NOTE: This article is about the M2 heavy machine gun in the main ArmA games. For other similarly named articles, you may wish to use the following links instead:
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The M2 is a .50 cal heavy machine gun that has been featured throughout the entire series, beginning with ArmA: Cold War Assault and all the way to ARMA Reforger.
ArmA: Cold War Assault
« | Browning M2 machine gun is belt-fed, air-cooled machine weapon capable of semi-automatic and automatic fire. After WW2, .50-caliber Browning guns found a wide acceptance across the world, and today are still widely used as ground and vehicle guns inmost of NATO countries and many others. Weapon Description
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M2 .50 | |
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Faction | ![]() ![]() |
Type | Heavy Machine Gun |
Calibre | .50 BMG |
Magazine capacity |
500 |
Dispersion | 0.0007 rad |
Variants | None |
Games |
The M2 is used by both U.S. and Soviet military forces in ArmA: Cold War Assault.
Overview
The M2 Browning is an air-cooled, belt fed heavy machine gun that fires from a closed bolt, and is chambered to fire the .50 BMG round.
It can attain a fire rate of up to 600 rounds per minute, and has a muzzle velocity of 1,000 m/s. The M2 uses a simple ironsight for aiming, and has an effective firing range of up to 1,100 metres. Both static and vehicle-mounted versions always feed from a single 500-round belt.
Officially adopted in 1923 by the U.S. military, the M2 has since continued to serve as the standard HMG of many armed forces throughout the world. It is commonly employed on the M1A1 MBT or M113 APC where it serves as a coaxial/primary weapon.
The M2 is a surprisingly accurate and powerful heavy weapon. Because it fires the powerful .50 cal round, it can penetrate through the armour of most light and even medium armoured vehicles with ease.
Although it isn't man-portable, it works well in any fortified position as a static weapon when paired alongside anti-tank weapons such as the M72 LAW/Carl Gustav and medium machine guns like the M60. All four systems combined will make any position almost unassailable by ground forces bar heavy air power.
Ammunition
Base damage value | Initial velocity (m/s) |
---|---|
13 | 1,000 |
M2s only support feeding from one type of "magazine":
500Rnd
Standard .50 cal ammunition. Used by both static and vehicle-mounted M2s.
Trivia
- Cold War Assault's M2 is erroneously shown being used by the Soviet military.
- While M2s delivered as part of the U.S. government's Lend-Lease policy during the Second World War did result in it seeing some (limited) service as an anti-aircraft gun within the Soviet Armed Forces, they were completely replaced in that role by the (then-newer) "DShK" HMG by the conflict's end and throughout the Cold War.
- Likewise, the DShK itself is notably absent in Cold War Assault, despite the fact that it would have been more appropriate as the in-game Soviet HMG instead of the M2.
Gallery
ArmA: Armed Assault
« | The Browning M2 .50 caliber Machine Gun, is a World War II era automatic, crew-operated machine gun. The very versatile M2 has served on a wide variety of ground vehicles, aircraft and ships over the years, and is still widely used around the world. This weapon can be used effectively against infantry, light armored vehicles, slow flying aircraft and small boats. Library Description
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M2 Machine Gun .50 | |
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Faction | ![]() |
Type | Heavy Machine Gun |
Calibre | .50 BMG |
Magazine capacity |
100 |
Dispersion | 0.001 rad |
Variants | None |
Games |
The M2 Machine Gun is used exclusively by U.S. Army forces in ArmA: Armed Assault.
Overview
The M2 returns as both a static and vehicle-mounted weapon in Armed Assault. Unlike its predecessor, the M2 is no longer shared with OPFOR factions and is exclusive to U.S. Army forces only.
It can now be used to engage targets at distances of up to 1,200 metres, though it has a lower fire rate of only ~ 545 RPM and has a reduced muzzle velocity of 930 m/s.
Belt capacity-wise, it has also been reduced to feeding from 100-round belt boxes for both static and vehicle-mounted M2s.
The M2 is once again employed as both a raised (or lowered) static turret and vehicle-mounted weapon. It serves as the primary weapon of HMMWVs and M113 APCs, as well as with the M1A1 MBT and Stryker ICV as remotely-operated guns.
Compared to the SLA's DShKM, both it and the M2 have similar dispersion against targets at ranges of 1,000 metres and beyond. Though it fires slightly slower than the DShKM (545 versus 600 RPM), the M2 compensates by being able to feed from 100-round belts as opposed to the DShKM's 50-round only "magazines". In all other aspects, both HMGs are functionally and statistically identical.
