The Story of the Gatling Gun

BlackBike · 08-24-2016, 03:52 PM

The improved Gatling gun's finest hour came during the Spanish-American War. During the Battle of San Juan Hill, Lieutenant John Parker's Gatling Gun detachment laid down suppressive fire on Spanish positions by firing over 18,000 rounds during the American attack, preventing the Spanish from firing down on the U.S. forces. The detachment turned back the Spanish counter-attacks, too, by decimating an attacking battalion of Spanish regulars. This success helped to prove to the U.S. Army that machine guns could be used offensively as well as defensively, with President Theodore Roosevelt himself praising Parker's "invaluable work on the field of battle, as much in attack as in defense."

http://www.popularmechanics.com/mili...nl&date=082416

Thought i would put this up. Pretty good short article.

FastDoc · 08-25-2016, 12:19 PM

Interesting read, thank you!

Thw SA war US efforts were also hampered by the inferiority of the .30-40 Krag-Jorgeson vs. the Spanish Mauser. The Mauser was clip loaded, and easier and faster to reload. The KJ with it's side mounted magazine was easier to top off, but more clumsy and subject to dirt intrusion.

The Krag was soon dropped in favor of the 1903 Springfield, a direct (patent infringing) copy of the Mauser design. Lawsuits over this patent may have contributed to US entry into WWI

wheelbender6 · 08-27-2016, 07:31 PM

Thanks for the article. My knowledge of the Gatling gun was limited the John Wayne movie, "War Wagon". Love that huge smoke cloud associated with the black powder cartridges.

FastDoc · 08-27-2016, 07:39 PM

Big black powder fan here. I love the smoke and the smell. The cleanup not so much.

Gotta look for that Jihn Wayne movie. I like The Duke.

08-24-2016, 03:52 PM	#1
BlackBike Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: George West, Texas Posts: 4,097	The Story of the Gatling Gun The improved Gatling gun's finest hour came during the Spanish-American War. During the Battle of San Juan Hill, Lieutenant John Parker's Gatling Gun detachment laid down suppressive fire on Spanish positions by firing over 18,000 rounds during the American attack, preventing the Spanish from firing down on the U.S. forces. The detachment turned back the Spanish counter-attacks, too, by decimating an attacking battalion of Spanish regulars. This success helped to prove to the U.S. Army that machine guns could be used offensively as well as defensively, with President Theodore Roosevelt himself praising Parker's "invaluable work on the field of battle, as much in attack as in defense." http://www.popularmechanics.com/mili...nl&date=082416 Thought i would put this up. Pretty good short article. __________________ ***************************************** 2015 Bashan"Blaze" BS250GY-31 (DB-07K-250) GONE 2017 Suzuki V Strom 650 XT "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~Benjamin Franklin~
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08-25-2016, 12:19 PM	#2
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Interesting read, thank you! Thw SA war US efforts were also hampered by the inferiority of the .30-40 Krag-Jorgeson vs. the Spanish Mauser. The Mauser was clip loaded, and easier and faster to reload. The KJ with it's side mounted magazine was easier to top off, but more clumsy and subject to dirt intrusion. The Krag was soon dropped in favor of the 1903 Springfield, a direct (patent infringing) copy of the Mauser design. Lawsuits over this patent may have contributed to US entry into WWI __________________ Happy to serve.
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08-27-2016, 07:31 PM	#3
wheelbender6 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,902	Thanks for the article. My knowledge of the Gatling gun was limited the John Wayne movie, "War Wagon". Love that huge smoke cloud associated with the black powder cartridges. __________________ "Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride"
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08-27-2016, 07:39 PM	#4
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Big black powder fan here. I love the smoke and the smell. The cleanup not so much. Gotta look for that Jihn Wayne movie. I like The Duke. __________________ Happy to serve.
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