View source for M2HB (12.7 mm)

{{About
| about = '''{{PAGENAME}}''' mounted on ground vehicles
| other
| usage-1 = the aircraft-mounted variant
| link-1 = M2 Browning (12.7 mm)
| usage-2 = other uses
| link-2 = M2 (Disambiguation)
}}
[[File:M2HB.png|x280px|thumb|right|The M2HB on top of the M1A2 Abrams]]
== Description ==
<!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' -->

The '''12.7 mm Browning M2HB''' is an American .50 cal (12.7 mm) heavy machine gun, a variant of the legendary Browning M2. It is by far the most ubiquitous machine gun in the game and used by every military branch: The Browning M2 on-board weapon can be found in every aircraft tech tree, the ground-based M2HB is used by the land forces of every nation, and the [[AN-M2 (12.7 mm)|AN-M2]] is found in the US naval tree. As a heavy machine gun, the M2HB has reasonable armour penetration and a higher damage effect than medium and general purpose machine guns. This makes it much more effective in engaging weakly armoured enemy vehicles as well as aircraft.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->

{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Light tanks'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|LVT}}{{Specs-Link|us_lvt_a_4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_lvt_bofors}}
{{Navigation-Line|M8 Greyhound}}{{Specs-Link|us_m8_greyhound}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m8_greyhound}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m8a1}}
{{Navigation-Line|M18 Hellcat}}{{Specs-Link|us_m18_hellcat}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m18_hellcat_black_cat}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m18_hellcat}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m18_hellcat}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m18_super_hellcat}}
{{Navigation-Line|M24 Chaffee}}{{Specs-Link|us_m24_chaffee}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_m24_chaffee}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m24_chaffee}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m24_chaffee}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_amx_13_chaffee}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m24_chaffee_tl}}
{{Navigation-Line|M41 Walker Bulldog}}{{Specs-Link|us_m41_walker_bulldog}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_le_kpz_m41}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_m41_walker_bulldog}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m41_a3_walker_bulldog}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m_41d}}
{{Navigation-Line|M1128}}{{Specs-Link|us_m1128_mgs}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m1128_wolfpack}}
{{Navigation-Line|Type 16}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_16_mcv_prot}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_16_mod}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_16}}
{{Navigation-Line|Other (USA)}}{{Specs-Link|us_m2a2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t92}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m551}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_xm_8}}
{{Navigation-Line|Other (Britain)}}{{Specs-Link|uk_marmon_herrington_mk_6_6pdr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_vfm_5}}
{{Navigation-Line|Other (China)}}{{Specs-Link|cn_type_64}}
{{Navigation-Line|Other (Italy)}}{{Specs-Link|it_centauro_mgs_120}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_kf_41}}
{{Navigation-Line|Other (France)}}{{Specs-Link|fr_vbci2_mct30}}
{{Navigation-Line|Other (Sweden)}}{{Specs-Link|sw_patria_amv_ctcv_105}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Medium tanks'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|AMX-30}}{{Specs-Link|fr_amx_30}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_amx_30_ACRA}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_amx_30_super}}
{{Navigation-Line|Centurion}}{{Specs-Link|uk_centurion_mk_5_raac}}
{{Navigation-Line|Challenger 2}}{{Specs-Link|uk_challenger_2e}}
{{Navigation-Line|Leclerc}}{{Specs-Link|fr_leclerc_s1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_leclerc_s2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_leclerc_sxxi}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_leclerc_azur}}
{{Navigation-Line|M1 Abrams}}{{Specs-Link|us_m1_abrams}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m1_abrams_kvt}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m1_ip_abrams}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m1a1_abrams}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m1a1_hc_abrams}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m1a1_aim_abrams}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m1a2_abrams}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m1a2_sep_abrams}}
{{Navigation-Line|M4 Sherman}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_sherman_75_37}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_sherman_VII}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_sherman_ic_firefly}}
{{Navigation-Line|M4A1 Sherman}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a1_1942_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_sherman_II}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m4a1_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m4a1_76w_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a1_76w_sherman}}
{{Navigation-Line|M4A2 Sherman}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a2_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a2_1944_germ}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a2_76w_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ussr_m4a2_76w_sherman}}
{{Navigation-Line|M4A3 Sherman}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a3_105_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m4a3_105_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a3e8_76w_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_m4a3e8_76w_sherman}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4_t26}}
{{Navigation-Line|M4A4 Sherman}}{{Specs-Link|uk_sherman_vc_firefly}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m4a4_sherman_1st_ptg}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_sherman_vc_firefly}}
{{Navigation-Line|M-51}}{{Specs-Link|il_m_51_w}}
{{Navigation-Line|M26 Pershing}}{{Specs-Link|us_m26_pershing}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m26_ariete}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m26_pershing}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m26_t99}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m26e1_pershing}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m26a1_pershing}}
