Editing M2 Browning (section)

==== Use by the Imperial Japanese Military ==== 
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2025}}
During the [[Pacific War]], the Empire of Japan, engaged in combat with the United States, made extensive use of M2 Browning-style machine guns and their modified versions, including fixed and swivel-mounted aircraft guns, primarily by the Imperial Army's air forces.

[[File:Type-97 ho-103 ho-05 cannon.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Foreground: Type 97 Ho-5 20mm Fixed Aircraft Cannon, Center: Type 103 Ho-103 12.7mm Fixed Aircraft Cannon (Stored at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum)]]

* [[Ho-103 machine gun|Ho-103]]: The [[Imperial Japanese Army]] adopted the Type 103 (Ishiki Jūni-7mm Kōkū Kikō) machine gun, a modified version of the AN/M2 (MG53-2) aircraft-mounted variant of the M2 Browning, changing the caliber to [[12.7x81mmSR]] to match the Breda SAFAT 12.7mm heavy machine gun’s standard. This weapon was widely equipped on Army fighter planes, including the early to mid-period Pacific War aircraft like the Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Compared to the M2, the Ho-103 was smaller, lighter, and had a higher rate of fire, but its reduced projectile weight meant it had lower power and muzzle velocity (though it could fire high-explosive “Ma-dan” shells, a feature the M2 lacked). While the M2 was relatively large and heavy for an aircraft gun, the Ho-103 succeeded in keeping weight down.

* [[Ho-5 cannon|Ho-5]]: The Army also pursued the development of a higher-powered 20mm cannon, which led to the creation of the Ho-5 (Type 2 20mm Fixed Aircraft Cannon), a 20mm version based on the Ho-103 design. The Ho-5 was equipped on later-stage Army fighters such as the Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden. The Ho-5 was nearly the same size and weight as the M2, despite its larger caliber, and offered excellent rate of fire, muzzle velocity, and devastating power.

* [[Type 3 aircraft machine gun|Type 3 13mm Fixed Machine Gun]]: The [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] also adopted a variant based on the M2, the Type 3 13mm Fixed Machine Gun, which used a 13mm cartridge (13.2x96mm) and the barrel of the Type 93 13mm heavy machine gun from the Hotchkiss family. This was mounted on a small number of Navy fighter planes, such as the A6M5b Zero, which appeared in the late stages of World War II. While the Type 3 had similar size and weight to the M2, it had superior rate of fire and a heavier bullet, giving it higher firepower per shot. However, its muzzle velocity was lower compared to the M2.