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For other uses, see Cannon (disambiguation). Part of the series on Cannon History Cannon in the Middle Ages Naval artillery in the Age of Sail Field artillery in the US Civil War Look up cannon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Download high resolution version (853x395, 146 KB)a typical cannon | picture by Bogdan Giusca: a cannon from some monument of the cannoniers in Bucharest | File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The parts of a cannon described, John Roberts, The Compleat Cannoniere, London 1652. ... Late medieval bronze culverins and demi-cannon. ... Firing of a 18-pounder aboard of French ship During the Age of Sail, when large, sail-powered wooden naval warships dominated the high seas (roughly: 1571-1863), these warships mounted a bewildering variety of different types and sizes of cannons as their main armament. ... M1857 Napoleon at Stones River battlefield cemetery. ... Operation Breech-loading Muzzleloading List of cannon projectiles Cannon in a Civil War re-enactment: Large amounts of gunpowder often affected visibility, and gunners hoped for a strong wind. ... Breech from Russian 122 mm M1910 howitzer, modified and combined with 105mm H37 howitzer barrel An interrupted screw style breech plug in the M109 howitzer An animation showing the loading cycle for a large naval breech-loader. ... A US soldier drops a shell into the muzzle of an M224 60-mm mortar. ... A cannon is any large tubular firearm designed to fire a heavy projectile over a long distance. ... By Country English cannon Korean cannon Remains of a battery of English cannon from Youghal. ... Korean cannon was first developed by Choe Mu-seon, for exclusive use by the Goryo Army, . Several types were made, and saw successful action during the Mongol invasions of Japan. ... By Type Falconet Saker Demi-culverin Culverin Demi-cannon Field gun Howitzer Mortar A falconet was a medieval cannon of fairly light construction which fired 1-pound solid round shot projectiles. ... Demi-culverin is a seventeenth century term for a cannon which fired a nine solid pound shot (a culverin fired an eighteen pound shot); also known as a saker. ... A culverin is a cannon that fires an 18-pound solid round shot. ... This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, etc. ... A field gun is an artillery piece. ... 19th century 12 pounder (5 kg) mountain howitzer displayed by the National Park Service at Fort Laramie in Wyoming, USA A howitzer is a type of artillery piece that is characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small explosive charges to propel projectiles at trajectories with... US soldier loading a M224 60-mm mortar. ... A cannon is a type of artillery, usually large and tubular, that uses gunpowder or other explosive-based propellants to launch a projectile over a distance. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees, depending on their intended use on the battlefield. For other uses, see Artillery (disambiguation). ... A right circular cylinder An elliptic cylinder In mathematics, a cylinder is a quadric surface, with the following equation in Cartesian coordinates: This equation is for an elliptic cylinder, a generalization of the ordinary, circular cylinder (a = b). ... A modern black powder substitute for muzzleloading rifles in FFG size Gunpowder (also called black powder) is a pyrotechnic composition, an explosive mixture of sulfur, charcoal and potassium nitrate (also known as saltpetre or saltpeter) that burns rapidly, producing volumes of hot solids and gases which can be used as... A propellant is a material that is used to move an object by applying a motive force. ... A projectile is any object sent through space by the application of a force. ... Calibre redirects here. ... The path of this projectile launched from a height y0 has a range d. ... (for paintball markers also)Rate of fire is the frequency at which a specific weapon can fire or launch its projectiles. ... Indirect fire is a characteristic unique to artillery in which the fire is adjusted out of sight of the guns. ... Fire power is a military concept rooted in the ability to direct a heavy weight of metal onto an enemy or enemy possesion as measured by the concept of rate of fire. ... First used in China, cannon were among the earliest forms of gunpowder artillery, and over time replaced siege engines—among other weapons—on the battlefield. The first cannon in Europe were probably used in Iberia, during the Islamic wars against Spain, in the 13th century; their use was first documented in the Middle East around this time, as well. English cannon were first used during the Hundred Years' War, at the Battle of Crécy, in 1346. It was during this period, the Middle Ages, that cannon became standardized, and more effective in both the anti-infantry and siege roles. After the Middle Ages, most large cannon were abandoned, in favor of greater numbers of lighter, more maneuverable pieces. In addition, new technologies and tactics were developed, making most defenses obsolete; this led to the construction of star forts, specifically designed to withstand bombardment from artillery. Jiaozi, the worlds first paper-printed currency, an innovation of the Song Dynasty. ... For other uses, see Artillery (disambiguation). ... Replica battering ram at Château des Baux, France. ... Late medieval bronze culverins and demi-cannon. ... The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Remains of a battery of English cannon from Youghal. ... Combatants France Castile Scotland Genoa Majorca Bohemia Crown of Aragon Brittany England Burgundy Brittany Portugal Navarre Flanders Hainaut Aquitaine Luxembourg Holy Roman Empire The Hundred Years War was a conflict between France and England, lasting 116 years from 1337 to 1453. ... Crécy redirects here. