Whatever the number and type of Gatling guns of an experimental nature, by the 1870s, the USN seems to have settled on two different standard models, the long Gatling gun and the short Gatling gun. Never mind the Hotchkiss revolving cannon.
1. From a number of on-line sites, I believe the long Gatling gun of that era had barrels of 32-inch length. If this conclusion is not correct, please correct me.
2. Unfortunately, on-line sites claim that both the naval short Gatling gun and the Gatling Bulldog had 18-inch barrels. Historic images of the naval short Gatling gun convince me that it was longer than the Bulldog, so claims that both had 18-inch barrels leave me perplexed. Apparently there was also a 26.5-inch Gatling barrel, but the length difference between the long and short naval Gatlings appears to exceed 5.5 inches. So, right now I don’t know what to think.
3. Both the standard naval Gatling guns, the long and the short, had ten barrels, the former exposed and the latter fully shrouded. Is it safe to declare that, by and large, the Gatlings having five and six barrels were earlier iterations (am not including the Bulldogs).
Thanks,
Nelson
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