Elephant mounted machine gun?!?!?
Surely this must be a joke!
UPDATE: Readers have pointed out that the gun is John Moses Browning's M1895 Colt-Browning machine gun aka. Potato Digger.
[Hat Tip: Max Popenker]
27 Responses to “Elephant mounted machine gun?!?!?”
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Mattwrote on May 20th, 2011 at 4:32 am Link To Comment |
I have no doubt that some one somewhere has mounted like that on an elephant with serious use in mind.
But it’s obvious that picture was taken as a joke, for one there is nothing securing the tripod down and for two there is no padding under the tripod legs. Any longer distance trek with it set up like that would wear holes into the elephants back, Making him none-to-happy.
And an unhappy elephant is no picnick.
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Sven Ortmannwrote on May 20th, 2011 at 11:23 am Link To Comment |
http://www.navyfrogmen.com/images/camel.JPG
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Steve (The Firearm Blog)responded to Sven Ortmann on May 20th, 2011 at 1:43 pm Link To Comment |
Sven, HAHA
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Bernardwrote on May 19th, 2011 at 8:24 pm Link To Comment |
i feel pity for the elephant…
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wizemanfulwrote on May 19th, 2011 at 8:47 am Link To Comment |
I remember seeing in Guns and Ammo a design for a camel-mounted Gatling Gun. This is cool, too.
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Komradwrote on May 19th, 2011 at 8:01 am Link To Comment |
I could believe it if the gun was held in place by something.
There used to be swivel cannons mounted on elephants all the time, a machine gun is a logical progression of that idea.Please rate this comment: 0 0 -
Pete Sheppardwrote on May 20th, 2011 at 11:21 pm Link To Comment |
That is most likely a gag photo. Simply hanging a tripod over an elephant’s shoulders does not a machine gun mount make. Using a properly designed howdah on a trained elephant, somebody likely pulled it off.
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DC Handgun Infowrote on May 25th, 2011 at 8:25 am Link To Comment |
The dreams of Frank J. Fleming (IMAO.us) were foreseen by the visionaries of HM Army? http://www.imao.us/archives/008528.html
Frank J. is holding out for dinosaurs with rocket launchers on their backs!
Please rate this comment: 0 0 -
AAAwrote on December 24th, 2011 at 5:00 pm Link To Comment |
Gives new meaning to the phrase, “Elephant Gun”.
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Hoodoowrote on May 24th, 2011 at 7:06 am Link To Comment |
This appears to be an updated naval digger (those do look like Marines) I am presuming 1904ish or a bit later with improved sghts (pre 1914 digger as the barrel is a “bull” barrel with no cooling rings)…the earlier 6MM Marine/Navy diggers had lower mounted sights, more like traditional rifle sights, “later” diggers featured taller sights and you can see these on this particular digger. I do think the navy upgraded their diggers to the new calibers that were being adopted after they abandoned the 6MM so new sights might have been part of the upgrades.
The mount is the long legged, bicycle seat variety that was common before WWI, then they got smart and lowered the mount to a prone position type. However, naval “infantry” (and I assume the Marines with them) were still using the tall tripod in 1914 at Vera Cruz.
The most interesting thing is that they appear to be really firing the weapon from the elephant as the hanging ammo belt shows that quite a few rounds have been fired from it.
Very, very cool pic.Please rate this comment: 0 0 -
Pete Sheppardwrote on May 23rd, 2011 at 11:18 am Link To Comment |
I nominate Daniel Watters for “Best Post of Thread”!
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Daniel E. Watterswrote on May 22nd, 2011 at 7:17 am Link To Comment |
Someone in DARPA is now trying to combine this with Project DUMBO, their top-secret flying elephant program. It is considered a vital part of War Plan “Hannibal”, in which US forces are required to cross the Alps.
I read about it in Wikileaks…
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thai249wrote on May 19th, 2011 at 7:00 am Link To Comment |
Thailand once mount gatling 0.45 IN model 1875 on elephant and go to war with Laos (am forgot what year but i did study in history section in Army Reserve Force Students)
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Matt Groomwrote on May 19th, 2011 at 6:10 am Link To Comment |
The awesomeness cannot be described with the words of mere mortals. This is now my profile picture on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?cropsuccess&id=100000832774119
Please rate this comment: 0 0 -
Adamwrote on May 18th, 2011 at 5:41 pm Link To Comment |
It’s quite serious.
…and don’t call me Shirley.
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Bob Z Moosewrote on May 18th, 2011 at 6:02 pm Link To Comment |
Elephant calvary, the true answer to the Bear calvary.
Anyways, at least it’s better than this old gem:
http://trooperworld.wdfiles.com/local–files/camel-guns/Gatling_Camel1.jpgPlease rate this comment: 0 0 -
bima86wrote on May 18th, 2011 at 5:25 pm Link To Comment |
is that the potato digger mounted on the elephant ?
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Victorwrote on May 18th, 2011 at 4:46 pm Link To Comment |
Some men ask “Why?”. Others ask “Why not?”.
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substitutewrote on May 18th, 2011 at 4:44 pm Link To Comment |
That elephant is not going to appreciate the joke at ALL.
