View source for M2 Browning (12.7 mm)

{{About
| about = aircraft-mounted '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = the vehicle-mounted variant
| link-1 = M2HB (12.7 mm)
| usage-2 = other uses
| link-2 = M2 (Disambiguation)
}}

== 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 M2 Browning (12.7 mm) is an aircraft-mounted heavy machine gun featured ubiquitously on American aircraft before, during, and just after WWII as forward-facing offensive armament, or as flexible defensive armament. It is related to the [[M2HB (12.7 mm)]] heavy machine gun which were heavier variants mounted to ground vehicles. The M2 Browning is commonly referred to as the ".50 cal", in relation to its ammunition's caliber.

There are 4 version of the M2 Browning in War Thunder. The "early" M2 does not have API bullets. The "mid" M2 is identical to the early M2, but with access to API bullets. The "late" M2 has access to more effective belts, has better accuracy, overheats slower, and a slightly higher rate of fire. The British have their own variant that is similar to the "mid" version but with different bullets (for example the API for the American gun is different from the British API).

The turreted variants of the M2 Browning are also separated into the "mid" version, the "late" version, and the British version. The only difference between the "mid" and "late" variants are the belt composition. The British version yet again has different bullets, but is otherwise identical to the American versions.

The DGP-1 gunpods are composed of 4 "late" M2's.

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

{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with early M2}}

{{Navigation-First-Line| '''Fighters'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|CW-21}}{{Specs-Link|cw_21}}
{{Navigation-Line|F2A}}{{Specs-Link|f2a-1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f2a-1_thach}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f2a-3}}
{{Navigation-Line|F3F}}{{Specs-Link|f3f-2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f3f-2_galer}}
{{Navigation-Line|F4F}}{{Specs-Link|f4f-3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4f-4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4f-4_martlet_mk4}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-26}}{{Specs-Link|p-26a_34_m2}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-36}}{{Specs-Link|p-36a}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-36a_rasmussen}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-36c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-36c_rb}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-36g}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-39}}{{Specs-Link|p-39k_1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-39n}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-39n_su}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-39q_5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-39q_15}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-39q_25_france}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-40}}{{Specs-Link|p-40c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40c_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40e}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40e_td}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40e_ussr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40e_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40f-5_france_ep}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40f_10}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-66}}{{Specs-Link|p-66}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-400}}{{Specs-Link|p-400}}

{{Navigation-First-Line| '''Twin-engine fighters'''}}{{Specs-Link|yp-38}}

{{Navigation-First-Line| '''Bombers'''}}{{Specs-Link|avenger_mk1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sb2u-3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sbd-3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|tbd-1_1938}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|tbf-1c}}

{{Navigation-End}}

{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with mid M2}}

{{Navigation-First-Line| '''Fighters'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|F4U}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-1a}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-1a_usmc}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|corsair_fmk2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-1a_japan}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-1d}}
{{Navigation-Line|F6F}}{{Specs-Link|f6f-3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|hellcat_fmk1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f6f-5_france}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f6f-5n}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f6f-5n_france}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-43}}{{Specs-Link|p-43a-1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-43a-1_china}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-51}}{{Specs-Link|p-51a_tl}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-63}}{{Specs-Link|p-63a-5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63a-5_ussr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63a-10}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63a-10_ussr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63c-5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63c-5_kingcobra_animal_version}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63c-5_ussr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63c-5_france}}
{{Navigation-Line|XP-55}}{{Specs-Link|xp-55}}

{{Navigation-First-Line| '''Twin-engine fighters'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-38}}{{Specs-Link|p-38e}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38g}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38g_metal}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-61}}{{Specs-Link|p-61a_1}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-61c_1}}&nbsp;(Defensive)
{{Navigation-Line|VB.10}}{{Specs-Link|vb_10_02}}
{{Navigation-Line|XF5F}}{{Specs-Link|xf5f}}
{{Navigation-Line|XP-50}}{{Specs-Link|xp-50}}

{{Navigation-First-Line| '''Strike aircraft'''}}{{Specs-Link|a-20g}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|a-26b_10}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|a-26b}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51_a-36}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pbj_1h}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pbj_1j}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|v_12d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|xa_38}}