Ammunition
Base damage value | Initial velocity (m/s) |
---|---|
26 | 930 |
M2 HMGs load exclusively from one type of "magazine" only:
100Rnd
Standard .50 cal ammunition.
Does not contain any visible tracer rounds.
Trivia
- Although RACS forces utilise the M2 on some of their vehicles, they do not retain access to a static tripod-mounted variant (not even in the Warfare game mode).
- Prior to Patch 1.04, the M2's ironsights were misaligned and did not zero correctly for targets located beyond 800 metres.
Gallery
ArmA 2
« | The Browning M2 .50 caliber Machine Gun, is a World War II era automatic, crew-operated machine gun. The very versatile M2 has served on a wide variety of ground vehicles, aircraft and ships over the years, and is still widely used around the world. This weapon can be used effectively against infantry, light armored vehicles, slow flying aircraft and small boats. Armoury Description
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M2HB .50 | |
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Faction | ![]() ![]() |
Type | Heavy Machine Gun |
Calibre | .50 BMG |
Magazine capacity |
Variable (dependent on platform) |
Dispersion | 0.001 rad |
Variants | None |
Games |
The M2HB is used by both the U.S. Marines and U.S. Army forces in ArmA 2.
Overview
The M2HB is the modernised version of its Cold War Assault/Armed Assault predecessors.
It still has a fire rate of only ~ 545 RPM and retains an identical muzzle velocity. However, it does have a slightly higher effective firing range of between 1,200 and up to 1,500 metres, and can also be mounted onto either lowered or raised tripods.
Ammunition capacity now varies depending on the platform it is being utilised on. Standalone static M2HBs for example, always feed from 100-round belt boxes and have a further three more boxes to spare (for a total of 400 rounds).
On the other hand, vehicle-mounted M2HBs such as those on the M1A2 TUSK or armed Military Offroads, can carry up to four boxes instead. No matter its mounting, the M2HB still lacks optical accessories and relies on a simple ironsight for aiming.
Like its older model, the ArmA 2 M2HB continues to serve as the primary HMG of the U.S. military with both branches utilising it in some form - either as a defensive/static or vehicle-mounted weapon. Some other factions such as pro-government Takistani militia groups and Czech special operations also make use of the M2HB on their armed vehicles.
Compared to all other static HMGs in ArmA 2 like the Russian KORD, the M2HB suffers from having fairly high dispersion at distances of beyond 1,000 metres, but is now more accurate than the (figuratively-speaking) newer Soviet-era DShKM. Once again however, this is only due to its ability to feed from 100-round (or larger) belt boxes; in all other aspects it isn't that much better than the DShKM.
Ammunition
Base damage value | Aerodynamic friction | Initial velocity (m/s) |
---|---|---|
26 | -0.00068 | 930 |
M2HBs can feed from two types of "magazines":
100Rnd
Standard .50 cal ammunition.
Every fourth round fired will consist of a visible red-coloured tracer. Only the last five rounds of the belt are exclusively tracer rounds.
250Rnd
Alternate 250-round belt. Utilised exclusively on Avenger HMMWVs armed with the M3P machine gun.
It is statistically identical to regular 100-round belts with the exception of round capacity.
Trivia
- Although Czech SOF and Takistani militiamen are shown using the M2 as vehicle-mounted weapons, they do not actually have access to a static tripod variant.
- USMC M2HBs cannot be disassembled into a man-portable backpack form, unlike those used by the U.S. Army in the Operation Arrowhead expansion pack.
- This is because the ability to dismantle/reassemble static weapons was only added with the release of the expansion pack, and was not retroactively applied to the original ArmA 2 static weapons (as none of the pre-expansion pack units are able to carry backpacks in the first place).
Gallery
ArmA 3
M2 HMG .50 | |
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Faction | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Type | Heavy Machine Gun |
Calibre | .50 BMG |
Magazine capacity |
100 |
Dispersion | 0.00144 rad |
Variants | None |
Games |
The M2 HMG is used by several BLUFOR, Independent and OPFOR factions in ArmA 3.
Overview
The M2 returns once more in ArmA 3. Unlike in previous games however, the M2 has been modified with a bullet-resistant gunshield and on certain models, also features a mounted reflex sight for easier aiming.
It returns to having a normalised fire rate of 600 RPM as in Cold War Assault, and retains an effective firing range of between 1,200 up to maximum of 1,500 metres.
