Mitrailleuse is a generic French term used to identify a specific battlefield weapon that relies on multiple barrels. Unlike traditional "gatling guns", in which multiple barrels are arranged in sequence in the firing chamber, the mitrailleuse is classified as a "salvo" weapon because all of its barrels are fired at the same time (or nearly at the same time).
As such, their use on the battlefield resembled an artillery gun (a field gun with a line of sight) rather than a mobile, offensive artillery platform, and bore little resemblance to the machine guns we know today.
The earliest mitrailleuse weapons came from Belgium in 1851, the most famous form being the brainchild of Belgian army captain Toussaint-Henry-Joseph Fafschamps. Joseph Montigny of Fontaine-I'Eveque (Brussels) made these first examples, a limited number of which were designed by the Belgian army for the defense of Belgian forts.
This version carries 50 barrels.
In 1863, the Montigny mitrailleuse debuted as an improved 37-tube model and was adopted by the Belgians. Newer guns have a two-wheeled frame with a tow arm for transport and a brass cylinder that houses the barrel assembly.
Loading/reloading is carried out via a preloaded ammunition plate set at the breech end of the weapon. 11mm foil cartridges are used to hold propellant charges and bullets. The total weight of the entire system is 2,000 lbs.
It didn't take long for the French army to show interest in the Belgian invention, adding the gun to their inventory in 1869. As such, the Montigny was part of French operations in the upcoming Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). By this time, the French Army was able to retrieve about 190 guns, 6 of which were assigned to a battery as part of an army division. Their value at short to medium range is considerable, especially when facing enemy cavalry and infantry charges, where dozens of people have been slaughtered under the bullets of these guns. However, like the Gatling guns of the American Civil War (1861-1865), the Montini machine gun was often used as artillery, and in some cases artillery crews attempted to fire salvos with Prussian artillery elements, but with great success at artillery range micro.
The tactical value of the mitrailleuse lies more in supporting infantry and defending positions than in hunting down enemy units from a distance.
Additional mitrailleuse guns were made in France in 1866, with a local French design as the "Reffye Mitrailleuse", although the concept remained the same.
- fire support/attack/damage
- Support/Special Purpose
5.77 ft (1.76 m)
1 ton (907 kg; 2,000 lb)
2 miles (3 km)
37 x 11 mm barrel.
37 x 11mm Ammo Plate.
Model 1863 - Base