs.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/puolustusvoimat.fi/!ut/p/c5/vZHLrqpAFES_5X4AshuwgSFi2_JUeQlMCHhQAVFQfPXXH5OT3Du6jk7cNazUXkkVn_IvHfNbtcuH6nTMD3zMpzijAlbmJiB1YTkTMBY2RLK9RLog8ms-Binz62dnsIZ5NVuJASDTCTZ3xybgkgYcewEBARaEF-Y2FfgEwCEtAkdF0WxFNI1bsUr58_qVvqNReO8D-vGxSCziUgnRpS6B4U9DNQhlkYb4bX7hyT8-_Oc04BM-lf_lKXKVVz5YCtSbAVgSH_xiG-9Z-IOs8QdZ8udY-u_uZfJpVbSj-6YdwUhRkYJVNFZELCkCCPz6kDC7uJjalETZw38qrNgb_cTcaoMwTqwqjVhQ-2W9de5-18MuavbbeMzkDXgoY06iksFQmORyD46Ghmqo-4PvPTp76dONMAyq1xBp3Poei6Wr1LLLDq3S-olnUS7GFh1aWmVFr59uzhlnRXjuz0l3zK7kpDNFXaf9Dtu-ATiqcah9Ge4dl2aWWNYzbHKgQ1mGfXKbLDnqyFtideJlsc61ctZzXNyI1Vdr3HQqXK7xtCwmmFOE9asPd35qS75rbx3x5iz-q1L7BifARvY!/dl3/d3/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?pcid=77edd7004914a0699ef5ff30a8ea04e8 |title = Raskas konekivääri 12.7 RSKK 2005 |date = 2013-10-07 |website = puolustusvoimat.fi |publisher = Finnish Defence Forces |language = Finnish |access-date = 2016-02-11 |deadurl = yes |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714154533/http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/puolustusvoimat.fi/%21ut/p/c5/vZHLrqpAFES_5X4AshuwgSFi2_JUeQlMCHhQAVFQfPXXH5OT3Du6jk7cNazUXkkVn_IvHfNbtcuH6nTMD3zMpzijAlbmJiB1YTkTMBY2RLK9RLog8ms-Binz62dnsIZ5NVuJASDTCTZ3xybgkgYcewEBARaEF-Y2FfgEwCEtAkdF0WxFNI1bsUr58_qVvqNReO8D-vGxSCziUgnRpS6B4U9DNQhlkYb4bX7hyT8-_Oc04BM-lf_lKXKVVz5YCtSbAVgSH_xiG-9Z-IOs8QdZ8udY-u_uZfJpVbSj-6YdwUhRkYJVNFZELCkCCPz6kDC7uJjalETZw38qrNgb_cTcaoMwTqwqjVhQ-2W9de5-18MuavbbeMzkDXgoY06iksFQmORyD46Ghmqo-4PvPTp76dONMAyq1xBp3Poei6Wr1LLLDq3S-olnUS7GFh1aWmVFr59uzhlnRXjuz0l3zK7kpDNFXaf9Dtu-ATiqcah9Ge4dl2aWWNYzbHKgQ1mGfXKbLDnqyFtideJlsc61ctZzXNyI1Vdr3HQqXK7xtCwmmFOE9asPd35qS75rbx3x5iz-q1L7BifARvY%21/dl3/d3/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?pcid=77edd7004914a0699ef5ff30a8ea04e8 |archivedate = 2014-07-14 |df =  }}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Gabon}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|rowspan="12"|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB machine gun
|-
|{{flag|Gambia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Ghana}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Germany}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110428220339/http://www.diesigns.com/down/HHK_CH-53.pdf "''Die CH-53 als Brücke in die Zukunft''" (The CH-53 as a bridge to the future)]</ref>
|rowspan="2"|Yes
|M3M, MG50
|-
|{{flag|Greece}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Guatemala}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|rowspan="2"|No
|
|-
|{{flag|Honduras}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|Yes
|
|-
|{{flag|India}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|rowspan="5"|No
|
|-
|{{flag|Indonesia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Iran}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|-
|{{flag|Iraq}}
|No
|
|-
|{{flag|Ireland}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|.5 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.military.ie/army/weapons/battalion/ |title=Battalion Level Weapons |publisher=Defence Forces Ireland |accessdate=26 May 2016}}</ref>
|
|
|-
|{{flag|Israel}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
| No
| מק"כ 0.5
| 12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm M2HB-QCB, used by all ground forces (infantry, armored fighting vehicles and tanks) and naval forces
|-
|{{flag|Italy}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Yes
|
|rowspan="6"|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB machine gun
|-
|{{flag|Ivory Coast}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Identifier les sources d’approvisionnement: Les munitions de petit calibre en Côte d’Ivoire|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/C-Special-reports/SAS-SR21-CotedIvoire-FR.pdf|first=Holger |last=Anders|date=June 2014|publisher=[[Organization:Small Arms Survey|Small Arms Survey]] and United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire|isbn=978-2-940-548-05-7|page=15|language=fr}}</ref>
|rowspan="9"|No
|
|-
|{{flag|Jamaica}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Japan}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun M2
|-
|{{flag|Jordan}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Katanga}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Modern African Wars: The Congo 1960–2002|last=Abbot|first=Peter|location=Oxford|publisher=Osprey Publishing|date=February 2014|isbn=978-1782000761|ref=harv|page=14}}</ref>