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition, often accompanied by an assault. ... Bourtange fortification, restored to 1750 situation, Groningen, Netherlands A Star Fort is a fortification in the style that evolved during the Age of Blackpowder when cannon came to dominate the battlefield. ... Cannon also transformed naval warfare: the Royal Navy, in particular, took advantage of their firepower. As rifling became more commonplace, the accuracy of cannon was significantly improved, and they became deadlier than ever, as evidenced in World War I, where a considerable majority of all deaths were caused by cannon. World War II also saw cannon play a major part: they were used in land, air, and sea engagements, in both the European and Pacific Theaters of Operations, as well as the Eastern Front. Most modern cannon are similar to those used in World War II,—including autocannon,—with the exception of naval guns, which are now significantly smaller in caliber. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... Rifling of a Canon de 75 modèle 1897 A 35 caliber Remington, with a microgroove rifled barrel with a right hand twist. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The European Theater of Operations, or ETO, was the term used by the United States in World War II to refer to most United States military activity in Europe north of the Mediterranean coast. ... A map of the Pacific Theater. ... Combatants Soviet Union,[1] Poland, Tannu Tuva (until 1944 incorporation with USSR), Mongolia Germany,[2] Italy (to 1943), Romania (to 1944), Finland (to 1944), Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Spain (to 1943, unofficial) Commanders Joseph Stalin, Aleksei Antonov, Ivan Konev, Rodion Malinovsky, Ivan Bagramyan, Kirill Meretskov, Ivan Petrov, Alexander Rodimtsev, Konstantin Rokossovsky... M242 Bushmaster autocannon on an M2 Bradley. ... Contents 1 Etymology and terminology 2 History 2.1 Early history 2.2 Middle East 2.3 Medieval Europe 2.4 Early modern period 2.5 18th and 19th centuries 2.6 20th and 21st centuries 2.6.1 Artillery 2.6.2 Autocannon 3 Operation 4 In music 5 Restoration 6 Notes 7 References 8 External links [edit] Etymology and terminology Cannon is derived from the Old Italian word cannone, meaning large tube, which came from Latin canna, in turn originating from the kanna,—Greek for cane, or reed—and ultimately deriving from the Akkadian term qanu, meaning tube or reed.[1][2][3] The word has been used to refer to a gun since 1326 in Italy, and 1418 in England. Cannon serves both as the singular and plural of the noun, although the plural cannons is also correct.[1] For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ... Akkadian (lišānum akkadÄ«tum) was a Semitic language (part of the greater Afro-Asiatic language family) spoken in ancient Mesopotamia, particularly by the Assyrians and Babylonians. ... Any large, smoothbore, muzzle-loading gun—used before the advent of breech-loading, rifled guns—may be referred to as a cannon, though the term specifically refers to a gun designed to fire a 42-pound (19 kg) shot, as opposed to a demi-cannon,—32 pounds (15 kg)—culverin,—18 pounds (8.2 kg)—or demi-culverin—9 pounds (4.1 kg). Gun specifically refers to a type of cannon that fires projectiles at high velocities, and usually in relatively flat angles;[4] they have been used in warships extensively,[5] and as field artillery, as well.[6] The term cannon also applies to the autocannon, a modern gun with a caliber of 20 mm, or more, with a high rate of fire. Autocannon have been used extensively in fighter aircraft since World War II,[7] and are sometimes used on land vehicles.[8] Smoothbore refers to a firearm which does not have a rifled barrel. ... A muzzleloader is any firearm into which the bullet is loaded from the muzzle of the gun (open end of the gun barrel). ... This article is about the video game. ... A breech-loading weapon, usually a gun or cannon, is one where the bullet or shell is inserted, loaded, into the gun at the rear of the barrel, the breech; the opposite of muzzle-loading. ... Rifling is the means by which a firearm gyroscopically stabilizes a projectile. ... This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, etc. ... A culverin is a cannon that fires an 18-pound solid round shot. ... Demi-culverin is a seventeenth century term for a cannon which fired a nine solid pound shot (a culverin fired an eighteen pound shot); also known as a saker. ... This article is about the video game. ... Union Army gun squad at drill, c. ... M242 Bushmaster autocannon on an M2 Bradley. ... Calibre redirects here. ... The 20mm caliber is a specific size of cannon or autocannon ammunition, commonly the smallest caliber which is unambiguously a cannon (or more commonly today, autocannon) and not a heavy machine gun. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... [edit] History Main article: History of cannon For more details on the historical use of gunpowder in general, see History of gunpowder. The parts of a cannon described, John Roberts, The Compleat Cannoniere, London 1652. ... A modern black powder substitute for muzzleloading rifles in FFG size Gunpowder (also called black powder) is a pyrotechnic composition, an explosive mixture of sulfur, charcoal and potassium nitrate (also known as saltpetre or saltpeter) that burns rapidly, producing volumes of hot solids and gases which can be used as... Earliest known written formula for gunpowder, from the Chinese Wujing Zongyao of 1044 AD. Gunpowder was the first and only known chemical explosive until the invention of others—nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, smokeless powder and TNT—in the 19th century. ... [edit] Early history For more details on development of gunpowder warfare in China, see Technology of the Song Dynasty. Earliest known representation of a firearm (a fire lance) and a grenade (upper right), Dunhuang, 10th century[9] The earliest known cannon was invented by Ctesibius of Alexandria, in the 3rd century BC. Little is known about this primitive invention—as most of Ctesibius' works were lost—but it was noted by Philo of Byzantium that it operated using compressed air.