434 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
Colonel Wray's Committee recommend the introduction of the heavy 
Gatling gun of 0 # 65-in. bore for coast defences; considering that it 
would prove useful against boat attacks, or for keeping down the fire 
of ships engaging forts at close quarters or attempting to force a 
passage, by pouring an incessant fire into their ports. 
The best construction of this weapon not having been determined, 
none have been added, as yet, to the armament of our forts. 
From their comparative lightness, and the absence of recoil, they 
would prove very serviceable weapons in advanced trenches, and 
doubtless will form an adjunct to siege trains of the future, for 
repelling sorties, &c. 
(Tables of American trial practice—note + p. 433—between 8-in. 
howitzer and Gatlings, are given in Appendix). 
HI.— Employment of Machine Guns for Naval Purposes. 
Here, again, opinion seems unanimous as to the advantages of using 
mitrailleurs for ships' tops, to repulse boarders, and for boat service in 
certain cases. 
They have not actually been used in naval warfare, so we have 
nothing but experimental data to go upon. 
For covering a landing they would no doubt be useful, should the 
beach and adjoining country be open—as would usually be the case; 
though even then they should supplement, and not supersede, the 
heavier natures of guns used for boat or field marine service. Not¬ 
withstanding that great advantage, in a boat, of absence of recoil, 
their manifold disadvantages must not be lost sight of. 
I have seen them strongly recommended for boat expeditions up 
rivers; but surely in such cases as where the gallant Commodore 
Commerell was wounded the other day,* * the smallest gun which could 
throw a shell into the bush would be better, for what effect can a 
mitrailleur have against dense jungle ? 
In our service, twelve of the 0*65-in. bore and a similar number of 
the 045-in. calibre have been ordered for trial by the navy, until the 
question of the best construction be definitely settled. 
We may now pass from the more general question to details, and 
consider what mitrailleur constructed up to this time it would be most 
advisable to adopt for field service.f 
would be impossible to serve the opposite howitzers with the freedom a good defence would require,” 
on account of the risk to gunners in opposite casemate. The Board therefore recommended one 
Gatling gun “ for each flank of casemated forts, even to the displacement of the howitzer when 
there is but one flank embrasure, if the scarp can be readily approached, and if there be a line of 
embrasures raised but a few feet above the ground.” (For trial practice, vide Appendix). 
* When reconnoitring the river Volta, on the coast of Africa. 
f Having found a mitrailleur which would satisfy these conditions, it would be easy to modify it 
for fortress or naval service, where so great mobility is not necessary. 
