M2 machine gun

Arguably the most successful heavy machine gun in history, the .50 caliber M2 machine gun was designed by John Browning near the end of the First World War, and entered U.S. service in the 1920s. It remains in active use today.

The weapon is recoil-operated and air cooled. It may be mounted on a tripod for infantry use; the gun and ammunition is heavy but can be carried for short distances. More commonly, it is on some type of vehicle mount, such as a "pintle" pedestal or coaxially with a cannon. Coaxial mounts are used both for lethal fire, and also to verify the aim of the main gun.