The first gas-operated machine gun was the Colt-Browning M1895. One of the products of the genius of John Browning, the Colt 1895 was his first, albeit only modestly successful, foray into machine gun design. While the Leerifle and its cartridge would only see service for a few years, the Colt, beginning with the Spanish American war, would continue in Navy/Marine service up to World War I.
Colt
The First Marine Battalion was equipped with at least two Colt 1895's and emplaced these guns at CampMcCalla after their June 10, 1898 landing at Guantanamo. They were supplemented by two Colts from the TEXAS that were off-loaded and delivered on the mid-morning of June 12, by the TEXAS' own Marines. Not only did the Colt's provide supportive defensive fire at Camp McCalla,but three of the four weapons were operated by Company C in the battle of Cuzco Well on June 14th, and, according to the account of Pvt. A tripod mounted Colt also saw action in use by Naval and Marine personnel in the taking of Guánica, Puerto Rico.
The two 7mm Colts of the Rough Riders were also carried into action on tripods, eventually using captured Spanish ammunition. In addition to the ground use of the weapon, the Colt was also mounted on various warships and auxiliary warships in the conflict. One could argue that the Colt's service in the Spanish American War was, at best, modest, as compared to the use of the Gatling gun. However, the Colt did usher in the age of the machine gun in United States service (although the US Army never formally adopted the Colt it recognized the value of the machine gun) and pointed to a century in which the machine gun would quickly become a dominant arm in warfare.
Colt
While this early Browning design would quickly be surpassed by more modern designs, several by Browning himself, it would still see continued manufacture by Colt and Marlin-Rockwell into the second decade of the 1900's. The Colt would see further combat service with US forces in the Philippine-American War and the Boxer Rebellion. The "Colt" featured a unique action of operation that proved to be relatively robust and durable if not completely reliable. However, the Colt was simpler, lighter, and easier to handle, all important considerations for naval service that would require a varied and flexible use of the weapon.
The Colt was fired in bursts rather than in continual and extended firing that would become a well known trait of water cooled machine guns. The Colt machine guns were used by the Rough Riders. Patent in 1836 for the Colt firearm equipped with a revolving cylinder containing five or six bullets with an innovative cocking device. Both this model and Weapon No 124are of this caliber so were in fact made by Colt for the Italians.
America adopted Browning's designs mainly manufactured by the Colt plant. It was followed by the Colt machinegun designed by Browning. Paul Mauser 1838-1914 was the son of a German gunsmith who had developed the famous K98 Colt action rifle and up to the end of the First World War his firm had provided the bulk of the rifles and semi automatic pistols for the German Army.
About the Author
Clyde Roberts is a successful Webmaster and publisher of www.ExpertsonGuns.com. He provides more information about guns and gun issues that you can research in your pajamas on his website.
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