3-043-739 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Gatling Gun, 1872. 'Last week a series of experiments was carried out at Woolwich with the English Gatling gun, the only mitrailleuse yet introduced into the service. It is the 0.45-inch Gatling mitrailleuse, which was manufactured at Elswick by Sir William Armstrong and Co. This weapon [has] been finally approved for service in our Army and Navy...the new "machine gun" has been tried at the proof butts, Plumstead-marshes, and at Shoeburyness. The firing on all occasions has given excellent results. The rapidity was very great, 5½ shots per second having been obtained. It has been decided to issue a certain proportion of the Gatling guns at present in course of manufacture for field service, the remainder to take the place of light field guns on board ship to clear an enemy's tops or resist boarders...Upon the summit of the gun is placed a "drum," containing 352 cartridges...These feed out through a slot in the bottom of the drum, falling successively into the carrier beneath. The carriage and timber are constructed in the lightest possible manner, the entire weight, including steel screens, being only 16 cwt...In the gun as shown in our Engraving the steel screen has been removed, but the stanchions which supported it have been left'. From "Illustrated London News", 1872.