[10] One of the first cannon used in battle was the fire lance, a gunpowder-filled tube attached to the end of a spear and used as a flamethrower.[11] Shrapnel was sometimes placed in the barrel, so that it would fly out along with the flames.[12] Eventually, the paper and bamboo of which fire lance barrels were originally constructed came to be replaced by metal.[13] The earliest known depiction of a firearm is a sculpture from a cave in Sichuan, dating to the 12th century, that portrays a figure carrying a vase-shaped bombard, firing flames and a cannonball.[13][14] The oldest surviving gun, dated to 1288, has a muzzle bore diameter of 2.5 cm (1 in); the second oldest, dated to 1332, has a muzzle bore diameter of 10.5 cm (4 in).[11] Jiaozi, the worlds first paper-printed currency, an innovation of the Song Dynasty. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 748 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2413 × 1935 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 748 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2413 × 1935 pixel, file size: 1. ... The fire lance (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: huÇ’ qiāng) or fire spear is one of the first gunpowder weapons in the world. ... Grenade may refer to: The well-known hand grenade commonly used by soldiers. ... Location of Dunhuang Dunhuang (Chinese: , also written as 燉煌 till early Qing Dynasty; Pinyin: ) is a city in Jiuquan, Gansu province, China. ... Ctesibius or Ktesibios or Tesibius (working 285–222 BC) of Alexandria (Greek Κτησίβιος) was an inventor and mathematician in ancient Greece. ... Philo of Byzantium, a Greek writer on mechanics, (born about 280 BCE) flourished during the latter half of the 2nd century B.C. (according to some, a century earlier). ... The fire lance (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: huÇ’ qiāng) or fire spear is one of the first gunpowder weapons in the world. ... Riverboat of the U.S. Brownwater Navy shooting ignited napalm from its mounted flamethrower during the Vietnam war. ... It has been suggested that Fragmentation (weaponry) be merged into this article or section. ...   (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: SzÅ­4-chuan1; Postal map spelling: Szechwan and Szechuan) is a province in the central-western China with its capital at Chengdu. ... A bombard, Malbork Castle A bombard is a type of medieval cannon or mortar, used chiefly in sieges for throwing heavy stone balls. ... Hand cannon from the Chinese Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) The first documented battlefield use of gunpowder artillery took place on January 28, 1132, when Song General Han Shizhong used huochong to capture a city in Fujian. The first known illustration of a cannon is dated to 1326.[15] In his 1341 poem, The Iron Cannon Affair, one of the first accounts of the use of gunpowder artillery in China, Xian Zhang wrote that a cannonball fired from an eruptor could "pierce the heart or belly when it strikes a man or horse, and can even transfix several persons at once."[16] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2288 × 1712 pixel, file size: 875 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2288 × 1712 pixel, file size: 875 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Hand cannon from the Chinese Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). ... Capital Dadu Language(s) Mongolian Chinese Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1260-1294 Kublai Khan  - 1333-1370 (Cont. ... is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Diarmaid Mac Murrough has the abbey of Kildare in Ireland burned and the abbess raped. ... Northern Song in 1111 AD Capital Bianjing (汴京) (960–1127) Linan (臨安) (1127–1276) Language(s) Chinese Religion Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism Government Monarchy Emperor  - 960–976 Emperor Taizu  - 1126–1127 Emperor Qinzong  - 1127–1162 Emperor Gaozong  - 1278–1279 Emperor Bing History  - Zhao Kuangyin taking over the throne of the Later Zhou... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Huochong (Traditional Chinese: 火铳) is a tube-like, projection firearm. ...   (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Fu-chien; Postal map spelling: Fukien, Foukien; local transliteration Hokkien from Min Nan Hok-kiàn) is one of the provinces on the southeast coast of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Joseph Needham suggests that the proto-shells described in the Huolongjing may be among the first of their kind.[11] The Chinese also mounted over 3,000 bronze and iron casted cannon on the Great Wall of China, to defend themselves from the Mongols. The weapon was later taken up by both the Mongol conquerors and the Koreans. Chinese soldiers fighting under the Mongols appear to have used hand cannon in Manchurian battles during 1288, a date deduced from archaeological findings at battle sites.