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Kylewrote on May 18th, 2011 at 10:11 pm Link To Comment |
an M2HB would be awesome for a war elephant. or a PKM.
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Bill Lesterwrote on May 18th, 2011 at 10:13 pm Link To Comment |
Looks like turn of the 20th century U.S. Marines. The elephant is the Asian variety. I’d guess this could be a shot from somewhere in the “China Station” post-Boxer Rebellion.
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Stellawrote on May 19th, 2011 at 5:31 am Link To Comment |
Its not a joke, and don’t call me Shirley.
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Stellawrote on May 19th, 2011 at 5:34 am Link To Comment |
Ah ha, so beaten…sorry for the duplicate “Airplane” reference.
I imagine it would be awful to be on horseback if it were hit and went down, but getting pinned by an elephant is even worse.
Please rate this comment: 0 0 -
Glennwrote on May 19th, 2011 at 1:18 am Link To Comment |
10 seconds later…. One deaf, very angry elephant. One dead, very flat soldier.
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Pete Sheppardwrote on May 19th, 2011 at 12:50 am Link To Comment |
US Marines…always inventive. I wonder if they fitted the elephant’s trunk with a bayonet lug?
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Gagewrote on May 18th, 2011 at 10:16 pm Link To Comment |
I heard that the Japanese used to mount machine guns on elephants during World War II.
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Mikewrote on May 18th, 2011 at 4:41 pm Link To Comment |
Digging potatoes on an elephant. That’s something you don’t see every day…
Please rate this comment: 0 0
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Gives new meaning to the phrase, “Elephant Gun”.
The dreams of Frank J. Fleming (IMAO.us) were foreseen by the visionaries of HM Army? http://www.imao.us/archives/008528.html
Frank J. is holding out for dinosaurs with rocket launchers on their backs!
This appears to be an updated naval digger (those do look like Marines) I am presuming 1904ish or a bit later with improved sghts (pre 1914 digger as the barrel is a “bull” barrel with no cooling rings)…the earlier 6MM Marine/Navy diggers had lower mounted sights, more like traditional rifle sights, “later” diggers featured taller sights and you can see these on this particular digger. I do think the navy upgraded their diggers to the new calibers that were being adopted after they abandoned the 6MM so new sights might have been part of the upgrades.
The mount is the long legged, bicycle seat variety that was common before WWI, then they got smart and lowered the mount to a prone position type. However, naval “infantry” (and I assume the Marines with them) were still using the tall tripod in 1914 at Vera Cruz.
The most interesting thing is that they appear to be really firing the weapon from the elephant as the hanging ammo belt shows that quite a few rounds have been fired from it.
Very, very cool pic.
I nominate Daniel Watters for “Best Post of Thread”!
Someone in DARPA is now trying to combine this with Project DUMBO, their top-secret flying elephant program. It is considered a vital part of War Plan “Hannibal”, in which US forces are required to cross the Alps.
I read about it in Wikileaks…
That is most likely a gag photo. Simply hanging a tripod over an elephant’s shoulders does not a machine gun mount make. Using a properly designed howdah on a trained elephant, somebody likely pulled it off.
http://www.navyfrogmen.com/images/camel.JPG
Sven, HAHA
I have no doubt that some one somewhere has mounted like that on an elephant with serious use in mind.
But it’s obvious that picture was taken as a joke, for one there is nothing securing the tripod down and for two there is no padding under the tripod legs. Any longer distance trek with it set up like that would wear holes into the elephants back, Making him none-to-happy.
And an unhappy elephant is no picnick.
i feel pity for the elephant…
I remember seeing in Guns and Ammo a design for a camel-mounted Gatling Gun. This is cool, too.
I could believe it if the gun was held in place by something.
There used to be swivel cannons mounted on elephants all the time, a machine gun is a logical progression of that idea.
Thailand once mount gatling 0.45 IN model 1875 on elephant and go to war with Laos (am forgot what year but i did study in history section in Army Reserve Force Students)
The awesomeness cannot be described with the words of mere mortals. This is now my profile picture on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?cropsuccess&id=100000832774119
Ah ha, so beaten…sorry for the duplicate “Airplane” reference.
I imagine it would be awful to be on horseback if it were hit and went down, but getting pinned by an elephant is even worse.
Its not a joke, and don’t call me Shirley.
10 seconds later…. One deaf, very angry elephant. One dead, very flat soldier.
US Marines…always inventive. I wonder if they fitted the elephant’s trunk with a bayonet lug?
I heard that the Japanese used to mount machine guns on elephants during World War II.
Looks like turn of the 20th century U.S. Marines. The elephant is the Asian variety. I’d guess this could be a shot from somewhere in the “China Station” post-Boxer Rebellion.
an M2HB would be awesome for a war elephant. or a PKM.
Elephant calvary, the true answer to the Bear calvary.
Anyways, at least it’s better than this old gem:
http://trooperworld.wdfiles.com/local–files/camel-guns/Gatling_Camel1.jpg
It’s quite serious.
…and don’t call me Shirley.
is that the potato digger mounted on the elephant ?
Some men ask “Why?”. Others ask “Why not?”.
That elephant is not going to appreciate the joke at ALL.
Digging potatoes on an elephant. That’s something you don’t see every day…