{{Navigation-Line|M46/7/8 Patton}}{{Specs-Link|us_m46_patton}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m46_patton_73_armor_bat}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m47_patton_II}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_mkpz_m47}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_m47_patton_II}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m47_105}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m48a1_patton_III}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m48a1_patton_III}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_mkpz_m48a2c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_cm11}}
{{Navigation-Line|Magach}}{{Specs-Link|il_m48a1_patton_III}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_3_idf}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_6a}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_6b}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_6r}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_6b_gal}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_6b_gal_batash}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_magach_7c}}
{{Navigation-Line|Merkava}}{{Specs-Link|us_merkava_mk_1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_merkava_mk_1b}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_merkava_mk_2b_late}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_merkava_mk_2d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_merkava_mk_3b}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_merkava_mk_3c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_merkava_mk_3d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_merkava_mk_4b}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_merkava_mk_4m}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_merkava_mk_4_lic}}
{{Navigation-Line|OF-40}}{{Specs-Link|it_of_40_mtca}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_of_40_mk_2a}}
{{Navigation-Line|Sho't}}{{Specs-Link|il_centurion_mk_5_shot}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_centurion_shot_kal_d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_centurion_shot_kal_d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_centurion_shot_kal_gimel}}
{{Navigation-Line|Type 61}}{{Specs-Link|jp_st_a1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_st_a3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_61}}
{{Navigation-Line|Type 74}}{{Specs-Link|jp_st_b1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_74_c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_74}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_74_f}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_74_mod_g_kai}}
{{Navigation-Line|Type 90}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_90}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_90b}}
{{Navigation-Line|Type 10}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_10_prototype}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_tkx_prot}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_10}}
{{Navigation-Line|Other (USA)}}{{Specs-Link|us_t20}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t25}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t54e1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t95e1}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Heavy tanks'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|M4A3E2 Jumbo}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a3e2_sherman_jumbo}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a3e2_sherman_jumbo_cobra_king}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m4a3e2_sherman_jumbo}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m4a3e2_76w_sherman_jumbo}}
{{Navigation-Line|M6}}{{Specs-Link|us_m6a1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m6a2e1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t1e1}}
{{Navigation-Line|T26}}{{Specs-Link|us_t26e4_superpershing}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t26e5}}
{{Navigation-Line|T29}}{{Specs-Link|us_t29}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t30}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t34}}
{{Navigation-Line|T32}}{{Specs-Link|us_t32}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t32e1}}
{{Navigation-Line|Other (USA)}}{{Specs-Link|us_m103}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t14}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t54e2}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Tank destroyers'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|M8 Scott}}{{Specs-Link|us_m8_scott}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m8_scott}}
{{Navigation-Line|M10 Wolverine}}{{Specs-Link|us_m10}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_17_pdr_m10_achilles_norfolk_yeomanry}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m10}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m10}}
{{Navigation-Line|M36 Jackson}}{{Specs-Link|us_m36}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m36}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m36b1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_m36b2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_m36b2_jgsdf}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_m36b2_cefeo}}
{{Navigation-Line|M109}}{{Specs-Link|us_m109a1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_m109a1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m109g}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|il_m109}}
{{Navigation-Line|M113A1}}{{Specs-Link|cn_m113a1_tow}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_cm_25}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_m113a1_tow}}
{{Navigation-Line|Other (USA)}}{{Specs-Link|us_losat_ccv}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t28}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_t95}}
{{Navigation-Line|Other (Japan)}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_60_atm}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_75}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_type_75_mlrs}}
{{Navigation-Line|Other (France)}}{{Specs-Link|fr_amx_30_auf_1}}
{{Navigation-Line|Other (Sweden)}}{{Specs-Link|sw_k9_vidar}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''SPAA'''}}{{Specs-Link|us_halftrack_m13}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|us_halftrack_m15}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uk_t17e2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|cn_gmc_cckw_353_m45_quad}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_fiat_cm52}}
{{Navigation-Line|M16}}{{Specs-Link|us_halftrack_m16}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|jp_halftrack_m16}}

