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History overview of the Models of the Browning 1919
General history of the Browning 1919.
History
There were TWO separate and distinct Browning Machine Guns given the Model 1919 designation.
1. 1919 Aircraft Machine Gun (mainly remodeled M1918M1)
2. 1919 Tank Machine Gun (which was the forrunner to the M1919A4 and M1919A6 air cooled ground guns.
Early experiments:1924-1927
Side-Mounted Box Magazines
Top-Mounted Magazines
Adapting the Lewis Drum to the Browning
Spade Grip Back Plate (1928)
The M1917 Browning was used as the basis for the design of the new 1919 Tank Machine Gun, and initially had a rate of fire of up to 1,200 rounds per minute, which was far to high of a rate of fire and was later modified to slow the rate of fire down to 400 rounds per minute when it was first produced by Westinghouse. This was the first time the bolt catch was utilized (1918), so the bolt could be held to the rear to prevent cook-offs
Note: the first 1919 Tank Machine Gun had attachable stocks (nothing like the later A6 stocks) and came with the Mark I Emergency tripod.
Early production:
Dec 1918 - 2000 guns
Jan 1919 - 7000 guns
Feb 1919 - 4500 guns
Mar 1919 - 9500 guns
Apr 1919 - 11000 guns
First Tripod:
Mark I Emergency tripod
Production
The M1919 was manufactured during WWII by many different companies in the U.S. including General Motors and Rock Island Arsenal. In the UK production was chiefly by BSA.
US Variants
M1919 Tank Gun Westinghouse
Without sight brackets
M1919A1 Tank Gun Westinghouse
With sight brackets
M1919A2 Cavalry Gun Westinghouse
First time a rear rifle sight was added
included a heavier barrel and tripod, and could be continuously fired for longer durations
Snubbie 18 5/8 inch barrel
A note on Grips
The aluminum grip was first made for the M1919A2 Cavalry Gun. Initially two grips were designed, one Aluminum and the other Bakelite, but the backlite grips were later issued for use with the M1917A1, but not the M1919A4.
M2 Tripod
Initially (1931) the tripod was called the Fort Bliss Tripod, Cavalry Board No 1 Model, and the T7. It was finally given the designation of Mount, Light, machine gun, caliber .30, T7E1. it was standardized as the M2 on Dec 21, 1933
Colt T2 and Later ANM2
The Browning was heavily re-worked to become the .30 caliber M2 aircraft machine gun. Key to aircraft use was weight. Unnecessary metal was removed from its components and with the cooling effect of air rushing past the barrel from the plane's speed the designers made the barrel thinner and hence lighter. As a result the M2 weighed 2/3 that of the 1919A4 and the lightened mechanism gave it a higher rate of fire — pertinent to use where the target might be in range and in the line of sight for barely a second.
M2
Commonly referred to as AN/M2. The AN/ part of the nomenclature stood for "Army-Navy" and was used until the end of the Second World War.
Aircraft version of the Model 1919A4 manufactured by Browning with a thinner barrel and thinner receiver walls. Used on pre-WW2 US aircraft but replaced by the larger .50 caliber M2 machine gun and relegated to training duties. A derivative of this weapon was built by Colt as the MG40-2.
This weapon soldiered on for a short period during the 1960s as the main weapons for early AC-47 Spooky Gunships in Vietnam, until sufficient Miniguns could be acquired.
T3E1 ground Gun and T3E3 Tank Gun (Experimental)
This was Springfield Armorys design based on the M2 lightweight aircraft receiver. A pretty cool looking weapon with a pistol grip below the receiver, and a sholder stock
The T9 and T9E1 (Experimental)
Springfield Armory design based on the ANM2
T1 and T2 Water cooled (Experimental)
Springfield Armory Water Cooled Designed
Colt MG40 (known as the M2, and Later the ANM2)
A total of 49,681 were manufactured.
MG38T (colt M1919 Heavy Water Cooled)
Originally named the M1924, it was change to MG38T in 1931 (MG38BT for spade grips)
M1919A3 The Shorty
Basically an improved version of the M1919A2. It still used the shorty "Tanker" barrel
M1919A3E3
Fitted with a 24 inch barrel, and had the front sight mounted at the end of the barrel.
M1919A4/A4E1
Dominant version, the M1919A4 was designed for both flexible and fixed use on vehicles and by infantry. A subvariant, the M1919A4E1 were refitted M1919A4s with A5 extended charging handles.
The M1919A4 weighed about 31 pounds (14 kg), and usually was mounted on a tripod (for infantry use), or from a fixed mount. It saw wide use in World War II. The gun was mounted on such vehicles as: jeeps, tanks, and ships.
