Gatien-Arnould, ADOLPHE

FELIX, 1800-1886 French Gatling Gun in action. barrel comes to its proper position, the projectile discharged, the empty cartridge case removed and a new cartridge inserted in succe ion as the barrel is rotated. All the operations are automatic, being controlled by the motion communicated to the shaft by the hand crank. An automatic lateral motion can also be given to the gun, so as to cause its plane of fire to coincide with a desired sector. Its special use is for the defense of defiles, ditches, or the covering of a definite direction against an enemy approaching in ma or in line. It cannot withstand light artillery. It has been adopted into most military and naval services.