How a Gatling Gun Works

Wikipedia: The Gatling gun is a rapid-firing multiple-barrel firearm invented in 1861 by Richard Jordan Gatling. It is an early machine gun and a forerunner of the modern electric motor-driven rotary cannon.

The Gatling gun's operation centered on a cyclic multi-barrel design which facilitated cooling and synchronized the firing-reloading sequence. As the hand wheel is cranked, the barrels rotate and each barrel sequentially loads a single cartridge from a top-mounted magazine, fires off the shot when it reaches a set position (usually at 4 o'clock), then ejects the spent casing out of the left side at the bottom, after which the barrel is empty and allowed to cool until rotated back to the top position and gravity-fed another new round. This configuration eliminated the need for a single reciprocating bolt design and allowed higher rates of fire to be achieved without the barrels overheating quickly.

One of the best-known early rapid-fire firearms, the Gatling gun saw occasional use by the Union forces during the American Civil War, which was the first time it was employed in combat. It was later used in numerous military conflicts, including the Boshin War, the Anglo-Zulu War and the assault on San Juan Hill during the Spanish–American War. It was also used by the Pennsylvania militia in episodes of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, specifically in Pittsburgh. Gatling guns were even mounted aboard ships.

Type Rapid-fire gun, hand cranked Machine gun
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1862–1911
Used by United States
Russian Empire
British Empire
France
Empire of Japan
Qing Empire
Siam Empire
Korean Empire
Chile
Peru
Tokugawa Shogunate
Wars American Civil War
Anglo-Zulu War
Indian Wars
Spanish–American War
Philippine–American War
Boxer Rebellion
War of the Pacific
Boshin War
Production history
Designer Richard Jordan Gatling
Designed 1861
Manufacturer Eagle Iron Works
Cooper Firearms Manufacturing Company
Colt Manufacturing Company
American Ordnance Company
Produced 1862-1903
Specifications
Mass 170 lb (77.2 kg)[1]
Length 42.5 in (1,079 mm)
Barrel length 26.5 in (673 mm)
Crew Four-man crew
Cartridge .30-40 Krag
.45-70 Government
.30-06 Springfield
.43 Spanish
11x60mm Mauser
Caliber .308 inches (7.8 mm)
Barrels 6–10
Action Crank handle
Rate of fire 200 rounds per minute in .58 caliber, 400-900 rounds per minute in .30 caliber