Naval Brigade Gatling Guns

Hello everyone.

I'm trying to find out how the gatling guns of the naval brigade (specifically HMS Shah) were transported during the war.  i.e, were they packed on mules? Limbered? Or carried in wagons?
I've searched google but had no luck.
Does anyone here know?

Thanks
FH

FH

In June 1879 General Crealock’s Column, which included the Naval Brigade, was proceeding along the coast to Port Durnford.  In addition to its field guns and rockets, the navy had five Gatling guns that were mounted on carriages that were drawn by mules or oxen, with 1,400 rounds carried on each Gatling’s limber.  Each Gatling was accompanied by a cart to carry an additional 9,000 rounds of ammunition.  

Tom

Hi POT,
I seem to remember that that the Naval Gatlings were of a larger calibre than those used by the Army.
Can you confirm that and which came from which ships for deployment into Zululand.

regards,

barry

That's great info thanks POT, much appreciated.
FH

barry,

Originally the Royal Navy was issued the .65 caliber Gatling for use aboard ship, and for coastal defense, while the .45 Caliber Gatling was designed for use by the Army.  The Navy was also issued the .45 caliber guns, and it is these that I believe that were used by the Naval Brigade.  Photographs, and the less reliable illustrations, show a magazine drum of the type designed for the.45 caliber.  Ammunition drums for the .65 caliber that I have seen have two handles for carrying, while the .45 has one handle, which would indicate the .65 caliber was much heavier.  All the photographs and illustrations show the drums on the navy’s Gatlings to have one handle.
 
There was one Gatling brought ashore from each of the ships “Active,” “Tenedos,” “Shah,” and “Boadicea” when their contingents to the Naval Brigade came ashore.  A fifth one was later brought ashore. I don’t know from which ship, but it was probably from HMS Shah.

The Gatling from “Active” was in action at the Battle of Inyezane under the command of Midshipman Coker; and afterwards was part of the defense of Eshowe.  Before the Eshowe Relief column set out the Gatling from “Shah” was taken from the Lower Tugela up to a forward position at the St. Andrews Mission Station to assist in the defense.  The Gatlings from HMS Shah and HMS Boadicea were used at the Battle of Gingindlovo (“Shah’s” in the South East corner of the laager, and “Boadicea’s in the North East corner.)  The following day one of the Gatlings accompanied Lord Chelmsford on to Eshowe, while the other remained at the Gingindlovo laager. The Gatling from “Tenedos” remained at Fort Tenedos for defense there.  On the march to Port Durnford, one of the Gatlings, and a party of sailors, was left at the newly built Fort Napoleon, on the Umlalazi River, as part of the defence.  After arriving at Port Durnford, a reconnaissance left for the Norweigian Mission Station at Empangeni, accompanied by 50 men of the Naval Brigade with one Gatling and one field gun.

Petty Officer Tom

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Source VWF

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Officers and men of HMS Shah and H.M.S. Boadicea, Fort Tenedos, Zululand, 1879 with Gatling--Lt. Carr standing second from left; Petty Officer 1st Class H. Ransome seated behind Gatling; Lt. Drummond standing third from left; Midshipman Hewett seated in front of Gatling left; Surgeon Vasey standing fourth from left; Lt. Hobkirk standing seventh from left; Surgeon Connell standing eighth from left; Ordinary Seaman R. Goodall standing ninth from left

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Thanks to all who posted photographs of the Gatling guns.  The photo posted by Isandula of Major Owens Gatling shows an Army Gatling of the .45 caliber.  Note that the ammunition drum is of the same size as on the Navy Gatlings.  The Army Gatlings had two boxes mounted on the axle, on either side of the Gatling.  Navy Gatlings do not have these boxes.

Petty Officer Tom

Just to illustrate the development of the Gatling.. this from Hozier's
Franco Prussian War vol 1.

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Hi Pot,
Thanks for the response and thanks too for all those who sent pictures.
Checking the earlier specifications I see the initial rate of fire was only 200rpm on the hand cranked version. This was was soon upped to 400rpm and later, with developmemtal changes  to 1000+rpm.
The Gatlings came in calibres from ,45 initially to 47-70  then ,6, .30 in America 30-06 and .303 in Britain and America .
The basic design was later improved and was that used in that super gun fitted ton the US Air Force  A10  Warthog which fires depleted uranium shells in 30mm calibre, the ultimate in tank killers , as Saddam Hussain found out.  Many armed helcopters carry chain guns of lighter calibres, all thanks  today to Gatling' s design.
I see too that the early carriages differed somewhat  as some were all wooden, others all steel, and some composites too .

regards

barry

Hi Barry
I hope you are well ? , can you please tell me the weather has improved across KZN ? and will be ok from the 30 th onwards !
90th

Hi  Gary,
All well here thanks.
The last cyclone, named Enawo which was rampaging last week , passed straight down the spine  of Madagascar and out to sea off the islands southern tip , passing Durban when about 1400 kms out to sea, then typically dissipating a little further south in the southern ocean.
When passing Durban however, the peripheral weather caused storm surges in the ocean, lightly flooding Durban's beachfront temporarily.
To answer your question the synoptics are not showing any further cyclonic development in the traditional breeding  ground, ie 1500kms east of Mauritius. So being this late in the season now I dont think there will be any more cyclonic weather to deal with, ie Enawo was probably the last for the season.
The weather here at the moment is very temperate, with well spaced isobars, ie no pressure gradients and pleasant sunshine with 4/8 Cu nim about, which could bring occasional localised showers. Nothing too drastic however.
All the dams are full and there is a lot of ground water about
So, in short, leave your wellies at home but be prepared for cooler evenings. Have a very pleasant trip.

regards

barry

Thanks Barry much appreciated .
90th