[17] Joseph Terence Montgomery Needham (December 9, 1900 – March 24, 1995) was a British biochemist and pre-eminent authority on the history of Chinese science. ... Shells of WWI. From left to right: 90 mm fragmentation shell - 120 mm pig iron incendiary shell 77/14 model - 75 mm high explosive shell model 16 - 75 mm fragmentation shell A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, contains an explosive or other filling... Ming Dynasty musketeers in drill formation. ... The Great Wall of China (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; literally Long wall) or (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; literally The long wall of 10,000 Li (里)[1]) is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th... For other uses, see Mongols (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In the 1593 Siege of Pyongyang, 40,000 Ming troops deployed a variety of cannon to bombard an equally large Japanese army. Despite both forces having similar numbers, the Japanese were defeated in one day, due to the Ming advantage in firepower. Throughout the Seven Year War in Korea, the Chinese-Korean coalition used artillery widely, in both land and naval battles.[18] Combatants Japanese army Korean army and Ming allies. ... For other uses, see Ming. ... Belligerents Korea under the Joseon Dynasty, China under the Ming Dynasty, Jianzhou Jurchens Japan under Toyotomi Hideyoshi Commanders Korea King Seonjo Crown Prince Gwanghae Yi Sun-sin†, Gwon Yul, Yu Seong-ryong, Yi Eok-gi†, Won Gyun†, Kim Myeong-won, Yi Il, Sin Rip†, Gwak Jae-u, Kim Si-min... [edit] Middle East See also: Inventions in the Islamic world A Great Turkish Bombard, a heavy bronze muzzle-loading cannon, similar to those used by the Ottoman Empire in the Siege of Constantinople, AD 1453 Portable hand cannon ("midfa," in Arabic) were first used by the Egyptians to repel the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260, and again in 1304.[19][20] The composition of the gunpowder used in these battles was later described in several manuscripts, written in the early 14th century. Four different mixtures were used, the most explosive having a composition (74% saltpeter, 11% sulfur, 15% carbon) almost identical to modern gunpowder (75% saltpeter, 10% sulfur, 15% carbon). These mixtures were more explosive than those used in either China or Europe during this period.[19][20] The Battle of Ain Jalut also saw the use of the earliest known gunpowder cartridges, employed by the Egyptians in their fire lances and hand cannon.[19] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 611 KB) Summary The Great Turkish Bombard is a siege gun dating from soon after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 611 KB) Summary The Great Turkish Bombard is a siege gun dating from soon after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. ... The Great Turkish Bombard is a siege gun dating from soon after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. ... A muzzleloader is any firearm into which the bullet is loaded from the muzzle of the gun (open end of the gun barrel). ... Motto دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1683, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299–1326) Bursa (1326–1365) Edirne (1365–1453) Constantinople (1453–1922) Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 (first) Osman I  - 1918–22 (last) Mehmed VI Grand Viziers  - 1320... Combatants  Byzantine Empire Ottoman Sultanate Commanders Constantine XI †, Loukas Notaras, Giovanni Giustiniani †[1] Mehmed II, ZaÄŸanos Pasha Strength 80,000[2] 80,000[1]-200,000[1][3] Casualties 4,000 dead[4] [5][6] unknown The Fall of Constantinople refers to the capture of the Byzantine Empires... Hand cannon from the Chinese Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). ... Arabic redirects here. ... For other uses, see Mongols (disambiguation). ... Combatants Egyptian Mamluks Mongols Commanders Saif ad-Din Qutuz, Baibars C * Kitbuqa + Strength About 20,000-30,000 About 10,000-20,000 The Battle of Ain Jalut (or Ayn Jalut, in Arabic: عين جالوت, the Eye of Goliath or the Spring of Goliath) took place on September 3, 1260 between the... R-phrases   S-phrases   Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... For other uses, see Carbon (disambiguation). ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The fire lance (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: huÇ’ qiāng) or fire spear is one of the first gunpowder weapons in the world. ... Hand cannon from the Chinese Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). ... The use of cannon as siege machines dates back to Abu Yaqub Yusuf, who employed them at the siege of Sijilmasa, in 1274, according to Ibn Khaldun.[19] Also intended for siege warfare, the first supergun, the Great Turkish Bombard, was used by the troops of Mehmed II to capture Constantinople, in 1453. Urban, a Hungarian cannon engineer, is credited with the invention of this cannon.[21] It had a 762 mm (30 in) bore, and could fire 544 kg (1,200 lb) stones a mile, and the sound of their blast could reportedly be heard from a distance of 10 miles (16 km).[21] The Great Turkish Bombards were cast in bronze and made in two parts: the chase and the breech, which, together, weighed 16 tonnes.[22] The two parts were screwed together using levers to facilitate the work. Another weapon invented in the Middle East, fashioned for killing infantry, was the first known autocannon. It was invented in the 16th century, by Fathullah Shirazi, a Persian-Indian polymath and mechanical engineer, who worked for Akbar the Great in the Mughal Empire. As opposed to the polybolos and repeating crossbows used earlier in Ancient Greece and China, respectively, Shirazi's rapid-firing machine had multiple gun barrels that fired hand cannon.