The Original Gatling Gun
The original Gatling gun (as shown to the left) weighed 90 pounds and featured ten evenly spaced barrels surrounding a central shaft. The gun itself was somewhat similar to the Puckle gun, although its design was adopted from one of Richard Gatling's previous inventions. The gun used a Bruce feed system ( US patents 247, 158 and 343, 532) which would accept two rows of .45/70 round cartridges. The gun required four operators and could shoot anywhere between 400 and 1,200 rounds per minute. The gun was 43 inches long with 27 inch barrels.
Although it took a little while for the Gatling gun to grow onto armies and nations worldwide, there were multiple battles where the Gatling gun made all the difference in turning the tide of battle into one nation's favor. Some of these battles include the Siege of Petersburg (June 9, 1864 to March 25, 1865), the British bombardment of Alexandria, Egypt in 1882, the Battle of Juan Hill in the Spanish-American war, and the battle of Ulundi in 1879 (Anglo-Zulu War). In addition to this, the Gatling gun was also featured in the Battle of Tacna in the Peru-Chile War (May 1880). The Royal Navy of Britain also fixed Gatling guns onto their warships specifically to help aid in the boarding of enemy ships and to prevent the boarding of their own ship. However, by the mid 19th century, boarding ships were no longer practical and the gun was retired from warships.
In battle, the Gatling gun had been able to prove its worth, boasting its capability to slaughter enemies in combat and wreak havoc among all who stood in its path. As a result, the US Army officially adopted the Gatling gun on August 21st, 1866. The Gatling gun was declared obsolete by the US Army in 1911, after 45 years of service. It was shortly replaced by its more modern predecessors, the M61 Vulcan and and the M134.
Although it took a little while for the Gatling gun to grow onto armies and nations worldwide, there were multiple battles where the Gatling gun made all the difference in turning the tide of battle into one nation's favor. Some of these battles include the Siege of Petersburg (June 9, 1864 to March 25, 1865), the British bombardment of Alexandria, Egypt in 1882, the Battle of Juan Hill in the Spanish-American war, and the battle of Ulundi in 1879 (Anglo-Zulu War). In addition to this, the Gatling gun was also featured in the Battle of Tacna in the Peru-Chile War (May 1880). The Royal Navy of Britain also fixed Gatling guns onto their warships specifically to help aid in the boarding of enemy ships and to prevent the boarding of their own ship. However, by the mid 19th century, boarding ships were no longer practical and the gun was retired from warships.
In battle, the Gatling gun had been able to prove its worth, boasting its capability to slaughter enemies in combat and wreak havoc among all who stood in its path. As a result, the US Army officially adopted the Gatling gun on August 21st, 1866. The Gatling gun was declared obsolete by the US Army in 1911, after 45 years of service. It was shortly replaced by its more modern predecessors, the M61 Vulcan and and the M134.