(FORT BENNING, GA) - An M2 Machine Gun sits idle at Patton Range. The U.S. Army has used the M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun since the 1930s. The original M2 "Ma Deuce" .50 Caliber Machine Gun is a belt-fed, heavy machine gun that mounts on most aircraft and vehicles and can be fired from a tripod. The system is highly effective against light armored vehicles, low- and slow-flying aircraft, boats and enemy personnel. (Photo by: Patrick A. Albright/MCoE PAO Photographer)
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(FORT BENNING, GA) - A trainee fires the M2 from the seated, tripod mounted position as instructors carefully monitor. The M2 has an effective range of 1,830 meters and a maximum effective range of 2,000 meters when fired from the M3 tripod.(Photo by: Patrick A. Albright/MCoE PAO Photographer)
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(FORT BENNING, GA) - Under the watchful eye of the instructor, a trainee sends rounds down range. The M2 has varying cyclic rates of fire, depending on the model. The M2HB (heavy barrel) air-cooled ground gun has a cyclical rate of 450-575 rounds per minute. The early M2 water-cooled AA guns had a cyclical rate of around 450–600 rpm. (Photo by: Patrick A. Albright/MCoE PAO Photographer)
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(FORT BENNING, GA) - Spent brass and ammo links pile up under the M2 as rounds are expended. Several different types of ammunition have been used in the M2 to include standard ball, armor-piercing, armor-piercing incendiary, and armor-piercing incendiary tracer rounds. (Photo by: Patrick A. Albright/MCoE PAO Photographer)
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(FORT BENNING, GA) - Belt links eject as .50 Caliber rounds feed into the receiver of the M2 Machine Gun. Ammunition is issued in metallic link belts. Each link has two loops fitted around a single cartridge and one loop fitted around an adjacent cartridge. (Photo by: Patrick A. Albright/MCoE PAO Photographer)
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(FORT BENNING, GA) - Smoke billows from the barrel of the M2 Machine Gun after being fired repeatedly. The tremendous heat generated by the gun necessitates the need to change the barrel out in continuous firing situations. The M2A1 with Quick Change Barrel is an enhancement to the M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun. (Photo by: Patrick A. Albright/MCoE PAO Photographer)
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(FORT BENNING, GA) - An instructor opens the feed tray on the M2 Machine Gun to ensure the breach is empty. Because the M2 was intentionally designed to operate in many configurations, it can be adapted to feed from the left or right side of the weapon by exchanging the belt-holding pawls, and the front and rear cartridge stops (three-piece set to include link stripper), then reversing the bolt switch. (Photo by: Patrick A. Albright/MCoE PAO Photographer)
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(FORT BENNING, GA) - The M2 was developed in 1932 as a joint effort by the U.S. Army as a heavy barrel ground gun and the U.S. Navy as a water cooled anti-aircraft gun. The light weight version developed for aircraft and also used on PT Boats were developed in the late 1930. All three versions were used during World War II by the United States and its Allies. The M2 Heavy Barrel and M2 Aircraft have seen continued service into the 21st century. (Photo by: Patrick A. Albright/MCoE PAO Photographer)
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