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| | Gatling gun in the zulu war: | |
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+11ADMIN 24th Neil Aspinshaw JohnB littlehand John Chelmsfordthescapegoat Mr Greaves 1879graves 90th old historian2 15 posters | Author | Message |
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Frank Allewell
Posts : 8572 Join date : 2009-09-21 Age : 77 Location : Cape Town South Africa
| Subject: Re: Gatling gun in the zulu war: Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:42 am | |
| Neil Well done, I assume the Martini neil monica doesnt refer to your choice of tipple? :lol!: |
| | | 24th
Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25
| Subject: Re: Gatling gun in the zulu war: Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:25 am | |
| How long would it take to refill a Gatling gun canister. Or did they come as a fixed unit only to be used once.
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| | | Neil Aspinshaw
Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough
| Subject: Re: Gatling gun in the zulu war: Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:47 am | |
| The drum holds 240 rounds, It is turned upside down and a rotating dial slot allows access to each chamber. It is filled bullet noses in into each magazine slot, each slot holding 15 rounds which are fed in by hand individually, once full the dial is turned opening the next magazine slot. Once full the dial is turned to a blank position.The process takes about 3-4 minutes. The drum is rotated and carried to the gun with a brass handle on the top.
The drum is seated on an access pin above the chamber, and the slot is centralised above the breech opening. The dial is turned and the bullets drop by gravity into each breech as it rotates, a small handle allows the bombardier to assist the feed by pushing down (not too much or it jams) on the handle. Once the mag slot is empty, the bombardier turns the drum to the next ratchet position and the process begins again.
The action is very simple, the bullet falls into the chamber, a block drives forward and rams it into the breech, in the same movement a claw grips the bullet rim, next turn the firing pin rams forward and fires the case, next turn the block pulls back and the claw pulls laterally on the case rim and is ejected, the barrel then turns 300 degrees with an empty chamber ready for the next action. |
| | | John
Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 61 Location : UK
| Subject: Re: Gatling gun in the zulu war: Thu Jun 02, 2011 5:42 pm | |
| Neil. Big thanks for posting the film footage. Would loved to have been there. Better still to have cranked the handle. Looking at the guy cranking the handle, he looks quite uncomfortable in the sitting position, would it have been better to operate the gun from a standing position. Also there must be a nack to turning the handle to keep a consistent flow of fire. |
| | | Mr Greaves
Posts : 747 Join date : 2009-10-18
| Subject: Re: Gatling gun in the zulu war: Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:11 pm | |
| I didn't realise how much smoke these weapons caused. During the Battles in which these were used along with the rifle fire the visibility must have been minimal. Was the ammo used in this film identical to that used in the Zulu War. or was it made to give the smoke effect. |
| | | Neil Aspinshaw
Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough
| Subject: Re: Gatling gun in the zulu war: Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:24 am | |
| These were special kynock made No2 Musket crimped end , black powder blanks in No2 Musket, nominally the same as the Gatling round. The crimped end ensures level feed (jams still happen) and accurate feed into the chamber.
Smoke is just what you get. |
| | | John
Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 61 Location : UK
| Subject: A Zulu on Gatlings— Ulundi and Nodwengu — An unlucky warrior — Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:59 pm | |
| My camp was pitched within thirty yards of the site of the famous hollow square and about four hundred from that of Nodwengu, and the morning after arrival I started to explore the ruins of Ulundi, under the guidance of an old Zulu who had formerly been one of the head men of the Undakaombi kraal. At the bottom of the slope I dismounted to examine one or two of the skulls lying about among the grass, some being remarkably large and well developed ones. I drew my guide's attention to this, as he stood curiously watching me. The old man smiled rather mourn- fully and shook his head.
"Yes,' he said, ' we lost some fine men — numbers of them. What could we do against you English ? You stand still, and only by turning something round make the bodies of our warriors fly to pieces ; legs here, arms there, heads, everything. Whouw! — What can we do against that" ?
Source: Mitford, Bertram
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| | | 45govt
Posts : 21 Join date : 2011-10-04 Age : 66 Location : San Jose CA USA
| Subject: Re: Gatling gun in the zulu war: Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:48 am | |
| I have fired one of the later models with the mechanical drum magazine, US of course, much better feeding. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] |
| | | 90th
Posts : 10882 Join date : 2009-04-07 Age : 67 Location : Melbourne, Australia
| Subject: Gatling Gun in the zulu war Sat Oct 29, 2011 5:47 am | |
| Hi 45Govt. There would be many on here that would dearly love to have a go at that ! . Me , being one of them . . cheers 90th . Thanks for sharing the photo . |
| | | Dave
Posts : 1603 Join date : 2009-09-21
| Subject: Re: Gatling gun in the zulu war: Fri Jan 13, 2012 10:48 pm | |
| Was there ever an official report written regarding the Gatling Guns performance during the Zulu War. And was it just the Naval Brigade that manned these guns. |
| | | Guest Guest
| Subject: Re: Gatling gun in the zulu war: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:10 pm | |
| Dave,
I am not familiar with any official report on the Gatling in the Zulu War.
The Naval Brigade used the Gatling in action at the Battle of Inyezane and again at Gingindlovu.
The Army provided the Gatlings at Ulundi.
Petty Officer Tom |
| | | 90th
Posts : 10882 Join date : 2009-04-07 Age : 67 Location : Melbourne, Australia
| Subject: Gatling guns in zululand Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:28 pm | |
| Hi All. When the transport ship Clyde went down it did take 4 Gatling Guns with it . I wonder if these guns and ammo and whatever else went down with it were ever salvaged ?. cheers 90th. |
| | | Guest Guest
| Subject: Re: Gatling gun in the zulu war: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:55 am | |
| 90th,
Apr 5 1879 report from Captain Liddell of HMS Tamar to Captain Adeane, HMS Tenedos, Senior Officer at Simon’s Bay:
“After consultation with Staff Commander Rowe, of H.M.S. ‘Flora,’ Mr. John Danvers, Lloyd’s surveyor, etc., I was of the opinion that the ‘Clyde’ was totally lost; and as the anchorage is very exposed, and there is usually a very heavy surf running on the beach, no advantage would occur by attempting to salve the cargo by one of Her Majesty’s ships.”
Apr 6 1879 Letter “Reporting Loss of the Transport Clyde” from Captain Adeane to Commodore Richards, HMS Boadicea, Natal:
“In a consultation with Captain Liddell, Staff-Commander Rowe, and Mr. Danvers, Lloyd's agent, I came to the opinion that the "Clyde" was totally lost, but told Mr. Danvers that I would communicate further with the agents, Messrs. Searight and Co., Cape Town, about the cargo.”
I don’t know if the Gatlings were ever salvaged, or not; but I would be certain that the ammunition was a total loss due to the sea water.
Petty Officer Tom
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| | | Guest Guest
| Subject: Re: Gatling gun in the zulu war: Sat Jan 14, 2012 6:56 am | |
| Hello gunners
"The drum Holds 240 rounds, It Is Turned upside down and a rotating dial slot Allow Access To Each chamber. It Is filled in bullet noses Into EACH magazine slot, slot holding 15 rounds EACH Which are fed in by hand Individually, the full oz iS Turned the dial opening next magazine slot. Once the full dial iS Turned to a blank position.The process Takes about 3-4 minutes. "
So if I understand it, in battle, the rate of fire is 240 rpm at maximun?
Cheers
Pascal |
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