For decades in the US, Browning was synonymous with military automatic and semi-automatic weapons. The .50 calibre heavy machine gun and the B.A.R. are two weapons with which the US fought many wars. Add to that the third gun of this triumvirate, the .30 calibre machine gun.

This gun was developed as much as an 'American Maxim' as it was anything else. Yes, I know that Maxim was born in the US, but he did most of his work in the UK. Browning knew that he could develop a machine gun just as good as the Maxim, but with fewer parts and one that would be more reliable. Maxims were great guns, but they were heavy and rather complex with a lot of small parts. Browning's .30 calibre guns were lighter and had almost no small parts and could be maintained well in the field.

Like the Maxim, the Browning gun had a water jacket to keep the barrel cool. Air cooled versions were developed and the Browning aircraft gun was a standard for many years, being the main armament on most British fighters well into WWII, and a gun used by air gunners in bombers as well. The advantage of this gun in an aircraft was that one could carry a lot more rounds. However, when comparing the hitting power of the .50 and .30, the .50 won hands down, so it became the standard US aircraft machine gun well into the 1950s until replaced by the 20mm cannon. But I digress.

Browning's .30 calibre machine gun was used in the last few weeks of WWI. Prior to that the US army was saddled with the incredibly poor French Benet-Mercier machine gun that was quite prone to jamming and not very reliable. Those units who did get to use the Browning was more than pleased with the new gun. Relatively low production continued between the wars with a number of improvements and accessories being added to the gun. By the time WWII came around, it was very much a standard US light machine gun and saw action everywhere and with many of the Allies. It continued to be in wide use through the Korean war and it wasn't until the late 1950s that it was replaced by the M-60, though many were still in use by the Guard and Reserves.

In this book on the Browning, author Gordon Rottman covers the development, early years and modifications done to the gun. It also covers the use of the gun by the US military in various wars of the 20th Century. Finally, a look at the impact of the gun is covered as well as a look at those systems designed to replace it. 

It is a superb book that is fascinating to read. A great addition to this new series and one that I am positive you will enjoy. Highly recommended.

May 2014

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