Browning M2HB
Browning Arms Company · Machine Gun · In Production · 1933
Also known as: Ma Deuce, Fifty Cal, M2 Browning, Browning .50 Cal
Overview
The Browning M2HB is an American .50 caliber heavy machine gun designed by John Moses Browning at the end of World War I. The 'HB' designation denotes its heavy, air-cooled barrel, which replaced the water-cooling jacket of the earlier M2 water-cooled variant. A short-recoil, belt-fed weapon firing the 12.7x99mm NATO cartridge, it has served continuously since 1933 in roles ranging from infantry support and anti-aircraft defense to vehicle and aircraft armament. Nicknamed 'Ma Deuce,' it remains the NATO standard heavy machine gun and one of the longest-serving weapons in military history.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 38000 g (1340.4 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1654 mm (65.12") |
| Barrel Length | 1143 mm (45.00") |
| Action Type | Short Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Magazine Type | Belt |
| Muzzle Velocity | 887 m/s (2910 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 16370 J (12074 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 1800 m (1968 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 6800 m (7437 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 550 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 381 mm (15.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 8 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Parkerized |
Calibers
- 12.7x99mm NATO · primary · 12.7mm NATO — also known as .50 BMG, .50 Browning, 12.7x99mm, .50 Caliber
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic, Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Disintegrating Link Belt
- Safety mechanisms: Bolt Latch Release
- Features: Heavy Air Cooled Barrel, Belt Fed, Dual Feed, Adjustable Headspace, Spade Grips, Butterfly Trigger
Variants
- Browning M2A1 — Quick Change Barrel
- Browning M2HB-QCB — Quick Change Barrel
Service history
Operators
- United States Armed Forces · adopted 1933 · as M2HB
- British Armed Forces · as L2A1
- Israel Defense Forces
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- Vietnam War (1955-1975)
- Gulf War (1990-1991)
- War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)
- Iraq War (2003-2011)
Production
Estimated total produced: 3,000,000 · Production years: 1933-present
Roughly 3 million units produced across multiple manufacturers; remains in active production and front-line service worldwide.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: John Moses Browning
Notes
The M2A1 and M2HB-QCB variants add a fixed-headspace quick-change barrel, eliminating the need to manually set headspace and timing during barrel swaps. Effective on aircraft, light armor, watercraft, fortifications and personnel.
Background
John Browning developed the .50 caliber machine gun at the request of General John Pershing during World War I, after American troops encountered armored aircraft and vehicles. Browning died in 1926, but his design entered standardized service as the M2 and has outlasted nearly every weapon of its era, earning the affectionate nickname 'Ma Deuce.'