Difference between revisions of "M2 Browning (12.7 mm)"

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{{notice|This page refers to the '''M2 Browning''' mounted on aircraft. For the ground-mount variant, see ''[[Browning M2HB (12.7 mm)|M2HB Browning]]''.}}
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}
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{{About
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| about = aircraft mounted '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| other
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| usage-1 = the vehicle mounted variant
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| link-1 = M2HB (12.7 mm)
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| usage-2 = other uses
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| link-2 = M2 (Disambiguation)
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell about the history of the devekopment and combat using of the weaponry and also about it's features. Make a air or ground vehicles list on which this weapon is installed in our game.''
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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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).
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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.
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The DGP-1 gunpods are composed of 4 "late" M2's.
  
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
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<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
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{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with early M2}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Fighters'''}}
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{{Navigation-Line|F2A Buffalo}}{{Specs-Link|f2a-1|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f2a-1_thach|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f2a-3|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|F3F}}{{Specs-Link|f3f-2|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f3f-2_galer|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|F4F Wildcat}}{{Specs-Link|f4f-3|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4f-4|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4f-4_martlet_mk4|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|P-26 Peashooter}}{{Specs-Link|p-26a_34_m2|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|P-36 Hawk}}{{Specs-Link|p-36a|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-36a_rasmussen|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-36c|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-36g|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|P-39/400 Airacobra}}{{Specs-Link|p-39k_1|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-39n|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-39n_su|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-39q_5|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-39q_15|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-400|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|P-40 Kitty/Warhawk}}{{Specs-Link|p-40c|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40e|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40e_ussr|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40f_10|short}}
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 +
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Attackers'''}}{{Specs-Link|a-20g|short}}
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 +
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Bombers'''}}{{Specs-Link|avenger_mk1|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sb2u-3|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sbd-3|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|tbd-1_1938|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|tbf-1c|short}}
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{{Navigation-End}}
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{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with mid M2}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Fighters'''}}
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{{Navigation-Line|F4U Corsair}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-1a|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-1a_usmc|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|corsair_fmk2|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-1a_japan|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-1d|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|F6F Hellcat}}{{Specs-Link|f6f-3|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|hellcat_fmk1|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f6f-5_france|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f6f-5n|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f6f-5n_france|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|P-43 Lancer}}{{Specs-Link|p-43a-1|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|P-63 Kingcobra}}{{Specs-Link|p-63a-5|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63a-5_ussr|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63a-10|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63a-10_ussr|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63c-5|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63c-5_kingcobra_animal_version|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63c-5_ussr|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63c-5_france|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|XP-55 Ascender}}{{Specs-Link|xp-55|short}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Twin-engine fighters'''}}
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{{Navigation-Line|F7F Tigercat}}{{Specs-Link|f7f1|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f7f3|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|P-38 Lightning}}{{Specs-Link|p-38e|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38g|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38g_metal|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38j|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38j_marge|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38k|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38l|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|VB.10}}{{Specs-Link|vb_10_02|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|XF5F Skyrocket}}{{Specs-Link|xf5f|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|XP-50}}{{Specs-Link|xp-50|short}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Attackers'''}}
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{{Navigation-Line|A-26}}{{Specs-Link|a-26b|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|a-26b_10|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|A-36 Apache}}{{Specs-Link|p-51_a-36|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|PBJ Mitchell}}{{Specs-Link|pbj_1h|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pbj_1j|short}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Bombers'''}}
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{{Navigation-Line|A-26}}{{Specs-Link|a-26c|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|a-26c-45-dt|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|A-35}}{{Specs-Link|a-35b|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|B-25 Mitchell}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_1|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_20|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_30_vvs_ussr|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|B-34 Lexington}}{{Specs-Link|b_34|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pv_2d|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|XA-38 Grizzly}}{{Specs-Link|xa_38|short}}
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{{Navigation-End}}
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{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with mid M2 (turreted)}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Twin-engine fighters'''}}{{Specs-Link|p-61a_1|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-61c_1|short}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Attackers'''}}{{Specs-Link|a-20g|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|a-26b|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|a-26b_10|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pbj_1h|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pbj_1j|short}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Bombers'''}}
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{{Navigation-Line|A-26}}{{Specs-Link|a-26c|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|a-26c-45-dt|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|A-35}}{{Specs-Link|a-35b|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|B-17 Flying Fortress}}{{Specs-Link|b-17e|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b-17e_japan|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|B-24 Liberator}}{{Specs-Link|b_24d|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|B-25 Mitchell}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_1|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_20|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_30_vvs_ussr|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|B-34 Lexington}}{{Specs-Link|b_34|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pv_2d|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|PB4Y Privateer}}{{Specs-Link|pb4y-2|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pb4y-2_france|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|PBM-3 Mariner}}{{Specs-Link|pbm_3|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|PBY-5 Catalina}}{{Specs-Link|pby-5|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pby-5a|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pby-5a_ussr|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pby-5a_raf|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|SB2U Vindicator}}{{Specs-Link|sb2u-3|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Sunderland}}{{Specs-Link|sunderland_mk5|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|TBF-1 Avenger}}{{Specs-Link|tbf-1c|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|avenger_mk1|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|XA-38 Grizzly}}{{Specs-Link|xa_38|short}}
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{{Navigation-End}}
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{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with late M2}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Fighters'''}}
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{{Navigation-Line|F4U Corsair}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-4|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|F8F Bearcat}}{{Specs-Link|f8f1|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f8f1b|short}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|f8f1b_france|short}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
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{{Navigation-Line|P-47 Thunderbolt}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d-28|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_luftwaffe|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_ussr|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47m-1-re|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47m-1-re_boxted|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47n-15|short}}
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{{Navigation-Line|P-51 Mustang}}{{Specs-Link|p-51a_tl|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-5|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-10|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-20-na|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-30_usaaf_korea|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51h-5_na|short}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Twin-engine fighters'''}}{{Specs-Link|p-38l|short}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Jet fighters'''}}{{Specs-Link|p-59a|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-80a|short}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Attackers'''}}{{Specs-Link|p-51_a-36|short}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Bombers'''}}{{Specs-Link|pv_2d|short}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|sb2c_4|short}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|sb2c_5_france|short}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|sbd-3|short}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
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{{Navigation-End}}
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{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with late M2 (turreted)}}
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{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line|}}
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<center>
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{{Specs-Link|b-17e_late|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b-17g|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b-29|short}}
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</center>
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{{Navigation-End}}
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{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with British M2}}
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{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line|}}
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<center>
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{{Specs-Link|beaufighter_mk21|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_ix|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_mk14e|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_fr_mk14e|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_xvi|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_mk18e|short}}
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</center>
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{{Navigation-End}}
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{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with British M2 (turreted)}}
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{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line|}}
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<center>
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{{Specs-Link|beaufort_mkviii|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|lancaster_mk3|short}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|lincoln_b2|short}}
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</center>
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{{Navigation-End}}
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''
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<!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.'' -->
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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 shells ===
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=== Available ammunition ===
''Describe the shells that are available for the cannon and their features and purpose. If it iconcerns autocanons or machine guns, so write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).''
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''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).''
  
