Davis Gun.

This is coolbert:

Here with a description of the Davis Gun with some images.

The gun as mounted on American and British flying boats during the Great War [WW1], intended for use against enemy submarines.




One round [the "true" round] being fired downward, a second "bogus" round of grease and shot fired upward simultaneously, cancelling the recoil. Recoilless!

"The Davis Gun was invented by Commander Cleland Davis, USN, between 1912 and 1914. It was used during WWI by the Americans and the British against submarines. The gun worked on the principal that the recoil from the projectile leaving the barrel of the gun could be cancelled out by the recoil of a counterweight (grease and shot) leaving the back of the gun. The lack of recoil meant that there was no large shock to the aircraft when the gun was fired."




A contraption, a device, an apparatus of which suggests a dubious use? I am not sure. If not worthy, would it have been fielded? Was an idea of merit, further development surely would have proved the concept sound.

coolbert.