Its muzzle velocity has been further reduced to only 910 m/s however, and is restricted to feeding from 100-round belt boxes only (unlike in ArmA 2). Depending on the faction, M2s now feature a reflex sight that can assist with aiming at distant targets.
Compared to the newer Mk30 HMG employed by the main factions, the M2 is still largely inferior due its lack of an integrated FCS. As well as having higher dispersion against targets beyond ~ 800 metres, the M2 is always limited to 100-round belt boxes as opposed to the Mk30's 200 or 500-round "magazines".
Its saving graces are the gunshield, which provides the gunner with better protection at the cost of some visibility, as well as its higher base rate of fire. Nonetheless, even these advantages are offset by its lack of magnified optics and decreased accuracy at long ranges.
Ammunition
Base damage value | Aerodynamic friction | Initial velocity (m/s) | Penetration depth (mm) |
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30 | -0.00086 | 910 | 35.49 |
There are a total of four belts that static M2s can feed from, though most vehicles armed with the M2 only use either the red or yellow tracer belts:
100Rnd
Standard 100-round belt box.
It is available in four tracer colour varieties; white, red, green and yellow which are faction-specific. The fourth round fired will always consist of a coloured tracer. However, there are no dedicated belts that are fully loaded with tracers.
Trivia
- Both the static and vehicle-mounted M2 turrets are original models made specifically for ArmA 3.
- On ArmA 3's initial release however, the vehicle-mounted M2s were simply updated ports of the ArmA 2 M2HB (they use the exact same textures as their previous iteration).
- The reflex sight featured on LDF/AAF M2s is based on the real-world "DCL-120" designed by DI Optical.
- Although listed as Apex content, the M2 is included as part of the free platform update for the Old Man mini-campaign/scenario and can be used without any restrictions for both DLC and non-DLC owners.
- Though it isn't directly referred to as such, the RCWS fitted on the Rhino MGS UP is modelled after the M2 instead of newer Mk30s for unknown reasons (unlike on other NATO vehicles).
- Prior to the Old Man update, ArmA 3 was the first game in the series to not feature the M2 as a static turret.
- There are hidden variants of the M2 for both Mediterranean NATO and CSAT forces hidden within the game files for both raised/lowered tripods.
Gallery
ARMA Reforger
M2HB - Tripod | |
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Faction | ![]() |
Type | Heavy Machine Gun |
Calibre | .50 BMG |
Magazine capacity |
100 |
Dispersion | TBA |
Variants | None |
Games |
The M2HB - Tripod is used exclusively by U.S. military forces in ARMA Reforger.
Overview
TBA
Ammunition
TBA
Trivia
TBA
Gallery
TBA
External links
See also
Static weapons of comparable role and configuration
- KORD (Modern Russian Armed Forces/Takistani Army counterpart, ArmA 2 only)
- L111A1 (British Army counterpart, ArmA 2: BAF only)
- DShKM (Outdated CDF/ChDKZ/NAPA/Takistani Militia counterpart, ArmA 2 only)
- Mk30 (NATO/CSAT/AAF counterpart, ArmA 3 only)
Weapons of ArmA: Cold War Assault | |
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Handguns | 92F 9 mm • CZ-75 9 mm • Glock 17 9 mm • S&W .357 • Tokarev TT-33 7.62 mm |
Submachine guns | Ingram .45 • MP5SD3 9 mm • PP-19 Bizon 9 mm • Sa-61 Scorpion 7.65 mm • UZI 9 mm |
Shotguns | Kozlice |
Carbines | AK-74 SU 5.45 mm • XM-177E2 5.56 mm (XM-177S) |
Assault rifles | AK-47 7.62 mm (AK-47 GL, AK-47 CZ) • AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 GL) • AUG A1 5.56 mm • FN-FAL 7.62 mm • G3A4 7.62 mm • G36 5.56 mm • M16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 GL) |
Sniper rifles | Hunting Rifle 7.62 mm • M21 7.62 mm • SVD 7.62 mm |
Machine guns | M60 7.62 mm • PK 7.62 mm |
Grenade launchers | 6G30 • MM-1 |
Launchers | 9K32 Strela-2 • AT-4 Spigot • Carl Gustav M2 • FIM-92 Stinger • M72 LAW • RPG-75NH |
Static | M2 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
