This video by Forgotten Weapons, featuring Nick Moran (The Chieftain), explains why Germany and other Axis powers did not develop a .50 caliber machine gun similar to the American M2 during World War II. The primary reason was the strategic choice to prioritize larger caliber anti-aircraft cannons (20mm and 37mm) over heavy machine guns for this role. While some Axis powers, like Italy and Japan, adopted .50 caliber (or similar) guns like the Hotchkiss 1930, the US M2's widespread adoption was due to interwar development for coastal artillery and a subsequent decision to mass-produce it for various platforms. The video highlights the M2's versatility in American vehicles and contrasts the German and Soviet approaches to heavy machine gun development.
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