Author Topic: The Prototype Mule Gun  (Read 866 times)

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Offline Xflash

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The Prototype Mule Gun
« on: April 12, 2010, 03:32:09 PM »
Went to Fort Sill, Oklahoma to see the cannons, thought this
was pretty enteresting




Offline Zulu

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2010, 03:49:41 PM »
Weren't there mountain howitzers fired off pack saddles on mules and camels?  I'm sure there were.
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Offline GGaskill

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2010, 05:00:57 PM »
There are lots of jokes regarding the firing of a cannon from the back of a beast of burden.  The US pack howitzer was not configured in a way that would have allowed the successful use of the gun from its packed condition.
GG
“If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart; if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no brain.”
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Offline cjensen

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2010, 05:06:32 PM »
Didn't someone successfully use alligators back in 1814,
Cornell Jackson??
My goal in life is to have a carbon footprint the size of Al Gore's. I can be living the good life and know I am not causing global warming. Make Al your carbon standard.

Offline The Jeff

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2010, 05:37:26 PM »
Here's a camel mounted swivel gun:

http://www.camelphotos.com/pic/army_camels5.jpg

Offline Cannoneer

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2010, 05:56:43 PM »
Xflash,
That is without question the most amusing artillery museum placard that I have ever read, and the cannon is interesting to boot.
RIP John. While on vacation July 4th 2013 in northern Wisconsin, he was ATVing with family and pulled ahead of everyone and took off at break-neck speed without a helmet. He lost control.....hit a tree....and the tree won.  He died instantly.

The one thing that you can almost always rely on research leading to, is more research.

Offline GGaskill

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2010, 06:00:37 PM »
Cornell Jackson??

Nah, I think it was Johnny Horton.
GG
“If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart; if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no brain.”
--Winston Churchill

Offline Xflash

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2010, 06:35:20 PM »
I thought so too.
Thanks



Xflash,
That is without question the most amusing artillery museum placard that I have ever read, and the cannon is interesting to boot.

Offline Double D

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2010, 08:22:15 PM »
Cornell Jackson??

Nah, I think it was Johnny Horton.

Johnny Horton!  Wow George you have culture and sophistication just like me! Definitely old school!

Offline no guns here

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2010, 08:39:01 PM »
I have that song on my IPOD... and I'm only 42...  I must be really cultured and sophisticated too, huh?


NGH
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Offline GGaskill

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2010, 09:20:11 PM »
While I heard that song many times in my younger days, I had to resort to the internet (search for "lyrics battle of new orleans") to find the singer's name.
GG
“If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart; if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no brain.”
--Winston Churchill

Offline KABAR2

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2010, 01:24:06 AM »
I read this story about 20 or so years ago..........
I will try to find the actual reference....during the early expansion of the west it was decided
at on of the forts to show the local native population a demonstration of the mule gun......
after it was loaded as the story goes a fuse was used to set off the small cannon on the beasts
back......... now the mule didn't like the hissing sound and began to buck in a circular pattern
the cannon with each bounce would fling it's muzzle up and down as the Indians watched this
impressive display of the white man's might the soldiers manning the cannon ran in various directions
seeking what little cover there was outside the fort...... the small contingent of  officers did likewise
the stoic Indians stood and watched all of this as the cannon fired harmlessly into the ground........
needless to say the Indians were not impressed.....
Mr president I do not cling to either my gun or my Bible.... my gun is holstered on my side so I may carry my Bible and quote from it!

Sed tamen sal petrae LURO VOPO CAN UTRIET sulphuris; et sic facies tonituum et coruscationem si scias artficium

Offline KABAR2

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #12 on: April 13, 2010, 01:27:10 AM »
Johnny Horton - The Battle Of New Orleans 1959 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsRK3DNoa_Q
Mr president I do not cling to either my gun or my Bible.... my gun is holstered on my side so I may carry my Bible and quote from it!

Sed tamen sal petrae LURO VOPO CAN UTRIET sulphuris; et sic facies tonituum et coruscationem si scias artficium

Offline brokenpole

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #13 on: April 13, 2010, 01:49:59 AM »
Cornell Jackson??

Nah, I think it was Johnny Horton.

Johnny Horton!  Wow George you have culture and sophistication just like me! Definitely old school!

I still have the song on vinyl.  What does that make me?  Cause I certainly am not cultured or sophisticated.  ;D

Offline Double D

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #14 on: April 13, 2010, 04:46:25 AM »
I have that song on my IPOD... and I'm only 42...  I must be really cultured and sophisticated too, huh?


NGH

 

I still have the song on vinyl.  What does that make me?  Cause I certainly am not cultured or sophisticated.  ;D

This board is loaded with this who appreciate the fine things in life- class, culture, sophistication-aloud smoky cannon we got it all.


Offline CaptTHighbiter

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Re: The Prototype Mule Gun
« Reply #15 on: April 14, 2010, 10:19:40 AM »
FYI, the melody to that tune is an old Morris dance tune, titled "The Eigth of January" , likely at least 150-200 years old. Johnny just recognized a good tune and wrote word for it.
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