Editing M2 Browning (section)

===Variants===
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| image1            = Cal50 Browning 2REI 2.jpg
| caption1          = An M2HB in the [[2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment|French Foreign Legion's 2nd Infantry Regiment]] during an exercise
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| caption2          = [[Jungle warfare|Jungle Infantry]] soldier of the [[Brazilian Army]] manning an M2HB in the [[Amazon rainforest]]
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The basic M2 was deployed in U.S. service in a number of subvariants, all with separate complete designations as per the US Army system. The basic designation as mentioned in the introduction is Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, with others as described below.

The development of the [[M1921 Browning machine gun|M1921]] water-cooled machine gun which led to the M2, meant that the initial M2s were, in fact, water-cooled. These weapons were designated Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, Water-Cooled, Flexible. There was no fixed water-cooled version.

Improved air-cooled heavy barrel versions came in three subtypes. The basic infantry model, Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, Flexible, a fixed developed for use on the [[M6 Heavy Tank]] designated Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, Fixed, and a "turret type" whereby "Flexible" M2s were modified slightly for use in tank turrets. The subvariant designation Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, TT was only used for manufacturing, supply, and administration identification and separation from flexible M2s.

A number of additional subvariants were developed after the end of World War II. The M2 Heavy Barrel, M48 Turret Type was developed for the commander's cupola on the [[M48 Patton]] tank. The cupola mount on the M48A2 and M48A3 was thoroughly disliked by most tankers, as it proved unreliable in service.<ref>{{cite book |last=Zumbro |first=Ralph |date=1986 |title=Tank Sergeant |publisher=Presidio Press |page=92 |isbn=978-0-89141-265-6}}</ref>{{Secondary source needed|date=March 2022}} An externally mounted M2 was later adopted for the commander's position on the [[M1 Abrams]] tanks. Three subvariants were also developed for use by the [[U.S. Navy]] on a variety of ships and watercraft including the soft mount and fixed type versions. The fixed types fire from a [[solenoid]] trigger and come in left- or right-hand feed variants for use on the Mk 56 Mod 0 dual mount and other mounts.

Huaqing Machinery has made a clone of the M2HB known as the CS/LM6, which was released publicly in 2010 at foreign weapons expo conventions.<ref name="LM6">{{cite web |url=http://www.qbq.com.cn/a/bencandy.php?fid=73&aid=1632&page=3 |title=第四届中国（北京）国际警用装备及反恐技术装备展览会新品呈献 - 本刊专递 - QBQ-轻兵器 |trans-title=New products presented at the 4th China (Beijing) International Police Equipment and Anti-terrorism Technology and Equipment Exhibition - Special Issue - QBQ - Light Weapon |language=zh |website=QBQ.com.cn |access-date=2018-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829105924/http://www.qbq.com.cn/a/bencandy.php?fid=73&aid=1632&page=3 |archive-date=2018-08-29 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was made with a picatinny rail on the receiver in order to have quick installation of various optics.<ref name="LM6"/> The original M2HB tripod and parts can be used on the CS/LM6.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zgjunshi.com/Article/Class38/Class88/Class121/200803/20080301200344.html |title=中国版M2HB：CS/LM6 0.50英寸重机枪 |trans-title=Chinese version of M2HB: CS/LM6 0.50 inch heavy machine gun |language=zh |website=Zgjunshi.com |access-date=2018-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621073633/http://zgjunshi.com/Article/Class38/Class88/Class121/200803/20080301200344.html |archive-date=2017-06-21 |url-status=live}}</ref>