The M2 machine gun or Browning .50 caliber machine gun 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 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.
M2E2 with a quick change barrel and tripod
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.
Twin M2HB machine gun during a pre-action calibration fire (PACFIRE) exercise in May 2005
M2 with blank-firing adapter
A heavy machine gun (HMG) is significantly larger than light, medium or general-purpose machine guns. HMGs are typically too heavy to be man-portable and require mounting onto a weapons platform to be operably stable or tactically mobile, have more formidable firepower, and generally require a team of personnel for operation and maintenance.
The M2 Browning machine gun with a tripod weighs 58 kg (128 lb).
A Ukrainian Ground Forces soldier firing the DShKM in heavy role.
Wheel mounted DShK.
MG 08 system (7.92 mm) and crew circa 1931.