|
|-
|{{flag|South Korea}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|K6 (standard HMG), MG50 (being phased out), M3M (used by Cheonghae Unit<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/gallery/view.html?b_bbs_id=10044&num=195644 |title=청해부대 M3M 중기관총 사용 사진 |last= |first= |date=25 January 2015|website=유용원의 군사세계 |publisher= |access-date=10 April 2016}}</ref>)
||12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB with additional modification; licensed by Yeohwa Shotgun
|-
|{{flag|Kuwait}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|rowspan="48"|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB machine gun
|-
|{{flag|Lebanon}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Liberia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|No
|-
|{{flag|Latvia}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.gov.lv/Papildriki/Iepirkumi/Results.aspx?i=1&itm=3097&do=rez |language=lv |title=12,7mm ložmetējs Browning M2HB-QCB}}</ref>
|rowspan="3"|Yes
|M2HB-QCB
|-
|{{flag|Lithuania}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/ginkluote_ir_karine_technika/kulkosvaidziai/sunkusis_12.7_mm_50_kulkosvaidis_m-2_browning.html |title=Lietuvos kariuomenė :: Ginkluotė ir karinė technika » Kulkosvaidžiai » Sunkusis 12.7 mm (50) kulkosvaidis M-2 browning |language=lt |publisher=Kariuomene.kam.lt |date=2009-12-15 |accessdate=2011-09-19}}</ref>
|
|-
|{{flag|Luxembourg}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Mitrailleuse .50 M2 HB<ref>[http://www.armee.lu/materiel/armement.php Armement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720110506/http://www.armee.lu/materiel/armement.php |date=2011-07-20 }}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Madagascar}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|rowspan="7"|No
|
|-
|{{flag|Malaysia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Mauritania}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Mauritius}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Mexico}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Morocco}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Myanmar}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Namibia}}
|No
|-
|{{flag|Netherlands}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Yes
|
|-
|{{flag|New Zealand}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|rowspan="1"|Global Partner
|
|-
|{{flag|Nicaragua}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|rowspan="3"|No
|
|-
|{{flag|Niger}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Nigeria}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Norway}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Yes
|12,7 mitraljøse
|-
|{{flag|Oman}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|No
|
|-
|{{flag|Pakistan}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Global Partner
|
|-
|{{flag|Panama}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
| rowspan="4" |No
|
|-
|{{flag|Paraguay}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Peru}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Philippines}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Portugal}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Yes
|m/951<ref>{{cite book|last1=Abbott|first1= Peter |last2=Rodrigues|first2= Manuel|title=Modern African Wars 2: Angola and Mozambique 1961-74|publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=1998|page=18}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Qatar}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|No
|
|-
|{{flag|Romania}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Yes
|
|-
|{{flag|Rwanda}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|rowspan="7"|No
|
|-
|{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Senegal}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Serbia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Singapore}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Somalia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|South Africa}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|50 Browning
|-
|{{flag|Soviet Union}}
|No