[23] Replica battering ram at Château des Baux, France. ... Marinid Dynasty in its Greatest Extent, this map its wrong! The Anglicised name used for this article derives from the Arabic Banu Marin (also BenÄ« MerÄ«n, which is the source of the Spanish name). ... Sijilmasa (or Sijilmassa) was a mediaeval trade centre in the western Maghreb. ... Ibn KhaldÅ«n or Ibn Khaldoun (full name, Arabic: , ) (May 27, 1332 AD/732 AH – March 19, 1406 AD/808 AH), was a famous Berber Muslim polymath: a historian, historiographer, demographer, economist, philosopher, political theorist, sociologist and social scientist born in present-day Tunisia. ... A siege is a prolonged military blockade and assault of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition. ... A SuperGun (or super gun) is a device used to play arcade games in lieu of requiring a full arcade cabinet. ... The Great Turkish Bombard is a siege gun dating from soon after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. ... Mehmed II (Ottoman Turkish: محمد ثانى , Turkish: ), (also known as el-Fatih (الفاتح), the Conqueror, in Ottoman Turkish, or, in modern Turkish, Fatih Sultan Mehmet) (March 30, 1432 – May 3, 1481) was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to 1446, and later from 1451 to 1481. ... Combatants  Byzantine Empire Ottoman Sultanate Commanders Constantine XI †, Loukas Notaras, Giovanni Giustiniani †[1] Mehmed II, ZaÄŸanos Pasha Strength 80,000[2] 80,000[1]-200,000[1][3] Casualties 4,000 dead[4] [5][6] unknown The Fall of Constantinople refers to the capture of the Byzantine Empires... This article is about the city before the Fall of Constantinople (1453). ... Breech from Russian 122 mm M1910 howitzer, modified and combined with 105mm H37 howitzer barrel An interrupted screw style breech plug in the M109 howitzer An animation showing the loading cycle for a large naval breech-loader. ... This article is about the metric tonne. ... M242 Bushmaster autocannon on an M2 Bradley. ... This article is about the Persian people, an ethnic group found mainly in Iran. ... Leonardo da Vinci, a polymath, is seen as the epitome of the related term, Renaissance Man A polymath (Greek polymathÄ“s, πολυμαθής, having learned much)[1][2] is a person with encyclopedic, broad, or varied knowledge or learning. ... Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar ( Jalāl ud-DÄ«n Mohammad Akbar), also known as Akbar the Great (Akbar-e-Azam) (October 24, 1542 – October 17 or October 27, 1605)[3][4] was the son of Nasiruddin Humayun whom he succeeded as ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1556 to 1605. ... Capital Delhi / Agra Language(s) Persian (initially also Chagatai, Turkish; later also Urdu) Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1526-1530 Babur  - 1530–1539 and after restoration 1555–1556 Humayun  - 1556–1605 Akbar  - 1605–1627 Jahangir  - 1628–1658 Shah Jahan  - 1659–1707 Aurangzeb History  - Established April 21, 1526  - Ended September 21, 1857 Area... The polybolos was a repeating ballista invented by Dionysius of Alexandria used in antiquity, capable of firing multiple rounds without reloading like a modern machine gun. ... Chinese repeating crossbow A repeating crossbow or Chu-ko-nu (Chinese: 連弩) is a crossbow where the separate actions of stringing the bow, placing the bolt and firing it can be accomplished with a simple one-handed movement, all the while keeping the crossbow stationary. ... The term ancient Greece refers to the periods of Greek history in Classical Antiquity, lasting ca. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... [edit] Medieval Europe Main article: Cannon in the Middle Ages Earliest picture of a European cannon, "De Nobilitatibus Sapientii Et Prudentiis Regum," Walter de Milemete, 1326 In Europe, the first mention of gunpowder's composition in express terms appeared, in Roger Bacon's "De nullitate magiæ" at Oxford, published in 1216.[24] Later, in 1248, his "Opus Maior" describes a recipe for gunpowder and recognized its military use: Late medieval bronze culverins and demi-cannon. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 374 pixelsFull resolution (2722 × 1273 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 374 pixelsFull resolution (2722 × 1273 pixel, file size: 1. ... For the Nova Scotia premier see Roger Bacon (politician). ... "We can, with saltpeter and other substances, compose artificially a fire that can be launched over long distances ... By only using a very small quantity of this material much light can be created accompanied by a horrible fracas. It is possible with it to destroy a town or an army ... In order to produce this artificial lightning and thunder it is necessary to take saltpeter, sulfur, and Luru Vopo Vir Can Utriet."[25] The first confirmed use of gunpowder in Europe was the Moorish cannon, first used by the Andalusians in Spain, at the siege of Seville in 1248, and the siege of Niebla in 1262.[19][26] By this time, hand guns were probably in use, as scopettieri—"gun bearers"—were mentioned in conjunction with crossbowmen, in 1281. In Spain, the "first artillery-masters on the Peninsula" were enlisted, at around the same time.[27] For other uses, see moor. ... Al-Andalus is the Arabic name given the Iberian Peninsula by its Muslim conquerors; it refers to both the Caliphate proper and the general period of Muslim rule (711–1492). ... For other uses, see Seville (disambiguation). ... Map of Niebla, Huelva Niebla is a town and municipality located in the province of Huelva, Spain. ... This article is about the weapon. ... Western European handgun, 1380 The first metal cannon was the pot-de-fer. Loaded with an arrow-like bolt that was probably wrapped in leather to allow greater thrusting power, it was set off through a touch hole with a heated wire. This weapon, and others similar, were used by both the French and English, during the Hundred Years' War, when cannon saw their first real use on the European battlefield.[26] Even then, cannon were still a relatively rare weapon. "Ribaldis," which shot large arrows and simplistic grapeshot, were first mentioned in the English Privy Wardrobe accounts during preparations for the Battle of Crécy, between 1345 and 1346.[28] The Florentine Giovanni Villani recounts their destructiveness, indicating that by the end of the battle, "the whole plain was covered by men struck down by arrows and cannon balls."