Coffee Mill Guns

[Old Soldier]

No, they were used by whatever unit is detailed to use them, even if there was a tendency towards using them in a similar manner to artillery.

Doesn't really matter as only 55 or so were made - hardly a war-winning item. And they cost $1,300 apiece! In 1865, the few remaining Agar machine guns were sold for $500 each.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Or would it be like asking what the "F" stands for in a military acronym?

Hah !

Probably so ...

 

[gary]

Nobody bothered to write a manual for how to employ the weapon. So commanders were left to deduce that it had a barrel and wheels so you must have to use it like an artillery piece. If somebody had developed tactics for offensive and defensive actions during that early period, the gun truly could have been revolutionary.

The French did the same with their multi-barrel mitrailleuse. Having a weapon and knowing how to best use it are two different things.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Doesn't really matter as only 55 or so were made - hardly a war-winning item. And they cost $1,300 apiece! In 1865, the few remaining Agar machine guns were sold for $500 each.

But had they been used thoughtfully, more than 55 might have been purchased and employed. "Ready, Fire, Aim" is not really best practice in weapons procurement.

 

[Joe Whitworth]

My first thought is that thing is going to get seriously hot and fast, fan or not. YMMV

 

[Old Soldier]

But had they been used thoughtfully, more than 55 might have been purchased and employed. "Ready, Fire, Aim" is not really best practice in weapons procurement.

I suspect it was not only the cost of equipment - and ammunition - but also that deep thought of 'How are we going to use this?' The Gatling gun was available, but hardly used in battle. These weapons were seen as fixed 'point protection' great for bridges, restricted roads anywhere where a narrow field of fire was needed. That was not a feature of most battlefields at the time.

 

[Old Soldier]

My first thought is that thing is going to get seriously hot and fast, fan or not. YMMV

The introduction of breechloaders also caused some concern as putting 15-20 rounds a minute down the barrel caused the barrel to heat up too, making the old open top stock a serious injury problem. The Martini-Henry was particularly susceptible to this hence the 'new' Lee-Metford (and the converted Martinis) having a wooden cover over the top below the backsight.