Gun.—At present there are three machine guns in use in the United States, viz.:
(a) The Gatling.
(b) The Maxim Automatic.
(c) The Colt Automatic.
(a) The Gatling.—Calibre ·3 in., and takes the service rifle bullet. It has 10 barrels, and is fed by a rotating cylinder. The gun is mounted on a shielded carriage with limber. The rate of fire is about 600 rounds per minute.
(b) The Maxim Automatic.—This is similar to the one in use in our own service, and takes the ·3 in. U.S. service ammunition.
Mounting.—For infantry and cavalry, a tripod mounting. For use in fortified works, a two-wheeled shielded carriage.
The transport is by means of pack-animals. A complete outfit consists of five packs, e.g. the gun and tripod form one pack, and the remaining four packs carry 1,500 rounds of ammunition and accessories for the gun, including water for filling the water-jacket.
For firing blank it is fitted with an attachment called the “drill and blank-fire attachment.”
(c) The Colt Automatic.—Calibre ·3 in., and takes the service rifle bullet. The gun is fed by means of a cartridge belt, and fires 400 rounds a minute.
The weight is 40 lb., and the gun is mounted either on a tripod mounting or a wheeled carriage.