{{Navigation-First-Line| '''Bombers'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|A-20}}{{Specs-Link|a_20g_30_ussr}}
{{Navigation-Line|A-26}}{{Specs-Link|a-26c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|a-26c-45-dt}}
{{Navigation-Line|A-29}}{{Specs-Link|a_29_hudson}}&nbsp;(Defensive)
{{Navigation-Line|A-35}}{{Specs-Link|a-35b}}
{{Navigation-Line|B-17}}{{Specs-Link|b-17e}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|b-17e_japan}}&nbsp;(Defensive)
{{Navigation-Line|B-24}}{{Specs-Link|b_24d}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pb4y-2}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pb4y-2_china}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pb4y-2_france}}&nbsp;(Defensive)
{{Navigation-Line|B-25}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_20}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_30_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_30_vvs_ussr}}
{{Navigation-Line|B-26}}{{Specs-Link|b_26b_c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b_26c_france}}
{{Navigation-Line|B-34}}{{Specs-Link|b_34}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pv_2d}}
{{Navigation-Line|PBM}}{{Specs-Link|pbm_1}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pbm_3}}&nbsp;(Defensive)
{{Navigation-Line|PBY-5}}{{Specs-Link|pby-5}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pby-5a}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pby-5a_ussr}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pby-5a_raf}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pby-5a_late_france}}&nbsp;(Defensive)
{{Navigation-Line|SB2U}}{{Specs-Link|sb2u-3}}&nbsp;(Defensive)
{{Navigation-Line|Sunderland}}{{Specs-Link|sunderland_mk5}}&nbsp;(Defensive)
{{Navigation-Line|TBF-1}}{{Specs-Link|tbf-1c}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|avenger_mk1}}&nbsp;(Defensive)

{{Navigation-End}}

{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with late M2}}

{{Navigation-First-Line| '''Fighters'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|F2G}}{{Specs-Link|f2g-1}}
{{Navigation-Line|F4U}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-4}}
{{Navigation-Line|F8F}}{{Specs-Link|f8f1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f8f1b}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|f8f1b_france}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
{{Navigation-Line|P-47D}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_luftwaffe}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_16_re_germany}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_22_re}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|thunderbolt_mk1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_22_re_france}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_23_ra_china_rocaf}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_ussr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d-28}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_30_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_30_italy}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-47M}}{{Specs-Link|p-47m-1-re}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47m-1-re_boxted}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-47N}}{{Specs-Link|p-47n-15}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f_47n_25_re_china}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-51C}}{{Specs-Link|p-51c-10-nt}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51c-11-nt_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51c-11-nt_japan}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51c-10_france}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-51D}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-10}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-20-na}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-20_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-20-na_iaf}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-30_usaaf_korea}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-51H}}{{Specs-Link|p-51h-5_na}}
{{Navigation-Line|P-51K}}{{Specs-Link|p-51k}}

{{Navigation-First-Line| '''Twin-engine fighters'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|F7F}}{{Specs-Link|f7f1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f7f3}}
{{Navigation-Line|F-82}}{{Specs-Link|f-82e}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
{{Navigation-Line|P-38}}{{Specs-Link|p-38j}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38j_marge}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38k}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38l_1_china_rocaf}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38l}}

{{Navigation-First-Line| '''Jet fighters'''}}{{Specs-Link|p-59a}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-80a}}

{{Navigation-First-Line| '''Strike aircraft'''}}{{Specs-Link|p-51_a-36}}&nbsp;(Suspended)

{{Navigation-First-Line| '''Bombers'''}}{{Specs-Link|b-17e_late}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|b-17g}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|b-17g_iaf}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|b-29}}&nbsp;(Defensive)
{{Navigation-Line| }}{{Specs-Link|pv_2d}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|sb2c_4}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|sb2c_5_france}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|sbd-3}}&nbsp;(Suspended)

