Key facts
- Type
- Heavy machine gun
- Place of origin
- United States
- In service
- 1933–present
- Used by
- See Users
- Designer
- John Browning
- Produced
- 1921–present (M2HB/M2A1)
- Number span no built
- 3 million
- 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
- Length
- 1,654 mm (65.1 in) , 1,429 mm (56.3 in) (AN/M2)
- Barrel length
- 1,143 mm (45.0 in) , 910 mm (35.8 in) (AN/M2)
- Cartridge
- .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO)
- Action
- Short recoil-operated
- Rate of fire
- 450–600 rounds/min (M2HB) 750–850 rounds/min (AN/M2) 1,200–1,300 rounds/min (AN/M3)
- Muzzle velocity
- 2,910 ft/s (890 m/s) (M33 ball), 78 ft (24 m) from muzzle , 3,050 ft/s (930 m/s) in manual
- Effective firing range
- 1,800 m (2,000 yd)
- Maximum firing range
- 7,400 m (8,100 yd)
- Feed system
- Belt-fed (M2 or M9 links)
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
The M2 machine gun or Browning .50-caliber machine gun (informally, "Ma Deuce") is a heavy machine gun that was designed near the end of World War I by John Browning. While similar to Browning's M1919 Browning machine gun, which was chambered for the .30-06 cartridge, the M2 uses Browning's larger and more powerful .50 BMG (12.7 mm) cartridge. The design has had many designations; the official U.S. military designation for the infantry type is Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, Flexible. It has been used against infantry, light armored vehicles, watercraft, light fortifications, and low-flying aircraft.
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 Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War. 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.
Gallery (12)
Connections
Categories
.50 BMG machine gunsCold War firearms of the United StatesHeavy machine gunsMachine guns of the United StatesMilitary equipment introduced in the 1930sSarsılmaz ArmsShort recoil firearmsWeapons of the Philippine ArmyWorld War II firearms of the United StatesWorld War II infantry weapons of BrazilWorld War II infantry weapons of the United States