M2 Browning facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB
M2HB machine gun
Type	Heavy machine gun
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1921 M2HB from 1933–present
Used by	United States, and several others
Wars	World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Falklands War, Desert Storm, Somali Civil War, Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, South African Border War
Production history
Designed	1918
Produced	1933–present (M2HB)
Specifications
Mass	38 kg (84 lb), 58 kg (128 lb) with tripod and T&E
Length	1650 mm (65 in)
Barrel length	1143 mm (45 in)
Cartridge	.50 BMG
Action	Short recoil-operated
Rate of fire	450–600 rounds/min (M2HB) 750–850 rounds/min (M2 aircraft gun)
Muzzle velocity	2,910 feet per second (M33 Ball) (887.1 m/s)
Feed system	Belt-fed (M2 or M9 links)

The M2 Machine Gun, also known as the Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun, is a very powerful type of heavy machine gun. Soldiers often call it Ma Deuce or simply "fifty-cal." This is because of its large bullet size. This gun has been used by the United States military for a very long time, and it's still in use today!

Who Invented the M2 Machine Gun?

The M2 Machine Gun was invented by John Moses Browning (1855–1926). He was from Ogden, Utah. Browning was famous for designing many excellent military weapons.

A German military leader once said that if their air force had the Browning .50-caliber gun, a big battle called the Battle of Britain might have ended differently. This shows how respected Browning's designs were.

How the M2 Machine Gun Works

Browning started working on this powerful .50-caliber machine gun in July 1917. It was first introduced in 1918.

This gun is an automatic weapon. It is belt-fed, meaning bullets come from a long strip or belt. It could be cooled by air or by water. The M2 could fire single shots or many shots very quickly in a row.

The United States Army, Army Air Forces, and Navy quickly started using it.

Where the M2 Machine Gun Has Been Used

The Browning .50 caliber machine gun has been used a lot. It has been mounted on vehicles and aircraft. The United States has used it from the 1920s until now.

It was used in major conflicts like World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. It also saw action in Iraq in the 1990s and 2000s. Many countries that are part of NATO use it as their main heavy machine gun. Many other countries around the world use it too.

The M2 is still in use today. It has only had a few small updates over the years. It is the longest-serving machine gun in the US military.

Images for kids

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  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.

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

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  An M2 fired from a rigid-hulled inflatable boat.

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  B-25H "Barbie III" showing four M2 feeds and 75 mm M5 gun

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

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

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  M45 .50 AA Quad aka the 'Meat Chopper'

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  USMC M2 fitted with a Leupold CQBSS variable power scope.

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  M2HB heavy machine gun

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  M2E2 modification with quick-change barrel (QCB)

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

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  P-47 firing its eight M2 .50 machine guns during night gunnery

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  A German Army ramp gunner mans an M3M on board a CH-53 helicopter

See also

In Spanish: Browning M2 para niños