Billinghurst Requa Battery gun

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	Weapon: Billinghurst Requa Battery gun Type: Hand-Cranked Machine Gun Country of Origin: United States Year Adopted: 1862 Overall Length (mm): Weight (kg):

The Billinghurst Requa Battery Gun was an early form of volley gun developed during the American Civil War as a means to deliver concentrated firepower. Designed by William Billinghurst and Josephus Requa, the weapon consisted of 25 .58 caliber rifled barrels mounted in parallel on a wheeled carriage. The barrels were loaded individually and fired simultaneously using a single percussion cap ignition system, allowing for a devastating volley of shots. This design made it a precursor to later rapid-firing weapons like the Gatling gun, though it lacked a continuous firing mechanism.

Approximately 50 units of the Billinghurst Requa Battery Gun were produced and issued to Union forces during the Civil War. The weapon was primarily used for defensive purposes, positioned to guard bridges, fortifications, and other strategic points. While it demonstrated effectiveness in repelling enemy advances, the gun's slow reload time and lack of mobility limited its broader adoption. Unlike true machine guns that would later emerge, the Billinghurst Requa relied on manual loading and a single volley per firing sequence, reducing its sustained fire capability.

Despite its limited service life, the Billinghurst Requa Battery Gun was a significant step in the evolution of multi-barrel weaponry. It showcased the potential of volley guns in an era before practical machine guns were developed, influencing future firearm designs. Today, surviving examples of the gun are rare, and it is remembered as an innovative but ultimately transitional weapon in the history of military firearms. Collectors and historians view it as a fascinating glimpse into the experimental period of 19th-century military technology.