|M2 AA variant, Lend-Lease, 3100 pieces<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/LL-Ship/LL-Ship-3A.html |title=HyperWar: Lend-Lease Shipments, World War II (Ordnance) |publisher= |accessdate=25 December 2014}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Spain}}<ref name="jones2009"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infodefensa.com/es/2016/01/20/noticia-helicopteros-cougar-chinook-incorporaran-nuevas-ametralladoras-mag58.html|title=Los helicópteros Cougar y Chinook incorporarán las nuevas ametralladoras MAG-58, M3M y M-240 - Noticias Infodefensa España|first=|last=Infodefensa.com|date=20 January 2016|website=infodefensa.com|accessdate=4 June 2017}}</ref>
|Yes
|M2HB-QCB, M3M
|-
|{{flag|Sweden}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/Materiel-och-teknik/Vapen/Tung-kulspruta |title=Kulspruta 88 - Försvarsmakten |publisher=Forsvarsmakten.se |date=2007-08-23 |accessdate=2011-09-19 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811153247/http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/Materiel-och-teknik/Vapen/Tung-kulspruta/ |archivedate=2011-08-11 |df= }}</ref>
|rowspan="7"|No
|''Kulspruta 88 (Ksp 88)''
|-
|{{flag|Switzerland}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|MG 64
|-
|{{flag|Taiwan}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
||{{flag|Thailand}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Togo}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Tonga}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Tunisia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Turkey}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Yes
|
|-
|{{flag|Turkmenistan}}<ref>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Independence_Day_Parade_-_Flickr_-_Kerri-Jo_%2861%29.jpg/1024px-Independence_Day_Parade_-_Flickr_-_Kerri-Jo_%2861%29.jpg</ref>
|rowspan="2"|No
|
|-
|{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
| rowspan="6" |{{flag|United Kingdom}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
| rowspan="7" |Yes
|L2A1
|-
|L6, L6A1
|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB machine gun; ranging gun for the [[Engineering:Royal Ordnance L7|L7 105 mm]] tank gun on the Centurion tank
|-
|L11, L11A1
|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB machine gun; ranging gun
|-
|L21A1
|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB machine gun; ranging gun for the 120&nbsp;mm tank gun on the Chieftain tank
|-
|L111A1<ref>{{cite web |url=http://manroy.co.uk/manroy/ |title=Manroy Website |publisher=Manroy.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2008-09-08}}</ref>
|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm M2QCB machine gun
|-
|M3M<ref>MOD Defence News report of M3M acquisition for CHC [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/CommandoHelicopterForceGetToGripsWithNewGun.htm mod.co.uk defence news] accessed 26 Sept 2010</ref>
|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB machine gun; Upgraded M2 for use on Commando Helicopter Force and other units as helicopter door guns.
|-
|{{flag|United States}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|Browning Caliber .50 M2, M2HB, XM218/GAU-16, GAU-21
|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB machine gun
|-
|{{flag|Uruguay}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|rowspan="4"|No
|
|rowspan="4"|12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm Browning M2HB machine gun
|-
|{{flag|Venezuela}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|North Vietnam}}
|
|-
|{{flag|South Vietnam}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Vietnam}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Yemen}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|-
|{{flag|Zimbabwe}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
|
|}

==See also==
* MG 18 TuF, a German 13.2 mm machine gun from WWI
* M85 machine gun, a vehicle-borne replacement for the M2 that proved unreliable and was removed from service
* [[Engineering:FN BRG-15|FN BRG-15]] 15.5&nbsp;mm caliber machine gun
* KPV heavy machine gun 14.5&nbsp;mm caliber machine gun
* List of U.S. Army weapons by supply catalog designation
* [[Engineering:MG 131 machine gun|MG 131 machine gun]], [[Social:World War II|World War II]] 13&nbsp;mm German aircraft-mounted gun
* List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
* List of crew-served weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
* DShK, NSV, and Kord 12.7&nbsp;mm machine guns, Soviet/Russian equivalents.

