By: Brent M. Eastwood Meet the M2 Browning: It’s a great machine gun, but it’s very heavy. And the U.S. Special Operations Command is looking for something lighter.

Here’s What You Need to Know: Massive stopping power and a bullet-proof design keeps “Ma Deuce” in the fight. The venerable M2 Browning machine gun was first developed during World War I.

John Browning conceived of the .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun in 1918 toward the end of World War I, though it didn't enter service with the US military until closer to World War II.