[28] Similar cannon were also used at the Siege of Calais, in the same year, although it was not until the 1380s that the "ribaudekin" clearly became mounted on wheels.[28] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 346 pixelsFull resolution (2653 × 1147 pixel, file size: 652 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 346 pixelsFull resolution (2653 × 1147 pixel, file size: 652 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... A Browning 9 millimeter Hi-Power Ordnance pistol of the French Navy, 19th century, using a Percussion cap mechanism Derringers were small and easily hidden. ... Note: a quarrel may also mean an argument or fight. ... Combatants France Castile Scotland Genoa Majorca Bohemia Crown of Aragon Brittany England Burgundy Brittany Portugal Navarre Flanders Hainaut Aquitaine Luxembourg Holy Roman Empire The Hundred Years War was a conflict between France and England, lasting 116 years from 1337 to 1453. ... Grapeshot was a kind of anti-personnel ammunition used in cannons. ... Crécy redirects here. ... Giovanni Villani (ca 1275-1348), the Florentine writer of the famous chronicles (the Cronica) is the greatest Italian chronicler of his own times and the cornerstone of the early medieval history of Florence. ... Combatants Kingdom of England Kingdom of France Commanders Edward III of England Jean de Fosseux Strength 34,000 men: 5,300 knights, 6,600 infantry, 20,000 archers, 2,000 Flemish soldiers 7,000 to 8,000 citizens The Siege of Calais in northern France began in 1346, towards the... The first cannon appeared in Russia around 1380, though they were used only in sieges, often by the defenders.[29] Around the same period, the Byzantine Empire began to accumulate its own cannon to face the Ottoman threat, starting with medium-sized cannon 3 feet (0.91 m) long and of 10 in caliber.[30] The first definite use of artillery in the region was against the Ottoman siege of Constantinople, in 1396, forcing the Ottomans to withdraw.[30] They acquired their own cannon, and laid siege to the Byzantine capital again, in 1422, using "falcons," which were short but wide cannon. By 1453, the Ottomans used 68 Hungarian-made cannon for the 55-day bombardment of the walls of Constantinople, "hurling the pieces everywhere and killing those who happened to be nearby."[30] The largest of their cannon was the Great Turkish Bombard, which required an operating crew of 200 men[31] and 70 oxen, and 10,000 men to transport it.[30] Gunpowder made the formerly devastating Greek fire obsolete, and with the final fall of Constantinople,—which was protected by what were once the strongest walls in Europe—on May 29, 1453, "it was the end of an era in more ways than one."[32] Byzantine redirects here. ... Motto دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1683, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299–1326) Bursa (1326–1365) Edirne (1365–1453) Constantinople (1453–1922) Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 (first) Osman I  - 1918–22 (last) Mehmed VI Grand Viziers  - 1320... This article is about the city before the Fall of Constantinople (1453). ... A falconet was a medieval cannon of fairly light construction which fired 1-pound solid round shot projectiles. ... Map showing Constantinople and its walls during the Byzantine era The Walls of Constantinople are a series of stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul in Turkey) since its founding as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. ... The Great Turkish Bombard is a siege gun dating from soon after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. ... Greek fire was a burning-liquid weapon used by the Byzantine Greeks, typically in naval battles to great effect as it could continue burning even on water. ... is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... April 2 - Mehmed II begins his siege of Constantinople (Ä°stanbul). ... Dante by Michelino The Late Middle Ages is a term used by historians to describe European history in the period of the 14th to 16th centuries (AD 1300–1500). ... [edit] Early modern period The Tsar Cannon, the largest howitzer ever made, casted by Andrey Chokhov[33] By the 1500s, cannon were made in a great variety of lengths and bore diameters, but the general rule was that the longer the barrel, the longer the range. Some cannon made during this time had barrels exceeding 10 ft (3.0 m) in length, and could weigh up to 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg). Consequently, large amounts of gunpowder were needed, to allow them to fire stone balls several hundred yards.[34] By mid-century, European monarchs began to classify cannon to reduce the confusion. Henry II of France opted for six sizes of cannon,[35] but others settled for more; the Spanish used twelve sizes, and the English sixteen.[36][37] Better powder had been developed by this time as well. Instead of the finely ground powder used by the first bombards, powder was replaced by a "corned" variety of coarse grains. This coarse powder had pockets of air between grains, allowing fire to travel through and ignite the entire charge quickly and uniformly.[38] A view of the Tsar Pushka, showing its massive bore and cannonballs, and the Lions head cast into the carriage. ... 