Talk:Gatling gun

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The following link doesn't currently work: http://www-acala1.ria.army.mil/lc/cs/csa/aagatlin.htm (moved from article) - snoyes 16:43, 20 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Add diagrams

It would be very great to have diagrams and schematics of gatling gun's design and how it worked. I'm referring to the 3rd and 4th paragraphs.

broken runeberg.org link

This link gives 500 Internal Server Error, it was in the image Gatling.gif caption: http://runeberg.org/nfai/0122.htm --Kenyon 00:50, May 15, 2005 (UTC)

Why multiple barrels?

An explanation of the advantages of multiple rotating barrels as opposed to a single barrel would be nice...

They use multiple barrels so they can fire more bullets faster if you didn't the barrel would melt. other ways to solve melting is to have a backup barrel or a water jacket like on the Maxim Machine gun Dudtz 8/25/05 5:54 PM EST

If I recall correctly...high overall RPM, low per-barrel RPM and good overheating tolerance.

High overall RPM: This is rather obvious, rotary guns are usually almost never run at their maximum RPMs, but even at their nominal firing rates they will still outshoot any machine guns. For instance, the M134 (Which can go up to 6000RPM) at a nominal 3000RPM will still greatly outpace the MG-3 heavy machine gun which can only operate at 1200RPM, despite both using the same round (7.62x51 NATO).

Low per-barrel RPM: I will use the prior example. The M134 has 6 barrels, and since its firing at 3000RPM, that means each barrel effectively operates at 500RPM. On a per-barrel basis, this makes an individual M134 barrel handle a lot less rounds than the MG-3's barrel (500 versus 1200). This directly translates into the next advantage.

Good overheating tolerance: Note the low per-barrel RPM as mentioned prior. Now, it is obvious that the faster you run rounds through a barrel, the faster it overheats. A rotary gun will actually take longer to overheat than a traditional MG since its per-barrel RPM is lower. You can actually run a rotary gun for a longer period of time than a MG of the same caliber, even with a vastly-superior overall rate of fire. You might even infer that this also translates into less wear-and-tear on the barrel and subsequently give it a longer lifespan.

Any further queries? CABAL 05:54, 8 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Internal disagreement

When was the Gatling gun patented? 1865, as said in the lead, or 1861, as claimed in the history section? -- Jonel | Speak 03:25, 5 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Gatling Guns are NOT Machine Guns

Just wanted to point this fallacy out.

The Machine gun article considers them manual machine guns. --Gbleem 02:08, 12 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Modern Gatling Guns

Another fallacy to be pointed out is that modern "gatling" guns typified by the Vulcan are not gatling guns at all, the only common feature they share is a number of rotating barrels. The firing mechanism is entirely different, and it is bad form to refer to them in wikipedia as anything else than "gatling type" or "gatling style" weapons. Emoscopes 15:25, 20 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Delete

I deleted "If the gun had been used more frequently and earlier in the war, the war may have ended far more rapidly." This is speculation, even if true. --squadfifteen, 23/11/05

Caliber?

The caliber mentioned needs to be clarified. Was it a .78 Richie using 79 grains of black powder, as implied? --squadfifteen, 23/11/05

Tactics

It would be of interest to have a mention of the tactical use of Gatling guns. I've read they were employed like artillery pieces (contrary to film & TV depictions of them like the MGs in "Rat Patrol"...) --squadfifteen, 23/11/05

In Operation Just Cause my squad from B btry. 2/62 ADA used our Vulcan to sink a PT boat that was speeding up the Panama Canal. L0b0t 12:25, 4 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Indian Wars

The author has unfortunatly given ZERO attention to the Gatling Gun's first major deployment in combat with its usage against the Dakota Empire, Arapaho Nation, Cheyenne Nation and scores of others during that genocidal period in the USA's history known as the Indian Wars. Anybody want to cover the gun's devastating effect against those countries?

Dentist

I dont think this guy was a dentist. It dosent say anything about him being a dentist in his article Richard Jordan Gatling —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.41.31.140 (talk • contribs) .

You are quite right. I will remove that. Megapixie 02:12, 23 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Ah, it would appear that he studied medicine and dentistry, but never actually practiced. Removing the comment is best. Megapixie 02:18, 23 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Was Gatling naive?

According to a documentary I just watched ("Weapons of War::Machine Guns" - I *think* it was channel 5 (UK)) Gatling's motivation behind inventing it was to Save Lives by reducing the number of men on the battlefield - and thus reducing the number of injuries.

Obviously, this was not quite what happened...

Questions:

Is it true?
If so, is it worth mentioning here?