Note: All M1919A2 and Early M1919A4's were converted to the later M1919A4 pattern.
Note II: The bolt hold open catch was discontinued in Mid 1943. It's stated that more US troops in WWII did not have this accessory.
T13 and T14
In 1939 the Experimental T13 and T14's had a short barrel support much like the M2HB, and the rear sight bracket was slotted.
M1919A5 Tank Machine Gun
The A5 was an adaptation of the A4 with a forward mounting point to allow it to be mounted in cupolas in tanks and armored cars. This, along with the M37, was the most common secondary armament during WWII.
The A5 also featured an extended charging handle.
As tanks which required the A5 were removed from service the A5's were withdrawn from service and converted to A4's and A6's
M1919A6 Substitute Standard
Modified M1919A4 for infantry use as a "light machine gun". The A6 featured a buttstock and a bipod, and the kit could easily be used to retrofit earlier models to this standard. It was initially designed for Parachute Troops.
Light machine gun M1919A6 in Korea Another version of the M1919A4, the M1919A6, was an attempt to make the weapon easier to carry by reducing its weight and to make use of a bipod, but it turned out to be heavier at 32 lb (15 kg) and was considered "substitute standard". With its bipod and stock, it actually weighed more than the A4 by itself, but less than the A4 with its tripod. It was still used extensively however, by allied troops during World War II and the Korean War. The main differences were a folding bipod mounted on the front of the gun, a sheet metal buttstock that was attached to the pistol-grip firing handle, a carrying handle, and a tapered barrel weighing 4 lb (1.8 kg) instead of 7 lb (3.2 kg) returning the weapon to an A1-like state.
T13E2
Rock Island Arsenal based on the browning 1919 with a weight of 22 lbs 11 oz
T33 Otherwise known as teh Stinger
the T33 was basically an ANM2 fitted with a bipod, and Stock much like the M1919A6, and it's weight was 28 3/4 lbs and fired at 1,523 Rounds Per Minute.
SSG-E3 ArmaSteel Cast 1919
ArmaSteel Cast Receivers (1940, tested in 1942) designed by Saginaw never went into full production. The back plate and other components were made using this process.
M37 originally known as the T153
Coaxial M1919 variant, with the ability to feed from either the left or the right. Also featuring an extended charging handle similar to those on the M1919A4E1 and A5. A variant fitted with special sighting equipment was designated T153. Another variant, the M37C was designed for remote firing via a solenoid trigger for use in the XM1/E1 armament subsystem.
A version of the M37, rechambered in 7.62x51 mm NATO is rumored to have been created, but even if it was it mostly likely would've been quickly overtaken by the M60 and M73 machine guns.
Mk 21 Mod 0/1
A Navy designation for M1919's converted to fire 7.62 mm NATO.
International Variants and Designations
The M1919 pattern has been used in countries all over the world in a variety of forms and under a number of different designations.
Browning Mk 1/2
An older style Commonwealth designation for the .303 caliber Browning machine guns used on the vast majority of British aircraft of the Second World War at one point or another. The difference between the Mk 1 and Mk 2 versions is unknown, but the weapon visually is quite similar AN/M2 aircraft gun.
FN-Browning mle 1938
French designation for the FN-built derivative converted to 7.5x54 mm ammunition. Manufactured in the late 1930s and used on fixed mountings of US-build aircraft in French service from 1939 to 1942.
L3A1/A2
The Commonwealth designation used by both the United Kingdom and Australia to designate the fixed (A1) and flexible (A2) versions of the M1919A4 in .30-06 caliber.
L3A3/A4
Sear hold-open conversion of previous L3A1s and L3A2s. The A3 is the modified version of the A1, and the A4 is the modified version of the A2.
Note: 'L'-prefix, L stands for Land Service
MG A4
Austrian designation for the M1919A4.
MG4
South African licence-built version of the M1919A4 in current use with the South African National Defence Forces (SANDF). Manufactured by Lyttleton Engineering, Pretoria.
C1/A1 and C5/A1
Canadian designation for 7.62x51 mm rechambered M1919A4s for fixed (C1) and flexible (C1A1) applications. The C5 and C5A1 were product improvements of the previous C1 and C1A1 respectively.
Mg M/52-1 and Mg M/52-11
Danish designations for the M1919A4 and M1919A5 respectively.
M42B
Swedish designation for 7.62x51 mm rechambered M1919A6s.
Other Facts
Production period: 1919 — 1945
Service duration: 1919 — 1970s (US)
War service: Post WW1 — Vietnam (US)
General history of the Browning 1919.
