A unique chapter in the history of firearms, the multibarrel, hand-cranked Gatling gun was one of the first practical rapid-fire weapons ever to be used in battle. It changed warfare by introducing the capability to project deadly, high-intensity fire ont he battlefield, and portended the devastastion that automatic weapons would wreak in World War I. During its 50-year career, it saw widespread service witrh US, British, and other forces on a host of battlefields through.

Cover; Title; Contents; Introduction; Development; A new species of weapon is born; Use; The Gatling at war; Impact; 'A terrible gun which shoots all day'; Conclusion; Glossary; Bibliography; Imprint.