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C5 General Purpose Machine Gun The M1919 Browning .30 calibre machine gun was widely used during the Second World War by US forces as both a vehicle mounted weapon, and as an infantry weapon in both medium and later light machine gun configuration (the former by fitting the weapon to a tripod, the latter by fitting a bipod and butt-stock). The weapon was also used by Canadian units, as a bow and co-axial weapon on US built light and medium tanks, as well as some Commonwealth tanks and armoured cars. Canada adopted the Browning M1919A4, re-chambered 7.62mm NATO ammunition, and designated it the C1 for fixed applications and C1A1 for flexible applications. Product improvements to the gun saw them redesignated C5 and C5A1 respectively. The weapon was used by Canadian infantry after the phasing out of the Bren Gun. A large ring was placed on the cocking lever on the right hand side for ease of use. Canada did not attempt to use the weapon as a light machine gun as the Americans had in the Second World War (critics suggest the adoption of the weapon as an LMG was not a successful one). Instead, in the infantry role, it was adopted as a "General Purpose Machine Gun", most often used in a medium role by the use of a light tripod. The gun was also commonly used on Lynx armoured reconnaissance vehicles, as well as the M113A1 APC, M38A1 Jeeps, and Iltis 4 x 4 cars by armoured reconnaissance units.
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