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns, that have firepower equal to these type of weapons.''
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''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''
  
== Usage in the battles ==
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== 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.''
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''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.''
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
*
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* 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
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* Armour piercing (AP) rounds have better penetration values when compared to most small calibre cannons
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* Retains kinetic energy and damage potential over a range much better than 7 mm calibre machine guns
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* Can be fired accurately and be a significant threat to fleeing enemies upwards of 1.5 km away
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* Virtually only jams if you try to mag-dump (continuous fire until the weapon jams or runs out of ammunition) the entire ammo load
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* Makes up the bulk of the USAAF's armament with most planes utilizing anywhere between 4-8 guns
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
*
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* Ball ammo in the default belt is rather ineffective
 +
* 25% slower rate of fire compared to 7 mm calibre machine guns
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* 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
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* 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!
  
== Historical part ==
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== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of this weapon. If the historical reference turns out to be big one, take it into a separate article and add a link to it by using the "main" template. In the end be sure to include references to sources.''
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''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>.''
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
''An excellent addition to the article would be a video guide, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
 
''An excellent addition to the article would be a video guide, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
  
== Read also ==
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== See also ==
<!--''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
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<!-- ''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;''
 
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''
+
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' -->
''ETC.''-->
 
 
* [[Browning M2HB (12.7 mm)|M2HB - Ground variant]]
 
* [[Browning M2HB (12.7 mm)|M2HB - Ground variant]]
 +
* [[Browning_AN-M2_(12.7_mm)|AN-M2 - Naval variant]]
  
== Sources ==
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== External links ==
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
* ''topic on the official game forum''
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''page on the Wikipedia''
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* ''encyclopedia page on the weapon;''
* ''page on aircraft or gorund forces encyclopedia''
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* ''other literature.''
* ''other literature''
 
  
 
{{Aircraft machine guns}}
 
{{Aircraft machine guns}}
  
 
[[Category:Aircraft machine guns]]
 
[[Category:Aircraft machine guns]]

Revision as of 21:10, 20 August 2019

This page is about the aircraft mounted M2 Browning (12.7 mm). For the vehicle mounted 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 this weapon

