Editing M2 Browning (section)

===AN/M3, GAU-21/A, and M3P===
[[File:B-52 tail turret.jpg|thumb|left|AN/M3 quad mount on a [[B-52D]]]]


During World War II, a faster-firing Browning was developed for aircraft use. The ''AN/M3'' increased the rate of fire to around 1,200 rounds per minute while firing the same round with minimal change in weight or size.<ref name="Carel, M3" /> The AN/M3 was used in [[First Republic of Korea|South Korea]] on the [[F-82 Twin Mustang]] (the XP-82 mounted a total of 14 AN/M3 machine guns),{{cn|date=October 2024}} [[F-86 Sabre]], [[F-84 Thunderjet]], and [[F-80 Shooting Star]], and in Vietnam in the [[U.S. aircraft gun pods|XM14/SUU-12/A]] [[gun pod]]. Two are installed in the [[Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano]] aircraft as a fixed wing-mounted standard weapon as designated as M3W with minor modification with reduced weight barrel, electronic box triggered from the cockpit with 250 rounds each.{{cn|date=April 2022}}

[[File:Doorgunner CH-53GS.jpg|thumb|A [[German Army]] ramp gunner manning an M3M on a [[Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion|CH-53 Sea Stallion]]]]
The M3 series is used by the U.S. military in two versions, the M3M and M3P. The fixed, remote-firing version, the FN ''M3P'', is employed on the [[AN/TWQ-1 Avenger|Avenger Air Defense System]] and was used on the [[OH-58 Kiowa|OH-58D]], augmenting the XM296 .50 cal. machine gun.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mil/article/19271/6-6-cavalry-aircrews-field-new-kiowa-warrior-weapons-system/ |title=6-6 Cavalry aircrews field new Kiowa Warrior weapons system |first=Stephanie |last=van Geete |date=6 April 2009 |website=U.S. Army |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504140124/http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/04/06/19271-6-6-cavalry-aircrews-field-new-kiowa-warrior-weapons-system/ |archive-date=2009-05-04}}</ref> The FN ''M3M'' flexible machine gun has been adopted by the U.S. Navy under the designation GAU-21/A for use on helicopters. The GAU-21/A is also being used by the U.S. Marine Corps to upgrade from the XM-218/GAU-16 .50 cal. machine gun for the CH-53E,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marines.mil/unit/3rdmaw/Pages/2006/Sea%20Stallions%20implement%20new%20ramp-mounted%20weapon%20system.aspx/ |title=Sea Stallions Implement New Ramp Mount Weapon System |first=James B. |last=Hoke |date=21 May 2006 |website=U.S. Marine Corps |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804203921/http://www.marines.mil/unit/3rdmaw/Pages/2006/Sea%20Stallions%20implement%20new%20ramp-mounted%20weapon%20system.aspx/ |archive-date=2012-08-04}}</ref> on the UH-1Y Venom, on the Canadian Forces' CH-146 Griffon via the INGRESS upgrade{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}} and is to be used on the CH-53K.{{cn|date=April 2023}} The Air Force is looking to replace the GAU-18 on the HH-60G Pave Hawk with the GAU-21 because of its higher 1,100 rpm rate of fire, longer 10,000-round barrel life, and lower recoil through the use of a soft mount.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eglin.af.mil/News/story/id/123466807/ |title=Test teams aim at new machine gun for Pave Hawk |first=Rebecca |last=Amber |date=14 January 2016 |website=U.S. Air Force |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208044457/http://www.eglin.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123466807 |archive-date=2016-02-08}}</ref> The M3M is also the primary machine gun used by the British Royal Navy's [[Fleet Air Arm]] for helicopter armament on [[AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat |Wildcat]] and [[AW101 Merlin|Merlin]] aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2019/april/10/190410-847-nas-joint-warrior |title=Royal Marine Fliers Direct 'Rain of Fire' during UK's Biggest Exercise |date=2019-04-10 |website=Royal Navy |access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref> It is also used by the German Bundeswehr on their [[NHIndustries NH90|NH-90]] helicopters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doorgunner |url=https://www.bundeswehr.de/en/organization/army/doorgunner |access-date=2022-12-26 |website=www.bundeswehr.de |language=en}}</ref>