The Innovation of the Machine Gun:
By: Ezekiel Bauer
Mr Moore:
March 22nd, 2016
By definition, the machine gun is a gun that fires automatically upon holding down the triggering system. Many people believe that the Gatling gun, invented by Richard Gatling, was the first machine gun. However, it was not. The Gatling gun was fired by spinning a handle like triggering system for automatic fire, and had multiple barrels. This is not considered a machine gun because of the fact that it’s triggering system is not held down to fire automatically, and it has more than one barrel.
It instead formed its own group of the machine gun like gatling gun group. Most people do not however know that the first multi barreled weapons were organ guns, and existed in medieval times. The first actual machine gun was the Maxim gun. It was invented by Sir Hiram Maxim in 1883. It’s first use in combat was during World War One. It was used by the British as a stationary defense weapon.
This came out as an ultimate win for the British with the technological superiority it offered. Even though it was so advanced for its time, it wasn’t yet perfected, and would often backfire on its users. This called for more modifications in these weapons. The next step up was the innovation of hand held machine guns. This came in the form of the American Thompson Submachine Gun. This weapon was designed for World War One by John T. Thompson, but the first shipment arrived at New York, on the day the war ended. These early machine guns were powered by a revolutionary method that still affects the way we manufacture weapons today.
They are electrically or gas powered to fire projectiles at a continuous rate at high speeds. This method was adopted by a few countries, but as time developed, it was clear that it would change warfare forever to come. As demand for weapons like this increased, manufacturers began designing new, more efficient models. These came in the form of the M-14. This weapon was more versatile, and more well built than other machine guns in many ways.
It was capable of longer ranged fire, and new technology allowed it to fire more safely than its predecessors. Over time, more technology came into place, and it was replaced by its newer model, the M-16, during the Korean war. Another weapon that had been developed by Germany during the World Wars, was the MG34. This Light Machine Gun was a portable weapon capable of heavy fire like a stationary machine gun. It inspired American manufactures to develop a stronger, American made, portable weapon for possible use during the Vietnamese war. This led to the M60 Light Machine Gun, which is still used with newer models today such as the LSAT.
It was a new string of support weapons that could easily take down an oncoming wave of enemies. More and more weapon variants were invented, and they became even more powerful as they came. The Russians invented the AK model series, Italy invented many powerful assault rifles, and the U.S continued to create dozens of new models and machine gun specimens. These new weapons were capable of damage on mass scales. New projectiles were developed, with the abilities ranging from explosives, to flammability.
These projectiles were eventually made to be fired from machine guns, and made the sheer power they already yielded one to fear. Weapons like the M2 Browning machine gun provided a stationary weapon that had immense amounts of power within it. Many have tried to replicate its power, but only a few have been successful. One such weapon was the XM307 Advanced Crew Weapon. This two manned stationary machine gun was capable of firing armor piercing and explosive rounds that could hit a target from up to 2000 yards away. This, any many others, are examples of a modern machine gun’s newfound power.
Machine Guns like the GAU-19, and M61- Vulcan, are examples of weapons that fire at extremely high rates. These can fire at speeds of up to 2000 rounds per minute. With the added ability of armor piercing rounds, these can easily change the tide of a battle. Despite all of this, Machine Guns are still weapons capable of destruction that we simply do not need. With all of this new tech, weapons will most likely keep on getting more and more advanced, and one day, hopefully, we might not have the need for them anymore.
Works Cited
"Firearms - The History of Guns, Rifles & Machine Guns." About.com Inventors. About.com. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
"M60 GPMG - Development and Operational History, Performance Specifications and Picture Gallery." M60 GPMG. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
"Spartacus Educational." Spartacus Educational. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Machine Gun." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
By: Ezekiel Bauer
Mr Moore:
March 22nd, 2016
By definition, the machine gun is a gun that fires automatically upon holding down the triggering system. Many people believe that the Gatling gun, invented by Richard Gatling, was the first machine gun. However, it was not. The Gatling gun was fired by spinning a handle like triggering system for automatic fire, and had multiple barrels. This is not considered a machine gun because of the fact that it’s triggering system is not held down to fire automatically, and it has more than one barrel.
It instead formed its own group of the machine gun like gatling gun group. Most people do not however know that the first multi barreled weapons were organ guns, and existed in medieval times. The first actual machine gun was the Maxim gun. It was invented by Sir Hiram Maxim in 1883. It’s first use in combat was during World War One. It was used by the British as a stationary defense weapon.
This came out as an ultimate win for the British with the technological superiority it offered. Even though it was so advanced for its time, it wasn’t yet perfected, and would often backfire on its users. This called for more modifications in these weapons. The next step up was the innovation of hand held machine guns. This came in the form of the American Thompson Submachine Gun. This weapon was designed for World War One by John T. Thompson, but the first shipment arrived at New York, on the day the war ended. These early machine guns were powered by a revolutionary method that still affects the way we manufacture weapons today.
They are electrically or gas powered to fire projectiles at a continuous rate at high speeds. This method was adopted by a few countries, but as time developed, it was clear that it would change warfare forever to come. As demand for weapons like this increased, manufacturers began designing new, more efficient models. These came in the form of the M-14. This weapon was more versatile, and more well built than other machine guns in many ways.
It was capable of longer ranged fire, and new technology allowed it to fire more safely than its predecessors. Over time, more technology came into place, and it was replaced by its newer model, the M-16, during the Korean war. Another weapon that had been developed by Germany during the World Wars, was the MG34. This Light Machine Gun was a portable weapon capable of heavy fire like a stationary machine gun. It inspired American manufactures to develop a stronger, American made, portable weapon for possible use during the Vietnamese war. This led to the M60 Light Machine Gun, which is still used with newer models today such as the LSAT.
It was a new string of support weapons that could easily take down an oncoming wave of enemies. More and more weapon variants were invented, and they became even more powerful as they came. The Russians invented the AK model series, Italy invented many powerful assault rifles, and the U.S continued to create dozens of new models and machine gun specimens. These new weapons were capable of damage on mass scales. New projectiles were developed, with the abilities ranging from explosives, to flammability.
These projectiles were eventually made to be fired from machine guns, and made the sheer power they already yielded one to fear. Weapons like the M2 Browning machine gun provided a stationary weapon that had immense amounts of power within it. Many have tried to replicate its power, but only a few have been successful. One such weapon was the XM307 Advanced Crew Weapon. This two manned stationary machine gun was capable of firing armor piercing and explosive rounds that could hit a target from up to 2000 yards away. This, any many others, are examples of a modern machine gun’s newfound power.
Machine Guns like the GAU-19, and M61- Vulcan, are examples of weapons that fire at extremely high rates. These can fire at speeds of up to 2000 rounds per minute. With the added ability of armor piercing rounds, these can easily change the tide of a battle. Despite all of this, Machine Guns are still weapons capable of destruction that we simply do not need. With all of this new tech, weapons will most likely keep on getting more and more advanced, and one day, hopefully, we might not have the need for them anymore.
Works Cited
"Firearms - The History of Guns, Rifles & Machine Guns." About.com Inventors. About.com. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
"M60 GPMG - Development and Operational History, Performance Specifications and Picture Gallery." M60 GPMG. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
"Spartacus Educational." Spartacus Educational. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Machine Gun." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.