{{Navigation-End}}

{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with British M2}}

{{Navigation-First-Line| '''Fighters'''}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_ix}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_lf_mk9e_iaf}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_lf_mk9e_weisman}}
{{Navigation-Line| }}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_mk14e}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_fr_mk14e}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_fr_mk14e_belgium}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_xvi}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_mk18e}}

{{Navigation-Line| '''Strike aircraft'''}}{{Specs-Link|beaufighter_mk21}}

{{Navigation-Line| '''Bombers'''}}{{Specs-Link|beaufort_mkviii}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|lancaster_mk3}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|lincoln_b2}}&nbsp;(Defensive)

{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==
<!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.'' -->
The 12.7 mm (.50 cal) M2 Browning is a very powerful heavy machine gun when used in large numbers, particularly with the late P-51s and P-47s, with six and eight .50 cal machine guns respectively. However, on early American aircraft, many are armed with only a 7.62 mm and .50 cal, putting out very limited firepower. The .50 cals are inadequate in few numbers, making them ineffective in "snapshots" or high deflection shots. This is particularly noticeable in Spitfire Mk IX, XIV, and XVI, where the two Brownings provide insufficient firepower and are mounted too far apart, leaving only the plane with 2 cannons, with only 240-260 shells each, without complementing firepower. Without the cannons, the .50s can only chip away at the enemy, and the best hope for scoring is to hope for a lucky pilot snipe.

=== 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).'' -->

'''Early M2 Ammunition'''

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="2" | Belt composition
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! Belt
! Rounds
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| '''Default''' || T {{-}} Ball {{-}} I {{-}} AP || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|-
| '''Universal''' || AP {{-}} AP {{-}} AP {{-}} T {{-}} I || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|-
| '''Ground targets''' || T {{-}} AP {{-}} AP {{-}} AP || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|-
| '''Tracers''' || T {{-}} T {{-}} T {{-}} AP || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|-
| '''Stealth''' || AP {{-}} I {{-}} AP || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|}

{{sp-begin|Bullet names}}
'''T -''' M1 Tracer bullet

'''Ball -''' M2 Omni-purpose bullet

'''I -''' M1 Incendiary bullet

'''AP -''' M2 Armour-piercing bullet
{{sp-end}}


'''Mid M2 Ammunition'''

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="2" | Belt composition
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! Belt
! Rounds
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| '''Default''' || T {{-}} Ball {{-}} Ball {{-}} I {{-}} AP-I || 28 || 26 || 18 || 11 || 7 || 4
|-
| '''Universal''' || AP-I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} T {{-}} I || 28 || 26 || 18 || 11 || 7 || 4
|-
| '''Ground targets''' || T {{-}} AP {{-}} AP {{-}} AP {{-}} AP-I {{-}} I || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|-
| '''Tracers''' || T {{-}} T {{-}} T {{-}} T {{-}} T {{-}} AP-I || 28 || 26 || 18 || 11 || 7 || 4
|-
| '''Stealth''' || AP {{-}} AP-I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} I {{-}} I || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|-
| '''Default (turret)''' || T {{-}} AP {{-}} I {{-}} AP-I || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|-
| '''Armoured targets (turret)''' || AP {{-}} AP {{-}} AP {{-}} T || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|-
| '''Universal (turret)''' || AP-I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} T|| 28 || 26 || 18 || 11 || 7 || 4
|-
|}

{{sp-begin|Bullet names}}
'''T -''' M1 Tracer bullet

'''Ball -''' M2 Omni-purpose bullet

'''I -''' M1 Incendiary bullet

'''AP-I -''' M8 Armour-piercing incendiary bullet

'''AP -''' M2 Armour-piercing bullet
{{sp-end}}


'''Late M2 Ammunition'''

