Browning M1919

Summary

Country	🇺🇸 United States
Category	Light machine gun
Manufacturer	Browning

Technical specifications

Browning M1919
Fire Rate	400 - 500 rounds/min.
Caliber	.30-06 (7.62 x 63 mm)
Magazine	belt of 250 rounds
Length	826 mm (32.5 in)
Weight	14.7 kg (32.4 lb)
Range	2000 m (6562 ft)

Description

The M1919 Browning is a .30 caliber medium machine gun developed from the water-cooled M1917 Browning machine gun, designed by John M. Browning. The M1919 was an air-cooled development intended to be lighter. The original design was water-cooled, and the air-cooled version involved dropping the water jacket and using a heavier barrel. The M1919 was initially designed for use in tanks. During World War II, the M1919 was manufactured by Buffalo Arms Corporation, Rock Island Arsenal, and the Saginaw Steering Gear division of General Motors. Production lowered the unit price significantly compared to early costs.

The M1919 features a closed bolt design and originally fired the .30-06 cartridge, later the .30 caliber M2 ball cartridge. Ammunition is fed from left to right using woven cloth or metal disintegrating links. The weapon utilizes recoil operation to cycle, extracting spent cases and feeding new rounds as the bolt moves forward and backward. As a closed bolt weapon, rapid firing could cause barrel heating and potential cook-offs, for which specific operational procedures like controlled bursts and a unique cocking technique were taught. Aiming was accomplished with iron sights, featuring a folding front post and a rear aperture sight adjustable for range and windage. Except for the M1919A6 variant, all required mounting on a tripod or other mount for effective use. Barrel replacement on earlier M1919 models required field stripping the gun and pulling the barrel from the rear, a time-consuming process.

There were six basic variants of the M1919 machine gun:

• M1919A1: An early version for tanks.

• M1919A2: A lightweight variant for cavalry with a shorter barrel.

• M1919A3: Introduced in 1931, an improved M1919A2 for infantry.

• M1919A4: The most common variant, featuring a heavier, longer 24-inch barrel, recoil booster, revised barrel jacket holes, and a recoil buffer assembly.

• M1919A5 and M1919A4E1: Variants specific to vehicular use with an extended charging handle.

• M1919A6: An attempt to create a light machine gun by adding a bipod, buttstock, carrying handle, and a lighter barrel; its muzzle device allowed barrel replacement from the front.

Specific derivatives for aircraft included the .30 AN/M2, a lighter version with a higher rate of fire (1,200 to 1,500 rpm) suitable for synchronization. The M37 was a later upgrade developed in the late 1940s/early 1950s with dual-feed capability, a solenoid trigger, and reversible components, leading to T151, T152, and T153 experimental models before adoption as the M37, M37F, and M37C variants. The Mk 21 Mod 0 was a US Navy conversion of the M1919A4 to 7.62mm NATO using M13 links. Numerous international variants and license-built derivatives existed, often chambered for different calibers, including the British .303 Browning Mk II, Swedish Ksp m/22, m/39, and m/42 variants, Polish Ckm wz.32, and Belgian FN variants. Civilian semi-automatic versions have been built using modified parts to comply with regulations.

The M1919 was widely used during the 20th century, notably World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, serving as a light infantry support weapon, coaxial gun on vehicles, mounted weapon, and aircraft armament. As an infantry company support weapon, it typically required a five-man crew for effective operation and transport, composed of a squad leader, gunner, assistant gunner, and two ammunition carriers. The M1919A4 played a significant role in WWII US Army firepower, mounted on various vehicles and providing critical automatic fire support. The M1919A6 saw increasing service in the latter days of World War II and was used extensively in the Korean War. The .30 AN/M2 was a primary fixed and flexible aircraft weapon early in World War II for the US and was later distributed to allies. The British .303 Mk II variant was the RAF's primary fixed forward-firing armament on fighters like the Hurricane and Spitfire, and also served in bombers and as defensive turret guns throughout WWII. US Navy Mk 21 Mod 0 variants were used in riverine warfare patrols in Vietnam. The M37 variant was used on tanks such as the M47 and M48 Patton. Canadian C5 and C5A1 variants served with Canadian Forces on various vehicles until the mid-1990s. IDF M1919A4 guns converted to 7.62mm NATO were used on armored vehicles into the 1990s.

Users of the M1919 machine gun included the United States (U.S Army, US Navy), many NATO countries, Argentina, Soviet Air Forces (via Lend-Lease), the United Kingdom (RAF, FAA), Australia, Canada (Canadian Forces, RCAF, Army, Navy), Rhodesia (RhAF), Belgium, Austria, South Africa, Denmark, Israel (IDF), Sweden, and Poland. Some users continue to operate upgraded variants.