Vehicles equipped with early M2
Fighters 
F2A Buffalo  F2A-1 · Thach's F2A-1 · F2A-3
F3F  F3F-2 · Galer's F3F-2
F4F Wildcat  F4F-3 · F4F-4 · ▄Martlet Mk IV
P-26 Peashooter  P-26A-34 M2
P-36 Hawk  P-36A · Rasmussen's P-36A · P-36C · P-36G
P-39/400 Airacobra  ▂P-39K-1 · P-39N-0 · ▂Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 · P-39Q-5 · ▂P-39Q-15 · P-400
P-40 Kitty/Warhawk  P-40C · P-40E-1 · ▂P-40E-1 · P-40F-10
Attackers  A-20G-25
Bombers  ▄Avenger Mk II · SB2U-3 · SBD-3 · TBD-1 · TBF-1C

Vehicles equipped with mid M2
Fighters 
F4U Corsair  F4U-1A · F4U-1A (USMC) · ▄Corsair F Mk II · ▅F4U-1A · F4U-1D
F6F Hellcat  F6F-5 · ▄Hellcat Mk II · ▄F6F-5 · F6F-5N · ▄F6F-5N
P-43 Lancer  P-43A-1
P-63 Kingcobra  P-63A-5 · ▂P-63A-5 · P-63A-10 · ▂P-63A-10 · P-63C-5 · ␠Kingcobra · ▂P-63C-5 · ▄P-63C-5
XP-55 Ascender  XP-55
Twin-engine fighters 
F7F Tigercat  F7F-1 · F7F-3
P-38 Lightning  P-38E · P-38G-1 · XP-38G · P-38J-15 · Bong's P-38J-15 · P-38K · P-38L-5-LO
VB.10  VB.10-02
XF5F Skyrocket  XF5F
XP-50  XP-50
Attackers 
A-26  A-26B-50 · A-26B-10
A-36 Apache  A-36
PBJ Mitchell  PBJ-1H · PBJ-1J
Bombers 
A-26  A-26C-45 · A-26C-45DT
A-35  ▄A-35B
B-25 Mitchell  B-25J-1 · B-25J-20 · ▂B-25J-30
B-34 Lexington  B-34 · PV-2D
XA-38 Grizzly  XA-38

Vehicles equipped with mid M2 (turreted)
Twin-engine fighters  P-61A-11 · P-61C-1
Attackers  A-20G-25 · A-26B-50 · A-26B-10 · PBJ-1H · PBJ-1J
Bombers 
A-26  A-26C-45 · A-26C-45DT
A-35  ▄A-35B
B-17 Flying Fortress  B-17E · ▅B-17E
B-24 Liberator  B-24D-25-CO
B-25 Mitchell  B-25J-1 · B-25J-20 · ▂B-25J-30
B-34 Lexington  B-34 · PV-2D
PB4Y Privateer  PB4Y-2 · ▄PB4Y-2
PBM-3 Mariner  PBM-3 "Mariner"
PBY-5 Catalina  PBY-5 Catalina · PBY-5A Catalina · ▂PBY-5A Catalina · ▄Catalina Mk IIIa
SB2U Vindicator  SB2U-3
Sunderland  Sunderland Mk V
TBF-1 Avenger  TBF-1C · ▄Avenger Mk II
XA-38 Grizzly  XA-38

Vehicles equipped with late M2
Fighters 
F4U Corsair  F4U-4
F8F Bearcat  F8F-1 · F8F-1B (Suspended) · ▄F8F-1B (Suspended)
P-47 Thunderbolt  P-47D-25 · P-47D-28 · ▀P-47D · ▂P-47D-27 · P-47M-1-RE · ⋠P-47M-1-RE · P-47N-15
P-51 Mustang  P-51A · P-51D-5 · P-51D-10 · P-51D-20-NA · P-51D-30 · P-51H-5-NA
Twin-engine fighters  P-38L-5-LO (Suspended)
Jet fighters  P-59A · F-80A-5
Attackers  A-36 (Suspended)
Bombers  PV-2D (Suspended) · SB2C-4 (Suspended) · ▄SB2C-5 (Suspended) · SBD-3 (Suspended)

Vehicles equipped with late M2 (turreted)

B-17E/L · B-17G-60-VE · B-29A-BN


Vehicles equipped with British M2

Beaufighter Mk 21 · Spitfire LF Mk IX · Spitfire F Mk XIVe · Prendergast's Spitfire FR Mk XIVe · Spitfire F Mk XVI · Spitfire F Mk XVIIIe


Vehicles equipped with British M2 (turreted)

Beaufort Mk VIII · Lancaster B Mk III · Lincoln B Mk II


General info

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).

Comparison with analogues

Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.

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.

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
  • 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: 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></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />.

Media

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

See also

External links

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  • topic on the official game forum;
  • encyclopedia page on the 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
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