19th century 12 pounder (5 kg) mountain howitzer displayed by the National Park Service at Fort Laramie in Wyoming, USA A howitzer is a type of artillery piece that is characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small explosive charges to propel projectiles at trajectories with... Andrey Chokhov, also spelled Chekhov (Андрей Чохов (Чехов) in Russian) (c. ... Henry II (French: Henri II) (March 31, 1519 – July 10, 1559), a member of the Valois Dynasty, was King of France from March 31, 1547, until his death. ... The end of the Middle Ages saw the construction of larger, more powerful cannon, as well their spread throughout the world. As they were not effective at breaching the newer fortifications resulting from the development of cannon, siege engines—such as siege towers and trebuchets—became less widely used. However, wooden "battery-towers" took on a similar role as siege towers in the gunpowder age—such as that used at siege of Kazan in 1552, which could hold ten large-caliber cannon, in addition to 50 lighter pieces.[39] Another notable effect of cannon on warfare during this period was the change in conventional fortifications. Niccolò Machiavelli wrote, "There is no wall, whatever its thickness that artillery will not destroy in only a few days."[40] Although castles were not immediately made obsolete by cannon, their use and importance on the battlefield rapidly declined.[41] Instead of majestic towers and merlons, the walls of new fortresses were thicker, angulated, and sloped, while towers became lower and stouter; increasing use was also made of earthen, brick, and stone breastworks and redoubts. These new defenses became known as "star forts," after their characteristic shape.[41] A few of these featured cannon batteries, such as the Tudors' Device Forts, in England.[41] Star forts soon replaced castles in Europe, and, eventually, those in the Americas, as well.[42] Replica battering ram at Château des Baux, France. ... 19th century French drawing of a medieval belfry. ... For the typeface, see Trebuchet MS. Trebuchet at Château des Baux, France A trebuchet is a siege engine employed in the Middle Ages either to smash masonry walls or to throw projectiles over them. ... A modern black powder substitute for muzzleloading rifles in FFG size Gunpowder (also called black powder) is a pyrotechnic composition, an explosive mixture of sulfur, charcoal and potassium nitrate (also known as saltpetre or saltpeter) that burns rapidly, producing volumes of hot solids and gases which can be used as... Combatants Muscovite Russia Qasim Khanate Taw yağı 1 Kazan Khanate Cheremis and Ar warriors Nogay cavalry Commanders Ivan IV of Russia Alexander Gorbatyi-Shuisky Andrey Kurbsky Shahghali Yadegar Moxammat # Yapancha bak â€  Zaynash morza # Qolsharif â€  Strength 150,000 men, 150 cannons unknown battleship some siege towers 33,000 men2- 50,000... Machiavelli redirects here. ... For other uses, see Castle (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A merlon, in architecture, forms the solid part of an embattled parapet between the embrasures, sometimes pierced by loopholes. ... A Breastwork is a fortification. ... A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort. ... Bourtange fortification, restored to 1750 situation, Groningen, Netherlands A Star Fort is a fortification in the style that evolved during the Age of Blackpowder when cannon came to dominate the battlefield. ... Remains of a battery of English cannon from Youghal, County Cork. ... For other uses, see Tudor (disambiguation). ... The Device Forts are a series of artillery fortifications built in England by Henry VIII. After his divorce of Catherine of Aragon left England politically isolated, a treaty between France and Spain in 1538 aroused fears of invasion. ... Fort Bourtange, a star fort, was built with angles and sloped walls specifically to defend against cannon. By end of the 15th century, several technological advancements were made, making cannon more mobile. Wheeled gun carriages and trunnions became common, and the invention of the limber further facilitated the transportation of artillery.[43] As a result, field artillery became viable, and began to emerge, often used alongside the larger cannon intended for sieges.[44][43] The better gunpowder, improved, cast-iron projectiles, and the standardization of calibers meant that even relatively light cannon could be deadly.[43] In The Art of War, Niccolò Machiavelli observed that "It is true that the arquebuses and the small artillery do much more harm than the heavy artillery."[40] This was the case at Flodden, in 1513: the English field guns outpaced the Scottish siege artillery, firing twice, or even thrice, as many rounds.[45] Despite the increased maneuverability, however, cannon were still much slower than the rest of the army: a heavy English cannon required 23 horses to transport, while a culverin, nine, yet, even with this many animals transporting them, they still moved at a walking pace. Due to their relatively slow speed, and lack of organization, discipline, and tactics, the combination of pike and shot still dominated the battlefields of Europe.[46] Fortification Bourtange, Groningen province, Netherlands. ... Fortification Bourtange, Groningen province, Netherlands. ... Bourtange fortification, restored to 1750 situation, Groningen, Netherlands A Star Fort is a fortification in the style that evolved during the Age of Blackpowder when cannon came to dominate the battlefield. ... The trunnions are the protrusions from the side of the barrel that rest on the carriage A trunnion is a cylindrical protrusion used as a mounting point. ... Franklin D. Roosevelts funeral procession. ... Union Army gun squad at drill, c. ... The Art of War (Dellarte della guerra), is one of the lesser- read works of Florentine statesman and political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli. ... Machiavelli redirects here. ... Japanese arquebus of the Edo era (teppō) Example of an arquebus The arquebus (sometimes spelled harquebus, harkbus[1] or hackbut; from Dutch haakbus, meaning hook gun[2]) was a primitive firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. ... Belligerents Kingdom of England Kingdom of Scotland Commanders Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey James IV † Strength 25,000 30,000 5,000 French knights and infantry Casualties and losses 1,500 10,000 - 12,000 (in addition to a large number missing) Western side of the battlefield, looking south-south... A field gun is an artillery piece. ... A culverin is a cannon that fires an 18-pound solid round shot. ... A 16th century pamphlet showing a mixed pike and shot formation. ... Innovations continued, notably the German invention of the mortar, a thick-walled, short-barreled gun that blasted shot upward at a steep angle. Mortars were useful for sieges, as they could fire over walls and other defenses.