Volley Guns?

[mmartin798]

I pose this question to gather the learned opinion of my peers. There are many historical accounts of the use of volley guns in combat. The attached picture shows a fine 9 barreled Polish version. The question I have is would weapons of this type be constructed and used?

On one hand I think that they would be considered wasteful of black powder and shot. On the other hand, I can see cases where people struggling against a larger foe may have small fire squads use them in a guerrilla fashion in a hit and run manner. The floor is now open for comments.

[cosmicfish]

Those weapons were woefully inefficient. They were created as experiments, curiosities, and for other thoroughly impractical purposes. That might happen again, certainly, but I think it would be a stretch to see them deployed on any real scale.

[dragoon500ly]

Concur, little practicable use due to their bulk/weight and slow reload times.

On the other hand, the larger, carriage mounted versions did serve to protect gates, bridges or other narrow approaches, but the same reload issues render these weapons, at best, one or two shot wonders, still having the possibility of facing a 80-barrel version guarding a gate, well, going over that wall sure looks inviting...

[mmartin798]

Originally Posted by cosmicfish

They were created as experiments, curiosities, and for other thoroughly impractical purposes.

One such case I recall is where someone build a 20 barrel version using barrels that were rejects from a rifle manufacturer to use in an assassination attempt. when fired 13 people were killed, but his target received only a minor wound.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by mmartin798

I pose this question to gather the learned opinion of my peers. There are many historical accounts of the use of volley guns in combat. The attached picture shows a fine 9 barreled Polish version. The question I have is would weapons of this type be constructed and used?

On one hand I think that they would be considered wasteful of black powder and shot. On the other hand, I can see cases where people struggling against a larger foe may have small fire squads use them in a guerrilla fashion in a hit and run manner. The floor is now open for comments.

These are made to blast the large concentrated formations of 18th & 19th Century warfare...... The last recorded use of volley guns was the American Civil War............ Defense of a bridge by Union troops against Confederate Cavalry if I am not totally wrong.

Even the Nock Volley gun in your picture is much to heavy and too slow to reload for an ambusher.

[Matt W]

A volley gun might be useful in some specific scenarios.

If you have a problem with Blue Undead, for instance, then a volley gun with 9 barrels might be appreciated. Likewise, a multi-barrelled shotgun would be a good weapon for dealing with those mutant giant crows eating crops in a farmer's field

[cosmicfish]

The instances where a volley gun will be worthwhile are extremely rare, especially in consideration of other uses for those resources. Remember, building an N-barreled volley gun means NOT building N regular guns that can do everything the volley gun does plus much, much more. You basically need a situation where your manpower is very small but your industrial resources are very high for this to pay off.

[LT. Ox]

Originally Posted by cosmicfish

The instances where a volley gun will be worthwhile are extremely rare, especially in consideration of other uses for those resources. Remember, building an N-barreled volley gun means NOT building N regular guns that can do everything the volley gun does plus much, much more. You basically need a situation where your manpower is very small but your industrial resources are very high for this to pay off.

Every situation I can come up with ends by using an IED or claymore to better effect.

[Matt W]

BIG volley guns might be useful as field artillery

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitrailleuse

It occurs to me that the KFS "Trade Rifle" has a notoriously short service life (planned obsolescence). I wonder if anyone uses the old ones as volley guns?

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by LT. Ox

Every situation I can come up with ends by using an IED or claymore to better effect.

These are a tool for static defence. If you use them in the style of 18th cent warfare with closely packed formations and massed cavalry charges.

So if you have troops guarding a bridge, on the walls of the fort, etc.

Especially if you go big, not the regular .69 or .75 caliber, the 1 and 2 inch small cannon in the same configuration firing shot.

See also Calliope Gun.