Hotchkiss gun facts for kids
The Hotchkiss gun is a name for several types of weapons made by the Hotchkiss company in the late 1800s. These guns were known for being easy to move. One famous type was a light mountain gun, about 1.65 inches (42 mm) wide. It could be carried on a small cart or even packed on two mules. This made it perfect for soldiers traveling in mountains or rough areas, like cavalry troops.
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Types of Hotchkiss Guns
The 1.65-inch Mountain Gun
This Hotchkiss gun was designed to be very portable. The gun and its parts could be carried by two mules. It was a newer, more modern weapon that replaced older mountain guns. The U.S. military first bought this gun from the French Hotchkiss company in 1877. They used it in conflicts, including a notable event in 1890. These guns were also used in Cuba during the Spanish–American War in 1898, at battles like Battle of Las Guasimas, Battle of El Caney, and the attack on San Juan Hill.
The Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon
The Hotchkiss revolving cannon was invented in 1872 by Benjamin B. Hotchkiss. It looked a bit like a Gatling gun because it had rotating barrels. However, its inside parts were quite different. This gun was made from strong steel and could fire very quickly. It was designed to be light enough to travel with cavalry soldiers. It could also shoot farther than regular small guns.
The 1-pounder revolving Hotchkiss cannon had five barrels, each 37 mm wide. It could fire 68 shots per minute and was accurate up to about 2,000 yards (1,800 meters). Each magazine held ten rounds and weighed about 18 pounds (8 kg).
Besides the version used on land, there were also versions for ships and forts. The naval version helped defend against small, fast torpedo boats. The fort versions fired special shells to protect moats. Countries like Russia and the United States used the naval version. The land version came with a horse-drawn cart that carried 110 rounds of ammunition. You can see an example of this gun at the Museum of the History of the Brazilian Army in Fort Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.
A larger 3-pounder (47 mm) Hotchkiss revolving cannon was also used by the U.S. and Russian navies in the 1880s. This one also had five barrels. Many different types of quick-firing guns were used on warships between 1880 and 1910, including single-shot, revolving, and later Maxim-Nordenfelt guns.
Other Hotchkiss Weapons
Hotchkiss also made other types of guns, including light naval guns and, later, anti-tank guns in the 1930s. The naval guns, like the 3-pounder and 6-pounder, were first used in the 1880s. They helped protect large warships from small boats armed with the new torpedoes. Even when torpedoes could shoot farther, these guns were still used on smaller boats up to World War II.
During World War I, British motor gunboats used Hotchkiss 3-pounders to gain control of Lake Tanganyika. The British army also used the Hotchkiss 6-pounder on their very first tanks. In World War II, the 6-pounder was a main weapon on many Fairmile D Motor Torpedo Boats of the Royal Navy until 1945.
Images for kids
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Hotchkiss 5-barrel revolving cannon, Fort Copacabana
See also
In Spanish: Cañón Hotchkiss para niños