{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==
<!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.'' -->
The M2HB is a fairly standard 12.7 mm heavy machine gun, with a decent rate of fire and a good belt capacity.

=== Available ammunition ===
<!-- ''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).'' -->
In its most common role as a secondary (co-axial or pintle-mounted) machine gun, the M2HB can only be equipped with the default belt. The penetration statistics of the containing cartridges can be found in the table below.

The M2HB is also used as the primary weapon on some vehicles (predominantly SPAA, but also tanks such as the M2A2). In these cases, the M2HB can be equipped with a number of different ammo belts. While none of these belts contain a higher maximum penetration than the default belt (31 mm), they consist of different combinations of rounds.

The full belts are:

* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|I|M1 incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}
* '''Common:''' {{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|I|M1 incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}
* '''API:''' {{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-I|M8 armour-piercing incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}
* '''AP:''' {{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}
* '''API-T:''' {{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}

{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|AP, I, API-T, AP-I}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===
<!-- ''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' -->
The M2HB performs functionally identically to the [[M85 (12.7 mm)]] machine gun, the only other 12.7 mm machine gun used by the Americans. Like the M85, it has a slightly lower rate of fire than other heavy machine guns, but a larger belt capacity.

== Usage in battles ==
<!-- ''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.'' -->
Unlike lower calibre machine guns, the M2HB has enough penetration to be able to penetrate the armour of lightly armoured tanks (or the side/rear armour of some more heavily armoured tanks). Bullets can also sometimes make it through armour holes such as the turret ring or mg port of tanks, injuring crew members. Like all other machine guns, it can be used for incapacitating exposed crew members, as well as marking enemy vehicles and obscuring the view of enemy players (shooting at their gun sight). It also does more damage to enemy aircraft than lower calibre machine guns, and is usually mounted on top of the turret, making aiming at aircraft much easier than with a co-axial gun. Clearing trees and bushes is another use.

On most US tanks, there is a single pintle-mounted M2HB Browning machine gun mounted on the top of the turret. By using the "select machine gun" keybind, you can use it to shoot at enemies' gun barrels from behind cover. If they don't realize what you're doing, you will be able to destroy their gun and leave them defenseless.

=== Pros and cons ===
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' -->

'''Pros:'''

* Enough penetration to damage some enemy vehicles
* Good belt capacity
* The rate of fire is average
* 3/4 (75%) rounds in the belt have good penetration

'''Cons:'''

* Slower rate of fire than Soviet 12.7 mm machine guns

== History ==
<!-- ''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.'' -->
The M2HB is an American heavy machine gun in .50 BMG calibre (12.7 x 99 mm NATO); it is the "Heavy Barrel" version of the legendary Browning M2 series of machine guns. Machine guns used in the First World War tended to be of rifle calibre, however towards the end of the war it became apparent that larger calibre weapons were needed to defeat armoured vehicles and aircraft. In mid-1917, John Browning set about redesigning his M1917 machine gun (the same weapon the .30 cal [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|M1919]] was developed from) to chamber a .50 cal (12.7 mm) round. The new weapon was tested in October 1918 and was found to have poor rate of fire and inadequate penetration, as well as being heavy and hard to control. Further development work to improve the weapon's shortcomings resulted in the M1921, a .50 cal water-cooled machine gun, which entered testing in 1921.

