Cutaway model of a 40mm shrappnel projectile for the ‘Canon revolver Hotchkiss Mle 1879 de 40mm’ revolver gun, bought by the French army in 1879, especially for protection of fortresses and casemats. These fortresses had moats, and the gun fired in the length direction over the moats. The gun was served by means of a crank, with a shot per revolution. The maximum rate of fire was 60 rounds per minute. In contrast to the 37mm revolver gun this 40mm gun fired the shrappnel projectile only, no other types of projectiles were available.
The projectile weighs in at 1080 grams and is filled with 24 hard lead balls of 32 grams, cast in fat to fixate them during firing. As the barrel has lands and grooves, the balls spread in a cone shape pattern after the brass projectile body rips open after leaving the barrel.
The brass shellcase is filled with 90 grams MC30 powder. The base of the shellcase has no markings.
The projectile is 120 mm long, the shellcase is 100 mm long, the length of the complete cartridge is 215mm .
Here a movie with the Gun as a German spoils of war;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=m8RNf9H3Ia8&feature=emb_logo
Regards, DJH
The projectile weighs in at 1080 grams and is filled with 24 hard lead balls of 32 grams, cast in fat to fixate them during firing. As the barrel has lands and grooves, the balls spread in a cone shape pattern after the brass projectile body rips open after leaving the barrel.
The brass shellcase is filled with 90 grams MC30 powder. The base of the shellcase has no markings.
The projectile is 120 mm long, the shellcase is 100 mm long, the length of the complete cartridge is 215mm .
Here a movie with the Gun as a German spoils of war;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=m8RNf9H3Ia8&feature=emb_logo
Regards, DJH