[47] This cannon found more use with the Dutch, who learned to shoot bombs filled with powder from them. However, setting the bomb fuse in the mortar was a problem. "Single firing" was the first technique used to set the fuse, where the bomb was placed with the fuse down against the propelling charge. This practice often resulted in the fuse being blown into the bomb, causing it to blow up in front of the mortar. Because of this danger, "double firing" was developed, where the fuse was turned up and the gunner lighted the fuse and the touch hole simultaneously. This, however, required much skill and timing, and was especially dangerous when the gun failed to fire, leaving a lighted bomb in the barrel. Not until 1650 was it accidentally discovered that double-lighting was a superfluous process: the heat of firing was enough to light the fuse.[48] US soldier loading a M224 60-mm mortar. ... The use of gabions with cannon was an important part in the attack and defense of fortifications. Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden emphasized the use of light cannon and mobility in his army, and created new formations and tactics that revolutionized artillery. He discontinued using all 12 pounder—or heavier—cannon as field artillery, preferring, instead, to use cannon that could be manned by only a few men. One gun, called the "leatheren," could be serviced by only two persons, but was abandoned, replaced by 4 pounder and 9 pounder demi-culverins. These could be operated by three men, and pulled by only two horses. Also, Adolphus's army was the first to use a special cartridge that contained both powder and shot, which sped up loading, and therefore increased the rate of fire.[49] Additionally, he pioneered the use of canister shot against infantry, which was essentially a can, filled with musket balls.[50] At the time, for each thousand infantrymen, there was one cannon on the battlefield; Gustavus Adolphus increased the number of cannon in his army so dramatically, that there were six cannon for each one thousand infantry. Each regiment was assigned two pieces, though he often decided to arrange his artillery into batteries, instead. These were to decimate the enemy's infantry, while his cavalry outflanked their heavy guns.[51] At the Battle of Breitenfeld, in 1631, Adolphus proved the effectiveness of the changes made to his army, in particular his artillery, by defeating Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly. Although severely outnumbered, the Swedes were able to fire between three and five times as many volleys of artillery without losing ground, due to their infantry's linear formations. Battered by cannon fire, and low on morale, Tilly's men broke rank, and fled.[52] Image File history File links Gabions. ... Image File history File links Gabions. ... Historically, Gabions were round cages with open tops and bottoms, made from wicker and filled with earth for use as fortifications. ... The Lion of the North: Gustavus Adolphus at the famous turning point Battle of Breitenfield (1631) against the forces of the redoubtable Count Tilly. ... Demi-culverin is a seventeenth century term for a cannon which fired a nine solid pound shot (a culverin fired an eighteen pound shot); also known as a saker. ... Canister shot was a kind of anti-personnel ammunition used in cannons. ... Remains of a battery of English cannon from Youghal, County Cork. ... The Battle of Marathon, an example of the double-envelopment, a form of flanking maneuver In military tactics, a flanking maneuver, also called a flank attack, is an attack on the sides (or, less often, the rear [1]) of an opposing force. ... Combatants  Sweden  Saxony  Holy Roman Empire Catholic League Commanders Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden John George I, Elector of Saxony Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly Strength Sweden 23,500 Saxony 18,000 (deserted during onset of battle) 35,000 Casualties 5,500 dead/wounded 7... Count Tilly on a portrait by van Dyck Bronze statue of Count Tilly in the Feldherrnhalle in Munich Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly (Nivelles,February 1559 - Ingolstadt, April 30, 1632) was a General (Field Marshal) who commanded the Imperial and Holy Roman Empires forces in the Thirty Years War... The Line Formation was a standard tactical formation used throughout history. ... Around this time also came the idea of aiming the cannon to hit a target. Gunners controlled the range of their cannon by measuring the angle of elevation, using a "gunner's quadrant." Cannon did not have sights, therefore, even with measuring tools, aiming was still largely guesswork.[53] A quadrant is an instrument that is used to measure angles up to 90°. // There are several types of quadrants: Mural quadrants used for measuring the altitudes of astronomical objects. ... Sight of a Sig 550 rifle (muzzle) Sight of a Sig 550 rifle (stock) A sight is an optical device used to assist aim by guiding the eye and aligning it with the weapon or other item to be pointed. ... In the latter half of the 17th century, the French engineer Vauban introduced a more systematic and scientific approach to attacking gunpowder fortresses, in a time when m