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Handguns | 92F 9 mm • Glock 17 9 mm • S&W .357 |
Submachine guns | MP5SD3 9 mm • UZI 9 mm |
Carbines | XM-177E2 5.56 mm (XM-177S) |
Assault rifles | AUG A1 5.56 mm • M16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 GL) |
Sniper rifles | M21 7.62 mm |
Machineguns | M60 7.62 mm |
Grenade launchers | MM-1 |
Launchers | Carl Gustav M2 • FIM-92 Stinger • M72 LAW |
Static | M2 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
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Handguns | Tokarev TT-33 7.62 mm |
Submachine guns | PP-19 Bizon 9 mm • Sa-61 Scorpion 7.65 mm |
Carbines | AK-74 SU 5.45 mm |
Assault rifles | AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 GL) |
Sniper rifles | SVD 7.62 mm |
Machineguns | PK 7.62 mm |
Grenade launchers | 6G30 |
Launchers | 9K32 Strela-2 • AT-4 Spigot • RPG-75NH |
Static | M2 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
Weapons of ArmA: Armed Assault | |
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Handguns | M9 9 mm • Makarov 9 mm |
Submachine guns | MP5A5 9 mm |
Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm • M4A1 5.56 mm (M4A1 GL, M4, M4 GL) |
Assault rifles | AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 + GP-25, AKS-74 PSO) • G36 series (G36, G36C, G36K) • M16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 + M203) • M16A4 5.56 mm (M16A4 M203) |
Designated marksman rifles | Mk12 SPR 5.56 mm |
Sniper rifles | KSVK 12.7 mm • M107 .50 • M24 7.62 mm • SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | M249 SAW 5.56 mm |
Machine guns | M240 7.62 mm • PKM 7.62 mm |
Grenade launchers | 6G30 |
Launchers | 9K32 Strela • FIM-92F Stinger • Javelin Launcher • M136 • RPG-7V |
Static | AGS-30 • D-30 • DShKM • M2 • M119A1 • Mk. 19 • Searchlight |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Queen's Gambit |
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Handguns | M9 9 mm |
Submachine guns | MP5A5 9 mm |
Carbines | G36 series (G36C, G36K) • M4A1 5.56 mm (M4A1 GL, M4, M4 GL) |
Assault rifles | G36 5.56 mm • M16A4 5.56 mm (M16A4 M203) |
Designated marksman rifles | Mk12 SPR 5.56 mm |
Sniper rifles | M107 .50 • M24 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | M249 SAW 5.56 mm |
Machineguns | M240 7.62 mm |
Launchers | FIM-92F Stinger • Javelin Launcher • M136 |
Static | M2 • M119A1 • Mk. 19 • Searchlight |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
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Handguns | M1911 .45 • M9 9 mm |
Submachine guns | MP5 9 mm |
Shotguns | M1014 |
Carbines | M4A1 5.56 mm (M4A1 M203) |
Assault rifles | M16A4 5.56 mm (M16A4 M203) |
Designated marksman rifles | DMR 7.62 mm • Mk12 SPR 5.56 mm |
Sniper rifles | M107 .50 • M24 7.62 mm (M40A3) |
Squad automatic weapons | M249 SAW 5.56 mm |
Machineguns | Mk 48 Mod 0 7.62 mm • M240 7.62 mm |
Launchers | FGM-148 Javelin • FIM-92F Stinger • M136 • SMAW |
Static | M2 • M252 • Mk19 • M119A1 • Searchlight • Stinger • TOW |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
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Handguns | G17 9 mm • M1911 .45 • M9 9 mm |
Submachine guns | PDW 9 mm |
Shotguns | M1014 |
Carbines | Mk16 CQC 5.56 mm |
Assault rifles | SCAR series (Mk16, Mk16 EGLM, Mk17, Mk17 EGLM) |
Designated marksman rifles | M14 7.62 mm • Mk17 Sniper 7.62 mm |
Sniper rifles | M107 .50 • M110 7.62 mm • M24 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | M249 SAW 5.56 mm |
Machineguns | Mk 48 Mod 0 7.62 mm • M240 7.62 mm |
Grenade launchers | M32 • Mk13 |
Launchers | FGM-148 Javelin • FIM-92F Stinger • M136 • MAAWS |
Static | M2 • M252 • Mk19 • M119A1 • Searchlight • Stinger • TOW |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Operation Arrowhead |
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Handguns | 4-five .45 |
Submachine guns | ADR-97 5.7 mm |
Assault rifles | Promet series (Promet, Promet GL, Promet SG) |
Designated marksman rifles | Promet MR 6.5 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | Mk200 6.5 mm |
