CODE – 04-132-954
NAME – M37
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA
DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1954
CALIBER – 7.62x63mm (30-06
OVERALL LENGTH – 105.7 cm (41.6 in) without flash hider, 125.2 cm (49.3 in) with flash hider
BARREL LENGTH – 61 cm (24 in)
RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 4 Grooves, Right-hand twist, 1 turn in 24.5 cm (10 in)
LOAD – Full jacketed Pointed Spitzer
BULLET DIAMETER – 7.82 mm (0.308 in)
BULLET WEIGHT – 9.85 g (152 grains)
MUZZLE VELOCITY – 855 m/s (2805 fps)
MUZZLE ENERGY – 3601 j (2656 m/s)
WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 14.06 kg (31 lb) without flash hider, 14.83 kg (32 lb 11 oz) with flash hider
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 17.07 kg (37 lb 10 oz) loaded with 100 rds M2 ball in M1 links, without flash hider
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 17.84 kg (39 lb 5 oz) loaded with 100 rds M2 ball in M1 links, with flash hider
TYPE OF MOUNT – Armored vehicle
WEIGHT OF SPARE BARREL – 3.40 kg (7 lb 8 oz)
SIGHTS – Open, iron, adjustable, Front sight – Folding blade, Rear sight – Ladder-type with aperture, (200 to 2,400 yards in 200 yard increments), 91 m (100 yard) aperture battle sight, adjustable for windage
EFFECTIVE RANGE – 1006 m (1100 yards)
OPERATION – Recoil with gas booster, fires from closed bolt
TYPE OF FIRE – Full automatic
RATE OF FIRE – 120 rpm
CYCLIC ROF – 575-700 rpm
FEED DEVICE – M1 disintegrating metallic link belt
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 0.44 kg (15.5 oz) per 100 M1 links
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 3.01 kg (6 lb 10 oz) 100 rds M2 Ball in M1 link belt
BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – 6,000 rounds (onboard M48 battle tank)
LOAD WEIGHT – 180.6 kg (398 lb)
MANUFACTURER – Saco-Lowell Company, Biddleford, Main
STATUS – Obsolescent
SERVICE – US Army
This is a Browning M1919 design modified to serve on board an armored vehicle, particularly main battle tanks. The weapon can be set to load from either the right or left side in order to fit a wide variety of locations. The trigger is either manual from the normal pistol grip, or electrical with a solenoid depending on the installation. The electrical triggering system is often used when the weapon is installed as the coaxial gun next to the main gun of a tank. To make the weapon easier to operate in the tight environment of a tank, the cocking lever is extended from the right side, out to behind the pistol grip. A feed chute for expended links is on the opposite side from the direction of loading. The chute guides the expended links down into a collection bag to prevent their scattering on the deck of the vehicle. In an emergency, the weapon can be removed from its installation and be used as a ground gun from a standard M2 tripod with pintle and traverse and elevation gear.
