The Browning .50 caliber machine gun has been used extensively as a vehicle weapon and for aircraft armament. The M2 fires from a closed bolt, operated on the short recoil principle. Nearly 5 million items were produced.
Browning M 2
Silhouette (Visual Identification)
Category | Heavy Machine Guns |
---|---|
Operating system | Fires from a short bolt, operated on the short recoil principle |
Cartridge | |
Length | 1650 mm |
Feeding | Belt |
Global distribution map
This map is a reflection of data on global distribution and production provided primarily by the BwVC. It is not exhaustive. If you would like to add to or amend the data, please click here.
Global distribution list
The data on global distribution and production is provided primarily by the BwVC, but also from national and regional focal points on SALW control; data published by think tanks, international organizations and experts; and/or data provided by individual researchers on SALW. It is not exhaustive. If you would like to add to or amend the data, please click here.
Symbol legend
Country of origin | |
Licensed production | |
Production without a licence |
G | Government: Sources indicate that this type of weapon is held by Governmental agencies. |
N | Non-Government: Sources indicate that this type of weapon is held by non-Governmental armed groups. |
U | Unspecified: Sources indicate that this type of weapon is found in the country, but do not specify whether it is held by Governmental agencies or non-Governmental armed groups. |
It is entirely possible to have a combination of tags beside each country. For example, if country X is tagged with a G and a U, it means that at least one source of data identifies Governmental agencies as holders of weapon type Y, and at least one other source confirms the presence of the weapon in country X without specifying who holds it.
Argentina
(ARG)
|
G
|
|
Australia
(AUS)
|
G
|
|
Austria
(AUT)
|
G
|
|
Bahamas
(BHS)
|
G
|
|
Bahrain
(BHR)
|
G
|
|
Belgium
(BEL)
|
G
|
|
Benin
(BEN)
|
G
|
|
Bolivia
(BOL)
|
G
|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
(BIH)
|
G
|
|
Brazil
(BRA)
|
G
|
|
Bulgaria
(BGR)
|
G
|
|
Burkina Faso
(BFA)
|
G
|
|
Burundi
(BDI)
|
G
|
|
Cameroon
(CMR)
|
G
|
|
Canada
(CAN)
|
G
|
|
Chad
(TCD)
|
G
|
|
Chile
(CHL)
|
G
|
|
China
(CHN)
|
G
|
|
Colombia
(COL)
|
G
|
|
Côte d’Ivoire
(CIV)
|
G
|
|
Croatia
(HRV)
|
G
|
|
Cyprus
(CYP)
|
G
|
|
G
|
||
Denmark
(DNK)
|
G
|
|
Djibouti
(DJI)
|
G
|
|
Dominican Republic
(DOM)
|
G
|
|
Ecuador
(ECU)
|
G
|
|
Egypt
(EGY)
|
G
|
El Salvador
(SLV)
|
G
|
|
Estonia
(EST)
|
G
|
|
Ethiopia
(ETH)
|
G
|
|
Finland
(FIN)
|
G
|
|
U
|
||
France
(FRA)
|
G
|
|
Gabon
(GAB)
|
G
|
|
Germany
(DEU)
|
G
|
|
Ghana
(GHA)
|
G
|
|
Greece
(GRC)
|
G
|
|
Guatemala
(GTM)
|
G
|
|
Haiti
(HTI)
|
U
|
|
Honduras
(HND)
|
G
|
|
Hungary
(HUN)
|
G
|
|
India
(IND)
|
G
|
|
Indonesia
(IDN)
|
G
|
|
Iran
(IRN)
|
G
|
|
Ireland
(IRL)
|
G
|
|
Israel
(ISR)
|
G
|
|
Italy
(ITA)
|
G
|
|
Jamaica
(JAM)
|
G
|
|
Japan
(JPN)
|
G
|
|
Jordan
(JOR)
|
G
|
|
Kuwait
(KWT)
|
G
|
|
Latvia
(LVA)
|
G
|
|
Lebanon
(LBN)
|
G
|
|
Liberia
(LBR)
|
G
|
|
Libya
(LBY)
|
G
|
Lithuania
(LTU)
|
G
|
|
Luxembourg
(LUX)
|
G
N
|
|
Madagascar
(MDG)
|
G
|
|
Malaysia
(MYS)
|
G
|
|
Mauritania
(MRT)
|
G
|
|
Mauritius
(MUS)
|
G
|
|
Mexico
(MEX)
|
G
|
|
Montenegro
(MNE)
|
U
|
|
Morocco
(MAR)
|
G
|
|
Myanmar/Burma
(MMR)
|
G
|
|
Namibia
(NAM)
|
G
|
|
Netherlands
(NLD)
|
G
|
|
New Zealand
(NZL)
|
G
|
|
Nicaragua
(NIC)
|
G
|
|
Niger
(NER)
|
G
|
|
Nigeria
(NGA)
|
G
|
|
Norway
(NOR)
|
G
|
|
Oman
(OMN)
|
G
|
|
Pakistan
(PAK)
|
G
|
|
Panama
(PAN)
|
G
|
|
Paraguay
(PRY)
|
G
|
|
Peru
(PER)
|
G
|
|
Philippines
(PHL)
|
G
|
|
Poland
(POL)
|
G
|
|
Portugal
(PRT)
|
G
|
|
Qatar
(QAT)
|
G
|
|
Romania
(ROU)
|
G
|
|
Russia
(RUS)
|
G
|
Rwanda
(RWA)
|
G
|
|
Saudi Arabia
(SAU)
|
G
|
|
Senegal
(SEN)
|
G
|
|
Serbia
(SRB)
|
G
|
|
Singapore
(SGP)
|
G
|
|
Slovenia
(SVN)
|
U
|
|
Somalia
(SOM)
|
G
|
|
South Africa
(ZAF)
|
G
|
|
South Korea
(KOR)
|
G
|
|
Spain
(ESP)
|
G
|
|
Sweden
(SWE)
|
G
|
|
Switzerland
(CHE)
|
G
|
|
Taiwan
(TWN)
|
G
|
|
Thailand
(THA)
|
G
|
|
The Gambia
(GMB)
|
G
|
|
Togo
(TGO)
|
G
|
|
Tonga
(TON)
|
G
|
|
Tunisia
(TUN)
|
G
|
|
Turkey
(TUR)
|
G
|
|
Turkmenistan
(TKM)
|
G
|
|
United Arab Emirates
(ARE)
|
G
|
|
United Kingdom
(GBR)
|
G
|
|
United States
(USA)
|
G
|
|
Uruguay
(URY)
|
G
|
|
Venezuela
(VEN)
|
G
|
|
Yemen
(YEM)
|
G
|
|
Zimbabwe
(ZWE)
|
G
|
Visual Identification (Silhouette)
- Characteristics
- Markings