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="2" | Belt composition
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! Belt
! Rounds
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| '''Default''' || API-T {{-}} AP {{-}} AP {{-}} I || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|-
| '''Universal''' || AP-I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} API-T {{-}} I {{-}} I || 28 || 26 || 18 || 11 || 7 || 4
|-
| '''Ground targets''' || API-T {{-}} I {{-}} AP {{-}} AP {{-}} AP-I {{-}} AP-I || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|-
| '''Tracers''' || API-T || 28 || 26 || 18 || 11 || 7 || 4
|-
| '''Stealth''' || AP-I {{-}} I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} I || 28 || 26 || 18 || 11 || 7 || 4
|-
| '''Armoured targets (turret)''' || AP {{-}} AP {{-}} AP {{-}} API-T || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|-
| '''Universal (turret)''' || AP-I {{-}} I {{-}} API {{-}} API-T || 28 || 26 || 18 || 11 || 7 || 5
|-
|}

{{sp-begin|Bullet names}}
'''API-T -'''  M20 Armour-piercing incendiary tracer bullet

'''AP -''' M2 Armour-piercing bullet

'''I (Default only) -''' M1 Incendiary bullet

'''AP-I -''' M8 Armour-piercing incendiary bullet

'''I -''' M23 Incendiary bullet
{{sp-end}}


'''British M2 Ammunition'''

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="2" | Belt composition
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! Belt
! Rounds
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| '''Default''' || T {{-}} Ball {{-}} Ball {{-}} IAI {{-}} AP-I || 26 || 24 || 17 || 11 || 7 || 5
|-
| '''Universal''' || AP-I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} T {{-}} IAI || 26 || 24 || 17 || 11 || 7 || 5
|-
| '''Ground targets''' || T {{-}} AP {{-}} AP {{-}} AP-I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} IAI || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|-
| '''Tracers''' || T {{-}} T {{-}} T {{-}} T {{-}} T {{-}} AP-I || 26 || 24 || 17 || 11 || 7 || 5
|-
| '''Stealth''' ||AP-I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} IAI {{-}} IAI || 26 || 24 || 17 || 11 || 7 || 5
|-
| '''Universal (turret)''' || AP-I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} AP-I {{-}} T || 26 || 24 || 17 || 11 || 7 || 5
|-
| '''Armoured targets (turret)''' || AP {{-}} AP {{-}} AP {{-}} T {{-}} IAI || 30 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 9 || 6
|-
|}

{{sp-begin|Bullet names}}
'''T -''' Tracer bullet

'''Ball -''' Omni-purpose bullet

'''IAI -''' Immediate-action incendiary bullet

'''AP-I -''' Armour-piercing incendiary bullet

'''AP -''' M2 armour-piercing bullet
{{sp-end}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===
<!-- ''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' -->
The 12.7 mm M2 Browning is comparable in damage and or rate of fire to other contemporary heavy-calibre machine guns such as the Soviet [[Berezin UB (12.7 mm)]], German [[MG 151 (15 mm)]] and [[MG 131 (13 mm)]], Swedish [[Akan m/39A (13.2 mm)]] and [[Akan m/39A (12.7 mm)]] (based on the Browning M2), Italian [[Breda-SAFAT (12.7 mm)]], and Japanese [[Ho-103 (12.7 mm)]]. The 12.7 mm M2 Browning is also comparable in damage to some early 20 mm such as the MG-FF or MG C30/L.

The [[M3 Browning (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M3 Browning]], being a development of the M2 Browning for jet aircraft, features similar ballistic performance with a faster fire-rate.

== 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.'' -->

* AP, API, and API-T rounds are effective against light pillboxes, light tanks, armoured trucks, SPGs, artillery, AAA.
* Usually incapable of an instant kill or a "snapshot" kill unless you pilot snipe, but is quite capable of a "snapshot fire" (not guaranteed though)... which is almost a kill...
* Incredible range (can hit and still light a fire at 1.5km+, but damage does drop off). Good for long range desperation/harassment shots.

