Browning M3

The Browning M3 aircraft gun is an extensively modified M2 aircraft gun that could be fired remotely by the pilot or gunner of a jet aircraft, helicopter or light fixed-wing aircraft. The gun is distinguished by a massive pneumatic buffer at the rear of the receiver and a muzzle booster cap at the end of the barrel jacket. The gun was extensively used on late 1940s and early 1950s fighters until supplanted by 20mm cannons. No sights are furnished on the gun because the sights are considered a part of the airplane. Changes to the M3 gun relative to the M2 are: the bolt assembly, oil buffer body, and barrel extension are modified. The pneumatic buffer on the M3 is designed to absorb the greater recoil forces attendant to the gun's higher cyclic rate. The most famous use of the M3 was by the American F-86 Sabres against the Communist MiG-15s during the Korean War. Also used by the F-80, F-84, F-94, T-33, B-45, B-52 (with the exception of the H model, which used the M61 Vulcan), UH-1, and HH-53.

A new version of the M3 called the M3M made by Fabrique Nationale has been adopted as the GAU-21 by the US Military for use in aircraft and anti-aircraft vehicles. It will be capable of being mounted on each of the following aircraft CH-46, CH-47, CH-53, H-60, UH-1, and MV-22. Also mounted on M1097 Avenger HMMWV.

Specifications

Browning M3 Aircraft

Browning M3 Aircraft - .50 BMG

Browning M3 Aircraft on M45 Quadmaster - .50 BMG

Type: Heavy Machine Gun

Caliber: .50 BMG

Capacity: Belt-Fed

Fire Modes: Fully Automatic (1150-1250 rounds per minute)

FN GAU-21 Aircraft

FN GAU-21 Aircraft Machine Gun - .50 BMG

Type: Heavy Machine Gun

Caliber: .50 BMG

Capacity: Belt-Fed

Fire Modes: Fully Automatic (950-1150 rounds per minute)

The Browning M3 heavy machine gun appears in the following films used by the following actors

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
Jet Pilot		USAF pilots	Mounted in nose section of F-94 Starfires	1957
The Hunters	Robert Mitchum	Maj. Cleve Saville	Mounted in nose section of F-86 Sabre	1958
The Hunters		USAF pilots	Mounted in nose section of F-86 Sabres	1958
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle		Mercenary pilots	Mounted on Bell Jet Ranger	1984
The Detached Mission (Odinochnoye plavanye)			In tail mounting on B-52; seen in documentary footage	1985
Iron Eagle II		USAF pilots	Mounted in tail of B-52D Stratofortress	1988
Return from the River Kwai			Mounted on unidentified American and Japanese planes	1989
By Dawn's Early Light	Ronald Willam Lawrence	Hooker	Mounted in tail of B-52G Stratofortress	1990
Fire Birds	Bert Rhine	Eric Stoller	Mounted in SUU-12/A gun pod on "Scorpion attack helicopter"	1990
The Siege		US Army soldier	Mounted on Cadillac-Gage Commando APC	1998
Supreme Sanction			Mounted on MD 500; Footage from Fire Birds	1999
Iron Man			FN GAU-21; Mounted on HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter	2008
Battle: Los Angeles		US Marines	Door-mounted on UH-1N Huey helicopter	2011
Battleship		US Marines		2012
Captain Phillips		US Navy crewmen	Door-mounted on SH-60 Seahawk helicopter	2013
War for the Planet of the Apes		Alpha/Omega solider	FN GAU-21	2017

Television

Show Title / Episode	Actor	Character	Note	Air Date
Lock 'n Load With R. Lee Ermey / Ep. 5: "Helicopters"	—	—	Mounted on Huey and Kiowa Warrior helicopters	.

Video Games

Game Title	Referred as	Mods	Notation	Release Date
Battlefield 2			Mounted on EC635, in HMP-400 gun pod	2005
Project Reality			Mounted on EC635 in HMP-400 gun pod, M1097 "Avenger" humvee, UH-1N Huey, MV-22 Osprey, CH-47 Chinook, and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior	2005

Animation

Film Title	Character	Notation	Date
The Iron Giant	USAF pilots	Mounted in F-86 Sabres	1999

See Also

• Browning Arms Company - A list of all firearms manufactured by Browning.
• FN Herstal - A list of all firearms manufactured by FN Herstal.