Browning M1919 GPMG

History of the Browning M1919 GPMG

Like many infantry weapons available to American soldiers during World War II (1939-1945), the Browning M1919 has a shared history of development - or stems from development - originally developed during World War II (1914-1918). The M1919 was no exception, in its original water-cooled form, the Browning M1917. This gun largely imitates the lines established by the Hiram Maxim design, followed by the British Vickers 0. 303 series.

All of these are water-cooled inventions that require the use of a heavy-duty tripod to provide proper support in the field. 68,000 M1917s were produced by the end of the war in November 1918.

Water cooling was an integral part of early machine gun technology. These guns have a very high rate of fire and the heat generated can warp or crack the barrel. Water is pumped through a canister that is connected to the machine gun with a hose.

The barrel of this gun is encased in a barrel jacket that directs water up the length of the barrel and helps keep it cool. As with a constant supply of cold water (rehydration is a key requirement), the gun can easily maintain a steady rate of fire.

Changes to the basic M1917 design were made in the 1920s and 1930s.

In order to create a more versatile machine gun based on pneumatic recoil and more importantly air cooling, the Browning M1918 was born without water cooling and heavy barrel jackets. Additional lighting initiatives were introduced while maintaining the original form and function - including a .30 caliber rifle chamber.

This work resulted in the Browning M1919, originally designed as a standard tank/vehicle machine gun used in World War I. However, the design was far from complete and only appeared in the post-war years. The series now has a heavier barrel and is replaced by a perforated jacket for air cooling. Other changes have resulted in lighter weapon systems that can be mounted on tanks/vehicles and aircraft. The M1919A1 was designed for the Mark VIII tank series - the combined post-war Anglo-American tank, retaining the diamond-shaped form of the previous British product.

The M1919A2 is a light battlefield form designed to store inventory for cavalry units. It features a more compact tripod assembly designed for pack animals and wheeled cart travel.

Additional work that followed resulted in the M1919A3, a general-purpose infantry variant primarily used as a prototype for the final M1919 branding - the M1919A4.

The M1919A4 can be used either as a stationary vehicle/aircraft weapon or on a trainable trunnion/tripod for flexible fire. The type was a staple during World War II (1939-1945) as it formed defensive positions on classic bombers such as the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Joint B-24 Liberator heavy bomber. Overall, these weapons have largely maintained their origins, with simplified air cooling maintained through the perforated barrel jacket. The infantry-level form comes with a lighter tripod and ammo packs with magazines. Typically, two people operate the weapon -- the loader and the gunner -- while others can carry the tripod while doing ammunition management and resupply.

The M1919A4E1 appeared in the post-war years, the only difference being that a sliding retraction mechanism was implemented. This led to the development of the M1919A5 and M1919A6 for the Stuart M3 light tank (with bolt retraction capability) - a man-portable infantry form with a bipod, light barrel, carrying handle, conical flash suppressor and wooden stock.

The M37 is a special tank machine gun with a left or right feed for the metal belt link and an additional ejection slot. The M2 is an aircraft machine gun with an improved retraction mechanism. Operates by means of a solenoid.

These weapons also come in flexible mounts, so are equipped with spade handles for aiming.

Browning M1919 machine guns in various forms survived the war years and were widely exported to US allies abroad. It had combat service in two world wars, the Korean War, the First Indochina War, the Vietnam War, and other regional conflicts that shaped the 20th century. It was produced from 1919 to 1945 with a circulation of about 5 million copies. Operators range from Argentina and Australia to Uruguay and Vietnam.

This weapon is highly regarded, reliable and dependable in the harshest conditions of war - ensuring it continues to have a healthy service life in some parts of the world today (2014).

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