M2 Carbine

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	Weapon: M2 Carbine Type: Carbine Country of Origin: United States Year Adopted: 1944 Caliber: .30 Carbine Action: Select Fire Overall Length (mm): 905.0 Overall Length (in): 35.63 Weight (kg): 4.00 Weight (pounds): 8.82 Effective Range (m): 200 m Effective Range (yards): 218.72

The M2 Carbine is a selective-fire variant of the widely used M1 Carbine, designed to provide U.S. troops with a lightweight, automatic weapon during World War II. Introduced in 1944, the M2 featured a simple selector switch allowing soldiers to toggle between semi-automatic and fully automatic fire. It retained the compact, gas-operated, rotating bolt mechanism of the M1 but incorporated an improved fire control group to enable automatic fire. The rifle was chambered in .30 Carbine, a cartridge offering manageable recoil, making it suitable for close-quarters combat.

Production of the M2 Carbine began in the final stages of World War II, with roughly 600,000 units manufactured by the end of the war. Despite its late introduction, the M2 saw limited combat use during World War II and became more prominent during the Korean War and later in the early stages of the Vietnam War. Its compact size and high rate of fire made it popular among paratroopers, vehicle crews, and officers. However, some users criticized its stopping power at longer ranges and susceptibility to jamming under extreme conditions.

The M2 Carbine is remembered for its versatility and role as an intermediate solution between submachine guns and full-power battle rifles. While it was eventually replaced by more modern designs like the M16, the M2 left a lasting impression as one of the first practical automatic carbines. Today, it is highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts, both for its historical significance and as an example of mid-20th-century firearms innovation. Its influence can be seen in the evolution of lightweight automatic rifles for modern infantry use.