M2HB
Unofficial
names/slang: n/a
Function:
Tripod or vehicle mounted heavy machine gun
Date
deployed: unavailable
Contractor:
Saco Defense
Unit cost:
$14,000
Length:
61.42"
Weight:
84 lbs. (gun only); 128 lbs. w/ M3 tripod
Rate of Fire:
Sustained: 40 rpm or less; Rapid Fire: 40 rpm or
more; Cyclic: approx. 450 - 550 rpm
Ammo type:
Belt-fed .50 caliber ball, tracer, armor piercing,
incendiary, armor piercing incendiary, armor
piercing incendiary tracer, blank, or dummy rounds
Guidance:
Visual
Range:
approx. 1,830 m (effective); approx. 6,800 m (max)
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Background:
The .50 cal. (12.7mm) M2 (originally model No.
M1923) was developed by John M. Browning at the end
of World War I. After a series of early
water-cooled, aircraft, and tank models were tested
in the 1920s, an improved version was adopted in
1933 as the Browning M2 water-cooled machine gun.
Subsequent models (.50 cal. M2 aircraft gun and M2
heavy barrel gun) using the same receiver, were
adopted by the Army. During World War II, nearly two
million M2 machine guns of all variations were
produced. The M2 was manufactured until 1946, but
toward the end of 1976, the U.S. Army took steps to
begin new production and rebuild of the M2 to
replace seriously depleted stocks. Many M2s had been
demilitarized following World War II. Emergency
supply of M2s to the Isreali Defense Forces during
the 1973 Yom Kippur war was also a serious drain on
supplies. The M2 machine gun was selected as the
commander's weapon for use on the M1 series main
battle tank. The continuing success of the M2 is a
tribute to Browning's design genius.
Browning Machine Guns are standard Army
weapons also used by the Navy. The .50-cal machine
gun now used by the Army and Navy is the M2HB (Heavy
Barrel). The M2 is only equipped with an air-cooled
heavy barrel, since the light air-cooled barrel is
no longer in use.
For a time, the M2HB was not used aboard
surface ships, but has since been installed on most
types of ships and landing craft.
Features: The Browning M2 .50 Caliber
Machine Gun, Heavy barrel is an automatic, belt-fed,
recoil operated, air-cooled machine gun with
adjustable headspace and is crew transportable with
limited amounts of ammunition over short distances.
By repositioning some of the component parts,
ammunition may be fed from either the left or right
side. A disintegrating metallic link-belt is used to
feed the ammunition into the weapon. This gun is has
a back plate with spade grips, trigger, and bolt
latch release. This gun may be mounted on ground
mounts and most vehicles as an anti-personnel and
anti-aircraft weapon. The gun is equipped with
leaf-type rear sight, flash suppressor and a spare
barrel assembly. Associated components are the M63
antiaircraft mount and the M3 tripod mount.
The M2 .50 cal. flexible version is used as a
ground gun on the M3 tripod mount or various Naval
mounts. The M2 .50 cal., M48 turret type, fixed
type, and soft mount are installed on mounts of
several different types of combat vehicles and
ships. The weapon provides automatic weapon
suppressive fire for offensive and defensive
purposes. This weapon can be used effectively
against personnel, light armored vehicles; low, slow
flying aircraft; and small boats.
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