Britain wanted to equip aircraft with the Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun by buying direct from America, but since this was the main heavy caliber machine gun of the U.S. Army and its Air Corps none could be spared for export.
Thus Rolls-Royce commenced design of a heavy machine gun in early 1940, intended for use in aircraft.
[3] As well as the .50-inch versions, it was planned to modify the gas-operated gun to fire the more powerful .55-inch ammunition used in the Boys anti-tank rifle.
[4] All work on the Rolls-Royce machine guns was abandoned in 1942,[2] by which time supply of the M2 Browning from the U.S.A. had started.
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