History
There were TWO separate and distinct Browning Machine Guns given the Model 1919 designation.
1. 1919 Aircraft Machine Gun (mainly remodeled M1918M1)
2. 1919 Tank Machine Gun (which was the forrunner to the M1919A4 and M1919A6 air cooled ground guns.
Early experiments:1924-1927
Side-Mounted Box Magazines
Top-Mounted Magazines
Adapting the Lewis Drum to the Browning
Spade Grip Back Plate (1928)
The M1917 Browning was used as the basis for the design of the new 1919 Tank Machine Gun, and initially had a rate of fire of up to 1,200 rounds per minute, which was far to high of a rate of fire and was later modified to slow the rate of fire down to 400 rounds per minute when it was first produced by Westinghouse. This was the first time the bolt catch was utilized (1918), so the bolt could be held to the rear to prevent cook-offs
Note: the first 1919 Tank Machine Gun had attachable stocks (nothing like the later A6 stocks) and came with the Mark I Emergency tripod.
Early production:
Dec 1918 - 2000 guns
Jan 1919 - 7000 guns
Feb 1919 - 4500 guns
Mar 1919 - 9500 guns
Apr 1919 - 11000 guns
First Tripod:
Mark I Emergency tripod
Production
The M1919 was manufactured during WWII by many different companies in the U.S. including General Motors and Rock Island Arsenal. In the UK production was chiefly by BSA.
US Variants
M1919 Tank Gun Westinghouse
Without sight brackets
M1919A1 Tank Gun Westinghouse
With sight brackets
M1919A2 Cavalry Gun Westinghouse
First time a rear rifle sight was added
included a heavier barrel and tripod, and could be continuously fired for longer durations
Snubbie 18 5/8 inch barrel
A note on Grips
The aluminum grip was first made for the M1919A2 Cavalry Gun. Initially two grips were designed, one Aluminum and the other Bakelite, but the backlite grips were later issued for use with the M1917A1, but not the M1919A4.
M2 Tripod
Initially (1931) the tripod was called the Fort Bliss Tripod, Cavalry Board No 1 Model, and the T7. It was finally given the designation of Mount, Light, machine gun, caliber .30, T7E1. it was standardized as the M2 on Dec 21, 1933
Colt T2 and Later ANM2
The Browning was heavily re-worked to become the .30 caliber M2 aircraft machine gun. Key to aircraft use was weight. Unnecessary metal was removed from its components and with the cooling effect of air rushing past the barrel from the plane's speed the designers made the barrel thinner and hence lighter. As a result the M2 weighed 2/3 that of the 1919A4 and the lightened mechanism gave it a higher rate of fire — pertinent to use where the target might be in range and in the line of sight for barely a second.
M2
Commonly referred to as AN/M2. The AN/ part of the nomenclature stood for "Army-Navy" and was used until the end of the Second World War.
Aircraft version of the Model 1919A4 manufactured by Browning with a thinner barrel and thinner receiver walls. Used on pre-WW2 US aircraft but replaced by the larger .50 caliber M2 machine gun and relegated to training duties. A derivative of this weapon was built by Colt as the MG40-2.
This weapon soldiered on for a short period during the 1960s as the main weapons for early AC-47 Spooky Gunships in Vietnam, until sufficient Miniguns could be acquired.
T3E1 ground Gun and T3E3 Tank Gun (Experimental)
This was Springfield Armorys design based on the M2 lightweight aircraft receiver. A pretty cool looking weapon with a pistol grip below the receiver, and a sholder stock
The T9 and T9E1 (Experimental)
Springfield Armory design based on the ANM2
T1 and T2 Water cooled (Experimental)
Springfield Armory Water Cooled Designed
Colt MG40 (known as the M2, and Later the ANM2)
A total of 49,681 were manufactured.
MG38T (colt M1919 Heavy Water Cooled)
Originally named the M1924, it was change to MG38T in 1931 (MG38BT for spade grips)
M1919A3 The Shorty
Basically an improved version of the M1919A2. It still used the shorty "Tanker" barrel
M1919A3E3
Fitted with a 24 inch barrel, and had the front sight mounted at the end of the barrel.
M1919A4/A4E1
Dominant version, the M1919A4 was designed for both flexible and fixed use on vehicles and by infantry. A subvariant, the M1919A4E1 were refitted M1919A4s with A5 extended charging handles.
The M1919A4 weighed about 31 pounds (14 kg), and usually was mounted on a tripod (for infantry use), or from a fixed mount. It saw wide use in World War II. The gun was mounted on such vehicles as: jeeps, tanks, and ships.