==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist|30em}}

;Bibliography
{{refbegin|45em}}
* {{Citation |last=Chinn |first=George M. |title=The Machine Gun: History, Evolution and Development of Manually Operated, Full Automatic, and Power Driven Aircraft Machine Guns |year=1951 |volume=1 |publisher=Department of the Navy, Bureau of Ordnance}}
* {{Citation |last=Dunlap |first=Roy F. |year=1948 |title=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 |publisher=Small-Arms Technical Publishing Co. |location=Plantersville, SC |series=A Samworth Book on Firearms |oclc=6081851}}
* George, John B. (1981). ''Shots Fired In Anger'', NRA Press, {{ISBN|0-935998-42-X}}
* Gresham, John D. (December 2001). "Weapons". ''Military Heritage''. Volume 3, No. 3: 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 (John Browning's (M2) .50-caliber).
* Hogg, Ian. (2001). ''The American Arsenal''. Ian Hogg, ed. London, UK: Greenhill Books, {{ISBN|978-1-85367-470-9}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041015143444/https://www.doctrine.usmc.mil/signpubs/w3151.pdf MCWP 3-15.1: Machine Guns and Machine Gun Gunnery] USMC (requires client certificate). [https://web.archive.org/web/20131017042952/http://www.scribd.com/doc/3614458/MCWP-3151 Alternative via scribd]
* 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}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [http://www.liberatorcrew.com/15_Gunnery/01_50cal.htm Aircraft Gunnery_.50 cal.]
* [https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m2-50cal.htm M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun] at [http://www.fas.org Federation of American Scientists]
*[http://modernfirearms.net/en/machineguns/u-s-a-machineguns/browning-m2hb-eng/ Browning M2HB & M2HQCB (USA)]
* [http://www.olive-drab.com/od_other_firearms_mg_m2.php3 M2 .50 cal. Machine Gun] at [http://www.olive-drab.com Olive-Drab.com]
* [http://www.olive-drab.com/od_other_firearms_mg_m2_quad50.php Quad-50 M2 .50 cal. Machine Gun] at [http://www.olive-drab.com Olive-Drab.com]
* [http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/infantry/mg/M2.html Browning M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun] at [http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/index.html Gary's Olive Drab Page]
* [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/ambush/weapons/50cal.html Browning M2 HB .50 Caliber Heavy Machine Gun], "Ambush in Mogadishu", ''Frontline'', PBS
* [http://www.stripes.com/blogs/the-rumor-doctor/the-rumor-doctor-1.104348/can-you-use-the-50-caliber-on-human-targets-1.134278 Can you use the .50-caliber on human targets?], ''Stars & Stripes''
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxe-XYjWCZQ Video of Operation ] on [[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]
* [http://www.m2gun.com/ U.S. Army FM 23-65 Browning Machine Gun Caliber .50 HB, M2]
* [http://www.pt103.com/PT_Boat_Components_Browning_50_Cal_M2_Aircraft.html Browning .50 Cal. M2 Aircraft dimensions]

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{{succession box|before=|after=McMillan Tac-50|title=Longest confirmed combat sniper-shot kill|years=1967–2002 <br /> 1.42 mi (2,286 m) <br /> <small> using .50 BMG by Carlos Hathcock </small> }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:M2 Browning Machine Gun}}
[[Category:Aircraft guns]]

{{Sourceattribution|M2 Browning|1}}