The M1921 entered service with the US Army and Navy in 1929. The weapon was very heavy at 121 lb (55 kg) and concerns were raised about its suitability for the role due to its extreme weight and the rapid overheating of the air-cooled version. After John Browning's death in 1926, work on the M1921 continued, with a slightly improved M1921A1 version entering service in 1930. The M1921 was re-engineered with a new receiver design, and in 1933 it entered service as the M2 Browning.

The initial Browning M2s shared the same water-cooled barrel as the M1921 (and thus the same heavy weight of 55 kg). Like the M1921, the M2 proved to overheat rapidly without water cooling, and so the M2HB (HB standing for "Heavy Barrel") was developed. The M2HB had a thicker and heavier barrel to help dissipate heat, as well as featuring the weapon's iconic short perforated barrel support and carry handle. Despite featuring a heavier barrel, the ditching of the water cooling system meant that the weight of the weapon could be reduced down to 84 lb (38 kg).

The M2 family saw widespread usage by the Allies in WW2, being mounted on armoured and unarmoured vehicles, aircraft, and ships; the M2 was also mounted on tripods for use by infantry. After the war, a plan was made to replace the M2 with the [[M85 (12.7 mm)|M85]]; however, the new weapon turned out to be extremely unreliable and was withdrawn from service (ironically being replaced by the M2). Although the M2 Browning is mostly no longer used on aircraft (being replaced by the [[Browning M3 (12.7 mm)|M3]] and then by larger calibre cannons), the M2HB remains in service to this day with a wide range of nations. It is used on armoured vehicles, boats and by infantry. From 2010 on, the US army began replacing the M2HB with the upgraded M2A1 version, featuring a quick change barrel, a flash suppressor, and other improvements. The upgrade process is still ongoing, with the plan being for all 54,000 of the army's M2 Browning machine guns to eventually be upgraded to M2A1 spec.

The Browning M2 remains the most produced heavy machine gun of all time, with over 3,000,000 being manufactured.

== Media ==
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
File:Weapon M2HB 12.7mm.jpg|<small>The M2HB on the M24</small>
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|VG3MzS1IgGU|'''M2 Browning: The WWII Machine Gun we Still Use Today''' - ''Sideprojects''|cmLnwiJRr78|'''Ma Deuce: The Venerable Browning M2 .50 Caliber HMG''' - ''Forgotten Weapons''|rsuGLHGcuik|'''Browning M2HB .50 BMG at the Range''' - ''Forgotten Weapons''}}

== See also ==
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' -->

* [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)]] - Version used on aircraft
* [[Browning M3 (12.7 mm)]]⁣ - Variant used on aircraft, featuring much higher rate of fire
* [[M85 (12.7 mm)]]⁣ - A failed weapon planned to replace the M2HB
* [[L21A1 (12.7 mm)]] - A British version of the M2 used on the [[Chieftain (Family)|Chieftain]] tank as a ranging gun

== External links ==
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.'' -->

* [[wikipedia:M2_Browning|[Wikipedia] M2 Browning]]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=13 Military Factory - M2 Multi-role Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)]
* [https://modernfirearms.net/en/machineguns/u-s-a-machineguns/browning-m2hb-eng/ Modern Firearms - Browning M2HB]

{{Britain and USA anti-aircraft guns}}
{{Japan anti-aircraft guns}}
{{China anti-aircraft guns}}
{{Tank machine guns}}

[[Category:Tank machine guns]]
[[Category:Anti-aircraft guns]]