M2 Browning machine gun

M2, aircraft basic Type Heavy Machine Gun Cartridge 12.7x99mm (.50 BMG) Country of Origin USA Weight 64 lbs Overall Length 56" Barrel Length 36" Rate of Fire 800 rpm Muzzle Velocity 2845 fps how to edit

M2-HB Type Heavy Machine Gun Cartridge 12.7x99mm (.50 BMG) Country of Origin USA Weight 83 lbs Overall Length 65" Barrel Length 45" Rate of Fire 600 rpm Muzzle Velocity 2935 fps how to edit

The Browning .50 Caliber M2 Machine Gun is a heavy machine gun designed in 1918 by John Browning. The design was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1921 and is still in service today. It has a variety of nicknames derived from its caliber including "Ma Deuce", "fifty BMG", "fifty cal", or even just "fifty".

There were different versions of the weapon for aircraft and ground use. The ground version was the M2-HB (HB for Heavy Barrel). The aircraft version was used in fixed and flexible installations and differed from the M2-HB by its higher rate of fire, lighter weight and shorter barrel length which gave it a slight reduction in muzzle velocity.

History

During World War II, the M2 guns were produced by Colt's Patent Fire Arms Company, High Standard Company, Savage Arms Corporation, Buffalo Arms Corporation, Frigidaire, AC Spark Plug, Brown-Lipe-Chappin, Saginaw Division of General Motors Corporation, and the Kelsey Hayes Wheel Company. The initial cost of the Browning M2 machine gun was $750.00. Production ceased temporarily at the end of World War II. A total of about 2 million M2's were built with about 23 percent of these being M2-HB's.

Aces High

In Aces High, the M2 is found on nearly every American aircraft as well as some British ones. The M2-HB is used on a number of different ground vehicles as well as the PT Boat.