Mitrailleuse Montigny | |
---|---|
![]() Montigny mitrailleuse. | |
Type | Regimental artillery field gun |
Place of origin | Belgium |
Service history | |
In service | 1863 |
Used by | Austria Hungary,[1] Belgium, China, German New Guinea[2] Romania[3] |
Wars | Romanian War of Independence[3] World War I (limited)[4] |
Production history | |
Designer | Joseph Montigny |
Produced | 1863 |
Specifications | |
Shell | bullets |
Caliber | 11 mm |
Barrels | 37 |
The Montigny mitrailleuse was an early type of crank-operated machine-gun developed by the Belgian gun works of Joseph Montigny between 1859 and 1870. It was an improved version of the "Mitrailleuse", (English: Grapeshot shooter) invented by Belgian Captain Fafschamps in 1851 which was a fixed 50-barrelled volley gun.[5]
The Montigny mitrailleuse was designed to defend narrow defensive positions such as the moats of fortresses. The Belgian army initially purchased Fafschamps volley guns. Only later did they acquire Montigny mitrailleuses.
Joseph Montigny also promoted and sold the weapon for offensive field use by placing the weapon on an artillery carriage.