=== 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:'''

* Usually carries enough rounds per gun to be able to take out multiple targets per sortie
* Quite accurate, does not randomly spread a lot (unlike stock AN/M3 and stock Hispanos)
* API-T rounds are exceptionally good at igniting fuel tanks and engines
* Armour piercing (AP) rounds have better penetration values when compared to most small calibre cannons
* Retains kinetic energy and damage potential over a range much better than 7 mm calibre machine guns
* Can be fired accurately and be a significant threat to fleeing enemies upwards of 1.5 km away
* Virtually only jams if you try to mag-dump (continuous fire until the weapon jams or runs out of ammunition) the entire ammo load
* Makes up the bulk of the USAAF's armament with most planes utilizing anywhere between 4-8 guns

'''Cons:'''

* Ball ammo in the default belt is rather ineffective
* 25% slower rate of fire compared to 7 mm calibre machine guns
* AP ammo lacks any incendiary or tracer, meaning shots that don't hit vital components barely does anything
* Slower rate of fire at higher ranks means boom-n-zoom is necessary to maintain a firing solution long enough to dump sufficient rounds on target
* The M2 Browning has 3 different variations, which all have vastly different ammunition belt types and how they are used

''Words of wisdom'': Always check the belt composition on a new vehicle or when returning to an old aircraft you have not used in a while...'''before''' heading into battle!

== 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>.'' -->
In 1917 during WWI, Germany introduced a new biplane called the Junkers J.I., which was one of the first armoured aircraft. This innovation made the rifle calibre machine guns used to arm biplanes at the time almost obsolete. General John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), asked for a machine gun with a .50 inch calibre and a muzzle velocity of 2,700 feet per second in order to combat the new aircraft. That July, legendary gunsmith John Moses Browning began development of a larger version of the M1917 Browning design already used by the AEF to fit this criteria. The war ended during the development, but the project continued with Winchester making a .50 calibre round and muzzle velocity of 2,750 ft/s (838 m/s) in 1918 while Browning's new water-cooled machine gun for this new cartridge was finished in 1921. 

The Browning M1921 would be used experimentally until the design was upgraded in between 1927 to 1932 by S. H. Green and yielded seven different variants on the same receiver design, but with differences in the feed system, barrel, and other components. The Army and Navy would accept a 60-pound "light version" for use on aircraft designated the .50 calibre AN/M2. American autocannon development suffered from unreliability issues, resulting in the M2 Browning becoming the main armament for aircraft with multiple machine guns being mounted in the wings or engine blocks to compensate for the lack of cannon shells with a sheer volume of .50 calibre rounds. 

During World War II, it was the primary weapon of almost every pursuit fighter, replacing the older [[Browning (7.62 mm)|Browning .30 cal M1919]]. It would also be used in fixed mounts in bombers ranging from the [[SBD-3]] Dauntless to the [[A-26 (Family)|A-26 Invader]] which had variants fitted with up to 16 or 18 machine guns including the nose guns, mounted gun pods, and the dorsal turret for strafing attacks. It was also used in flexible mounts on bombers ranging from the [[B-17 (Family)|B-17 Flying Fortress]], the [[PBJ-1J]], [[PBY-5 Catalina]] flying boats and the [[B-29A-BN]] Superfortress. 

After World War II, the dawning jet age led to the realization that the M2 did not have the rate of fire to deal with new generation fighters so they worked on making improved, faster firing variants of the M2. This lead to the [[M3 Browning (12.7 mm)|M3 Browning]] which saw service in the jet era and still sees service mounted on some helicopters to this day. 

The M2 design also sees use in the ground role in the [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|M2HB]] and naval use with the [[AN-M2 (12.7 mm)|AN-M2]].

== Media ==
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
{{Youtube-gallery|cmLnwiJRr78|Ma Deuce: The Venerable Browning M2 .50 Caliber HMG|6bGSLAVoRhQ|Here’s an M2 .50 Cal Heavy Machine Gun|l81HtTCUlGw|Firing M2 Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun}}
== 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 M2HB (12.7 mm)|Browning M2HB]] - Ground variant of the M2
* [[Browning AN-M2 (12.7_mm)|Browning AN-M2]] - Naval variant of the M2
* [[M3 Browning (12.7 mm)]] - Aerial variant of the M2 with increased fire rate
* [[Akan m/45 (12.7 mm)|Akan m/45]] - Swedish license-built M2 Browning

== External links ==

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M2_Browning#.50_Browning_AN/M2
* https://www.browning.com/news/articles/historical/50-caliber-machine-gun-won-ww2.html

{{Aircraft machine guns}}

[[Category:Aircraft machine guns]]