THE GATLING GUN - WHAT A FORMIDABLE WEAPON OF ITS TIME

[Gil Boyd]

In July/August of 1861, Gatling developed the a multi barreled gun that was 2.21 feet long and weighed a total of 170 pounds.
The only variance with machine guns as we know them today, was the repetitive hand wound mechanism. The fire power it delivered was unprecedented for the time and IMHO changed a lot of what followed in the war.
The theory is clearly still revered today, with its use in the C130 during Vietnam and later conflicts.
I just found it so ahead of its time when you consider purely the firing mechanism striking each round for instance.

Short video on the mechanism:

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