.50-caliber heavy machine gun

Essentially a giant steel box with a long barrel peering from one end and dual spade grips mounted upon the other, this venerable machine gun design served the United States military since the First World War, mounted on everything from tanks to patrol boats to aircraft, and even tripod-mounted for stand-alone use. Part and parcel with its size and munition payload of .50-caliber ammo belts, however, is the fact that, to operate it, one must mount it upon suitable furniture, terrain features, or vehicles.