Note: All M1919A2 and Early M1919A4's were converted to the later M1919A4 pattern.
Note II: The bolt hold open catch was discontinued in Mid 1943. It's stated that more US troops in WWII did not have this accessory.
T13 and T14
In 1939 the Experimental T13 and T14's had a short barrel support much like the M2HB, and the rear sight bracket was slotted.
M1919A5 Tank Machine Gun
The A5 was an adaptation of the A4 with a forward mounting point to allow it to be mounted in cupolas in tanks and armored cars. This, along with the M37, was the most common secondary armament during WWII.
The A5 also featured an extended charging handle.
As tanks which required the A5 were removed from service the A5's were withdrawn from service and converted to A4's and A6's
M1919A6 Substitute Standard
Modified M1919A4 for infantry use as a "light machine gun". The A6 featured a buttstock and a bipod, and the kit could easily be used to retrofit earlier models to this standard. It was initially designed for Parachute Troops.
Light machine gun M1919A6 in Korea Another version of the M1919A4, the M1919A6, was an attempt to make the weapon easier to carry by reducing its weight and to make use of a bipod, but it turned out to be heavier at 32 lb (15 kg) and was considered "substitute standard". With its bipod and stock, it actually weighed more than the A4 by itself, but less than the A4 with its tripod. It was still used extensively however, by allied troops during World War II and the Korean War. The main differences were a folding bipod mounted on the front of the gun, a sheet metal buttstock that was attached to the pistol-grip firing handle, a carrying handle, and a tapered barrel weighing 4 lb (1.8 kg) instead of 7 lb (3.2 kg) returning the weapon to an A1-like state.
T13E2
Rock Island Arsenal based on the browning 1919 with a weight of 22 lbs 11 oz
T33 Otherwise known as teh Stinger
the T33 was basically an ANM2 fitted with a bipod, and Stock much like the M1919A6, and it's weight was 28 3/4 lbs and fired at 1,523 Rounds Per Minute.
SSG-E3 ArmaSteel Cast 1919
ArmaSteel Cast Receivers (1940, tested in 1942) designed by Saginaw never went into full production. The back plate and other components were made using this process.
M37 originally known as the T153
Coaxial M1919 variant, with the ability to feed from either the left or the right. Also featuring an extended charging handle similar to those on the M1919A4E1 and A5. A variant fitted with special sighting equipment was designated T153. Another variant, the M37C was designed for remote firing via a solenoid trigger for use in the XM1/E1 armament subsystem.
A version of the M37, rechambered in 7.62x51 mm NATO is rumored to have been created, but even if it was it mostly likely would've been quickly overtaken by the M60 and M73 machine guns.
Mk 21 Mod 0/1
A Navy designation for M1919's converted to fire 7.62 mm NATO.
International Variants and Designations
The M1919 pattern has been used in countries all over the world in a variety of forms and under a number of different designations.
Browning Mk 1/2
An older style Commonwealth designation for the .303 caliber Browning machine guns used on the vast majority of British aircraft of the Second World War at one point or another. The difference between the Mk 1 and Mk 2 versions is unknown, but the weapon visually is quite similar AN/M2 aircraft gun.
FN-Browning mle 1938
French designation for the FN-built derivative converted to 7.5x54 mm ammunition. Manufactured in the late 1930s and used on fixed mountings of US-build aircraft in French service from 1939 to 1942.
L3A1/A2
The Commonwealth designation used by both the United Kingdom and Australia to designate the fixed (A1) and flexible (A2) versions of the M1919A4 in .30-06 caliber.
L3A3/A4
Sear hold-open conversion of previous L3A1s and L3A2s. The A3 is the modified version of the A1, and the A4 is the modified version of the A2.
Note: 'L'-prefix, L stands for Land Service
MG A4
Austrian designation for the M1919A4.
MG4
South African licence-built version of the M1919A4 in current use with the South African National Defence Forces (SANDF). Manufactured by Lyttleton Engineering, Pretoria.
C1/A1 and C5/A1
Canadian designation for 7.62x51 mm rechambered M1919A4s for fixed (C1) and flexible (C1A1) applications. The C5 and C5A1 were product improvements of the previous C1 and C1A1 respectively.
Mg M/52-1 and Mg M/52-11
Danish designations for the M1919A4 and M1919A5 respectively.
M42B
Swedish designation for 7.62x51 mm rechambered M1919A6s.
Other Facts
Production period: 1919 — 1945
Service duration: 1919 — 1970s (US)
War service: Post WW1 — Vietnam (US)
