Fabrique Nationale FN M2HB

History

Like John Browning's other weapon designs, his famous Browning M2 heavy machine gun was manufactured in Europe (Belgium) under the Fabrique Nationale (FN) brand. This is the M2HB ("heavy barrel") form, essentially faithful to the original American product, adapted to European production practices with minor changes to its manufacture.

However, the FN M2HB has largely retained the form and function of its American counterpart - still a heavy support weapon capable of engaging lightly armored vehicles. Its uses include tripods, vehicle pivot mounts (or coaxial mounts), static defenses on ships and combat helicopters.

FN engineers have also developed a "light" version of the heavy weapon for use by air forces.

The M2HB is designed to provide a useful cyclic rate of fire (RoF) of 485 to 635 rounds per minute through fully automatic mode. Upgrade kits are also available for older M2 guns to support newer high-capacity barrels, breech systems and barrel extension kits. The light flight model also has a "reverse cook" attachment.

The M3 tripod adds 43.98 lbs (19.95 kg) to the overall weapon system when used as a static defense suppression weapon. A standard operator consists of at least two people to assist in handling the ammo belt and feeding it.

Specification

Basics

Year of Service

1933

Origins

Belgium

Categories

Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)

Manufacturer

Fabrique Nationale Herstal SA - Belgium

Operators

Argentina; Australia; Austria; Belgium; Benin; Bolivia; Brazil; Bulgaria; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cameroon; Canada; Chad; Chile; Colombia; Iraq; Ivory Coast; Croatia; Democratic Republic of Congo; Denmark; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; Ethiopia; France; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Germany; Greece; Guatemala; Honduras; India; Indonesia; Iran; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Liberia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Madagascar; Malaysia; Mauritania; Mexico; Morocco; Myanmar; Netherlands; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Niger; Norway; Oman; Pakistan; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Rwanda; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Serbia; Singapore; Somalia; South Africa; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Taiwan; Thailand; Walk; Tonga; Tunisia; Turkey; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States; Uruguay; Venezuela; Yemen; Zimbabwe

Roles

Fire Support

Ability to suppress enemy elements at a distance using direct or indirect fire.

Dimensions and Weight

Overall Length

1,654 mm

65. 12 inches

Barrel length

1,143 mm

45. 00 at

Cured weight

84.11 lbs

38.15 kg

Attractions

Iron; optional optics

Action

Recoil operation; automatic fire only

Cartridges and Paper Feeds

Caliber*

12.7x99mm

Circle/Feed

Metal Chain Belt Feed

POWER

Maximum efficiency. Arrived

5,900 feet

(1,798 m | 1,967 m)

Rate of fire

550

Number of revolutions

Mile speed

2,910 ft/s

(887m/s)

VARIANTS

M2 HB - heavy support machine gun model based on M2 HB-QCB - quick change barrel M2 HB coaxial - coaxial gun for armored vehicles with electric firing solenoid function ; no traditional attractions for obvious reasons. M3M - High performance model with automatic fire pivot assembly based on lighter M3P; fully automatic fire 950-1,100 rounds per minute; spade handle with simple release button.

M3P - Lightweight M2 variant for airborne; cycle rate 950-1,100 rounds per minute; solenoid ignition; light barrel.