M2 Browning (12.7 mm)

This page is about the aircraft mounted M2 Browning (12.7 mm). For the vehicle mount variant, see M2HB (12.7 mm). For other uses, see M2 (Disambiguation).

Description

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 RoF. 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 mid M2 (turreted)

Vehicles equipped with this weapon
Twin-engine fighters	P-61: P-61A-11 · P-61C-1
Attackers	A-26: A-26B-10 · A-26B-50
	PBJ: PBJ-1H · PBJ-1J
	Other: A-20G-25 · XA-38
Bombers	PBY: PBY-5 Catalina · PBY-5A Catalina · ▄Catalina Mk IIIa · ▂PBY-5A Catalina
	TBF: TBF-1C · ▄Avenger Mk II
	B-34: B-34 · PV-2D
	A-26: A-26C-45 · A-26C-45DT
	B-25: B-25J-1 · B-25J-20 · ▂B-25J-30
	B-17: B-17E · ▅B-17E
	B-24: B-24D-25-CO · PB4Y-2 · ▄PB4Y-2
	Other: SB2U-3 · Sunderland Mk V · PBM-3 "Mariner" · ▄A-35B

Vehicles equipped with late M2 (turreted)

Vehicles equipped with this weapon
B-17E/L · B-17G-60-VE · B-29A-BN

General info

The Browning .50 is a very powerful heavy machine gun when used in large numbers, particularly with the late P-51s and P-47, with 6 and 8 .50s respectively. However, on early American aircraft, many are armed with only a 7.62 and .50, putting out very limited firepower. The .50s are inadequate in few numbers, making them ineffective in "snapshots" or high deflection shots. This is particularly noticeable in Spitfire LF Mk9, 16, and 14. The 2 Brownings provide insufficient firepower and are mounted too far apart, leaving only the 2 cannons, with only 240-260 shells each, without complimenting firepower. Without the cannons, the .50s can only chip away at the enemy, and the best hope for scoring a kill is to hope for a lucky pilot snipe.

Available shells

Expand on which shells are utilized by this weapon system and in which situations are best to use them.

Comparison with analogues

Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns, that have firepower equal to these type of weapons.

Usage in battles

Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against the main opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Usually carries enough rounds per gun to be able to take out multiple targets per sortie.
• API-T rounds are exceptionally good at igniting fuel tanks and engines.
• Armor 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 caliber 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 this weapon. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(weapon-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.

Media

An excellent addition to the article would be a video guide, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

See also

• M2HB - Ground variant
• AN-M2 - Naval variant

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on weapon;
• other literature.

Aircraft machine guns
USA
7.62 mm	Browning · M134 Minigun
12.7 mm	GAU-19 · M2 Browning · M3 Browning
Germany
7.62 mm	MG3
7.92 mm	MG 15 · MG 17 · MG 81
12.7 mm	FN M3P
13 mm	MG 131
USSR
7.62 mm	DA · GShG-7.62 · PKT · PV-1 · ShKAS
12.7 mm	A-12.7 · Berezin UB · TKB-481 · YaK-B
Britain
7.62 mm	FN 60.30 · L8A1
7.7 mm	Browning · Lewis · Vickers E · Vickers K
Japan
7.7 mm	Te-1 · Type 89 · Type 89 'special' · Type 92 · Type 97 navy
7.92 mm	Type 1 · Type 98
12.7 mm	Ho-103 · Ho-104
13 mm	Type 2
13.2 mm	Type 3
China
12.7 mm	QJK99-12.7-1
Italy
7.7 mm	Breda-SAFAT · Lewis
7.92 mm	FN Browning
12.7 mm	Breda-SAFAT · FN M3M · Scotti
France
7.5 mm	Darne 1933 · Fabrique Nationale Mle 38 · FN Browning · MAC 1934 · MAC 1934T · Mle 33 · Mle 1923
7.62 mm	PKA
7.92 mm	FN-Browning M.36 No.3 · FN-Browning M.36 No.4
Sweden
7.7 mm	FN-Browning M.36 No.3
8 mm	Ksp m/22 · Ksp m/22 Fh · Ksp m/22 Fv · Ksp m/22-37 R
12.7 mm	Akan m/39A · Akan m/40 · Akan m/45 · LKk/42
13.2 mm	Akan m/39 · Akan m/39A