Launchers | MAAWS Mk4 Mod 1 • PCML • Titan MPRL • Titan MPRL Compact |
Static | M2 • Mk6 Mortar • Mk30 • Mk32 • Static Titan Launcher (AA, AT) |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Apex DLC | Tanks DLC | Contact DLC |
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Handguns | ACP-C2 .45 |
Submachine guns | PDW2000 9 mm |
Carbines | Mk20C 5.56 mm |
Assault rifles | Mk20 5.56 mm (Mk20 EGLM) • SDAR 5.56 mm |
Designated marksman rifles | Mk18 ABR 7.62 mm |
Sniper rifles | GM6 Lynx 12.7 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | Mk200 6.5 mm |
Launchers | MAAWS Mk4 Mod 0 • PCML • RPG-42 • Titan MPRL • Titan MPRL Compact |
Static | M2 • Mk6 Mortar • Mk30 • Mk32 • Static Titan Launcher (AA, AT) |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Apex DLC | Tanks DLC |
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Handguns | ACP-C2 .45 |
Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm • Mk20C 5.56 mm • TRG-20 5.56 mm |
Assault rifles | AK-12 series (AK-12, AK-12 GL) • AKM 7.62 mm • Mk20 5.56 mm (Mk20 EGLM) • SPAR-16 series (SPAR-16, SPAR-16 GL) • TRG-21 5.56 mm (TRG-21 EGLM) |
Designated marksmen rifles | Mk14 7.62 mm • Mk18 ABR 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | LIM-85 5.56 mm • Mk200 6.5 mm |
Launchers | RPG-7 • RPG-42 |
Static | M2 • Mk6 Mortar |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Marksmen DLC | Apex DLC |
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Handguns | ACP-C2 .45 |
Carbines | TRG-20 5.56 mm |
Assault rifles | Mk20 5.56 mm • TRG-21 5.56 mm (TRG-21 EGLM) |
Designated marksmen rifles | Mk14 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | Mk200 6.5 mm |
Launchers | MAAWS Mk4 Mod 0 • RPG-42 |
Static | M2 • Mk6 Mortar |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Marksmen DLC | Apex DLC | Tanks DLC |
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Handguns | P07 9 mm |
Submachine guns | ADR-97 TR* (ADR-97C TR*) • Protector 9 mm |
Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm* • Katiba Carbine 6.5 mm* |
Assault rifles | AKM 7.62 mm* • Katiba 6.5 mm* • Promet series* (Promet*, Promet SG*) • SPAR-16 5.56 mm* |
Squad automatic weapons | LIM-85 5.56 mm* |
Launchers | RPG-7* |
Static | M2* |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. * denotes post-Apex Protocol weapons. Apex DLC | Contact DLC |
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Handguns | PM 9 mm |
Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm |
Assault rifles | AK-12 series (AK-12, AK-12 GL) • AKM 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | LIM-85 5.56 mm |
Launchers | RPG-7 |
Static | M2 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Apex DLC |
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Handguns | PM 9 mm |
Submachine guns | Sting 9 mm • PDW2000 9 mm • Protector 9 mm |
Shotguns | Kozlice |
Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm • AKU-12 7.62 mm |
Assault rifles | AK-12 series (AK-12, AK-12 GL) • AKM 7.62 mm • SPAR-16 series (SPAR-16, SPAR-16 GL) |
Designated marksmen rifles | Mk14 Classic 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | LIM-85 5.56 mm • RPK-12 7.62 mm |
Launchers | RPG-7 • RPG-42 |
Static | M2 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Apex DLC | Contact DLC |
Weapons of ARMA Reforger | |
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Handguns | M9 9 mm • PM 9 mm |
Assault rifles | AK-74 5.45 mm • M16A2 5.56 mm |
Sniper rifles | M21 SWS 7.62 mm • SVD 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | M249 SAW 5.56 mm • RPK-74 5.45 mm |
Machine guns | M60 7.62 mm • PKM 7.62 mm |
Launchers | M72A3 LAW • RPG-7V1 |
Static | M2HB - Tripod • M60 - Tripod • PKM - Tripod |
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Handguns | M9 9 mm |
Assault rifles | M16A2 5.56 mm |
Sniper rifles | M21 SWS 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | M249 SAW 5.56 mm |
Machineguns | M60 7.62 mm |
Launchers | M72A3 LAW |
Static | M2HB - Tripod • M60 - Tripod |