History of Cannons : Design

pre-1800s:

1300's -  Hand cannon :

• Hand cannon was the first handgun ever invented. It was invented in China and was also used in Egypt.  It was used in battles, and although it doesn't look like it it proved to be very effective and could kill armored soldiers.  The cannon was effective from 50 meters to 300 meters. The closer the opponent was, the more effective it proved to be.

                                       

Manufacture:

• China

Design:

• The barrel was shorter than the firearms created afterwards
• Made from wrought iron or bronze
• weights varied; 1.5kg ~ 15kg
• attached to wooden stock (easier to use)
• Designed so that one person can hold the cannon firmly while another ignites the cannon or have the cannon propped against something and the gunner can ignite the cannon by himself.

Battles: Battle of Ain Jalut- battle between the Egyptians and Mongols

Ammunition Types: Varied; some used pebbles and others used balls of stone, arrows, or iron
(from American Legion's Burnpit)

1700s- Falconet:

• The falconet was developed during the Middle Ages and were mainly used during the American Revolution.

Manufacture: Mostly used in American Revolution; oversized matchlock musket

Design:

• barrel = 4ft long
• caliber = 2in
• weighed 500lbs
• light for a cannon
• Used Black Powder

Battle: American Revolution

Ammunition Type: grapeshot/ 1lb round shot



(wikipedia)
1800 -1900s:

1857~ 1863- Smooth bore 12-pounder Napoleon Gun

• This "Gun", or cannon, was used from the years 1857 to 1863. It was a common weapon used during the Civil War. Its maximum shooting range is up to 1,619 yards. Its name comes from the French Emperor Louis Napoleon III. The north and the south both used this cannon, but they manufactured it differently.

Manufacture: France

Design:

• made with bronze(confederacy)
• The bronze made the cannons stronger and safer than the ones made of iron (confederacy)
• had a swell at the muzzle (Union)
• made with iron (Union)

Battle: Civil War

Ammunition Type: 12-pound round cannonball



(from CivilWarTalk.com)

1900s- "Dora" (Heavy Gustav) Railroad Cannon

Manufacture: Germany

Design:

• Width : 7m
• Height : 11.6m
• Weight : 1,350 tons
• Barrel Length: 32.48m
• Very useful because it was mobile and powerful

Battle: World War II

Ammunition Type: 7.1 ton armor capped projectile/ 4.8 ton high explosive projectile




1900s to Today:

1941- British Howitzers

• This cannon was used in the beginning of World War I. At first it had a very limited shooting range, but when the war neared the end the cannon was able to fire 900kg shells over 18km. Useful to hide behind because it was massive.

Manufacture: Great Britain

Design:

• long barreled field gun
• short barrel
• aimed high

Battle: World War I

Ammunition Type: heavy shells

81 mm M1 Mortar

• Sometimes called "infantry artillery" or "hip pocket artillery" and were capable of laying down heavy barrages. They were used by the marine during the World War II.

Manufacture:  U.S.

Design:

• A portable muzzleloading cannon
• It shot with high trajectory (40-80 degrees)
• 136lbs
• shoots from 100 to 3,290 yards

Battle: World War II

Ammunition Types: shells