Gun in Lille

[TerryG]

Here is a postcard of German soldiers in the centre of Lille (France) during WW1.

[TerryG]

Any idea what type of weapon is in the middle?

[Guest Rick Research]

It is SOME weird version of a "Gatling gun" with rotating barrels. Most of those were rifle caliber, but this seems big enough to be light "artillery" caliber.

[Tom Y]

It is SOME weird version of a "Gatling gun" with rotating barrels. Most of those were rifle caliber, but this seems big enough to be light "artillery" caliber.

Captured mitrailleuse? I imagine there were still some leftovers from '70/71 in use.

Courtesy Wikipedia Commons

Edited June 26, 2009 by Tom Y

[Guest Rick Research]

That's the ticket. Just note that the caliber is much larger in the photo.

[TerryG]

Thanks. I did not know this sort of weapon was used then. For a then and now, this is the only photo I can find on the net. The building remains unchanged (on the right of this photo).

[TerryG]

Another shot of the same building

[TerryG]

Maybe something like this?

Edited June 26, 2009 by TerryG

[TerryG]

As seen in the Istanbul army museum

[arie]

Hello TerryG,

I think this is a captured french version of the "3,7 cm Revolverkanone".

Those kind of guns were used in forts to defend the ditch and were used throughout europe in different versions.

It's a Hotchkiss design and is also known as Pom-Pom or 1-pounder.

Regards Arjen

[TerryG]

To finish off the "then and now" bit:

[drakegoodman]

Better late than never. Another view of the Hotchkiss revolving canon: