Landships II

Long Tom · Brigadier

The Machine Gun

CharlieC · Legend

No - the Maxim gun was in service with the British Army from 1889 onwards. It was used in the 1896 campaign against the Matabele

in Africa and in the Boer War. I think the air cooled Colt MG was also used in the Boer War.

Does the 1 Pounder (37mm) Pom Pom count as an MG? That saw extensive service on both sides in the Boer War.

Regards,

Charlie

Pzkpfw-e · Commander in Chief

The Maxim was first used in the 1886-90 Emin Pasha Relief Expidition, a prototype was donated by Hiram Maxim.
Does the Nordenfeldt count as a Gatling-type?

Rob · Legend

"Whatever happens
we have got
the Maxim Gun
and they have not!"

PDA · Legend

Long Tom wrote:
Do I correctly assume that World War One was the first war to use the machine gun in battle? Excluding Gatling-type guns, that is.

I'm pretty sure it was also used in the Russo-Japanese War 1905. And I'd be surprised if it was not used in the Italo-Turk War 1912 or the 1st and 2nd Balkan Wars 1913.

Pat · Commander in Chief

Machine guns were also used in the war known as the Boxer Rebellion 1900/01 in China. Regards, Pat

Morgoth · Major

Long Tom wrote:
Do I correctly assume that World War One was the first war to use the machine gun in battle? Excluding Gatling-type guns, that is.

Russo-Japanese war featured use of machine guns on both sides. The murderous effects of the machine gun and rifle fire were known from reports from that war but for some reason forgotten.

Tonys · Field Marshal

Both the Army and Naval versions of the Gatling machine gun were used during the Zulu war - 1879. Problems arose because the bore of the two types were different, thus causing jams when the wrong ammo was used.

Tony

Gatlings
	Army	Naval and Coastal services
Calibre:	,45 in (1,14 cm)	,65 in (1,65 cm)
Number of barrels:	10	10
Weight of gun complete:	8 cwt 6 qtr 6 lb (485 kg)	14 cwt 4 qtr 27 lb (775 kg)
Maximum range:	2400 yds (2215 m)
Effective range:	Up to 1200 yds (1108 m)
Rate of fire:	300 to 400 rounds per minute