History of Cannons

Pre-1800s Cannons
Hand Cannon
Manufacture:
- Unknown
- Earliest documented use was from Arabic manuscripts
Design:
- Simple Weapon
- Barrel with a handle (many different designs)
- Touch hole drilled throught the side wall of the gun
- Flash pan (had leather cover, kept powder dry to prevent premature firing)
Battles:
- Used in the battle of Ain Jalut in 1260 the invading Mongols by the Mamluks
Ammunition Types:
- Some fired pebbles found on the ground
- Shaped balles of stone
- Iron
- Arrows

“Hand Cannon”.  Wikipedia.  12 Jan. 2011.  17 Jan. 2011.  1:20.  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hand_cannon>

Carronade
Manufacture:
- Developed for the Royal Navy by the Carronade Company (an ironworks in Falkirk, Scotland)
Design:
- Low muzzle velocity, short-range naval weapon
Battles:
- Fought on ships, known as the smasher because it would devastate the enemy vessel, caused massive splinters
- Became popular on British merchant ships during American Revolutionary War
Ammunition Types:
- Used grapeshot ammunition

 

“Carronade”.  Wikipedia.  18 Dec. 2010.  13 Jan. 2011.  2:10. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/carronade#history> 

“Carronade”.  HMS Victory.  16 Jan. 2011.  6:06. 

  <http://www.hms-victory.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61&Itemid=91>

1800-1900s Cannons
Howitzer
Manufacture:
- Invented by the Dutch in the 17th century
Design:
- Significantly heavier than earlier howitzer
- Became more "gun-like" in early 1900s (longer barrel, higher velocities, larger propelling charges, smaller shells, flatter trajectories)
Battles:
- Civil War
- Russo-Turkish War
- World War I
Ammuntion Types:
- Shells

“Howitzer”.  Wikipedia.  10 Jan. 2011.  18 Jan. 2011.  10:39.  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/howitzer>

“Cannon- Howitzers”.  The Pirate King.  18 Jan. 2011.  10:42.  <http://www.thepirateking.com/historical/cannon_howitzers.htm

“Modern Howitzer”.  Visual Dictionary Online.  18 Jan. 2011.  10:45.  http://visual.merriam-webster.com/society/weapons/modern-howitzer.php

Mortars
Manufacture:
- Sir Wilfred Stokes devised modern mortar transportable by one person in 1915
- The Germans also developed mortars during World War I
Design:
- Indirect fire weapon
- Fires shells at low velocity, short ranges and high-arching ballistic trajectories
- Barrel, base plate and bipod
Battles:
- Worls War I
- Russo-Japanese War
Ammunition Types:
- Shells/bombs

“Mortar Weapon”.  Wikipedia.  12 Jan. 2011.  18 Jan. 2011.  9:40.  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortar_(weapon)#History>  

24 July 2010.  18 Jan. 2011.  9:47.  <http://www.rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/4pt2M2.htm>

1900s Modern Cannons
Bradley Fighting Vehicle
Manufacture:
- BAE Systems Land and Armaments
- Used by United States and Saudi Arabia
Design:
- Holds three crew men (commander, gunner, driver) and six fully equipped soldiers
- As fast as the M1 Abrams
- Primary Armament is a 25 mm cannon, fires up to 200 rounds per minute and is accurate up to 2500 meters
Battles:
- The Iraq War
Ammuntion Types:
- Shells

“Bradley Fighting Vehicle”.  Wikipedia.  22 Jan. 2011.  22 Jan. 2011.  10:26.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Fighting_Vehicle  

Ariete
Manufacture:
- Main battle tank of the Italian army
- Developed by a consortium formed by Iveco-Fiat and Ota Melara
Design:
- Carries the latest optical digital-imaging and fire control systems enabling it to fire day and night and fire while moving
- Mounted with 120 mm smoothbore cannon
Battles:
- Iraq War
Ammunition Types:
- APFSDS (armor-peircing fin-stabalised)
- HEAT (high explosive ant-tank)

“Ariete”.  Wikipedia.  24 Dec. 2010.  23 Jan. 2011.  5:48.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C1_Ariete

“Ariete - Definition”.   WordiQ.  23 Jan. 2011.  5:51.  http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Ariete 

Economic Impact:
When the cannon was made the new weapon was a great acheivement.  The cannon created new bussinesses and jobs for people which helped money flow.  This weapon, when used in wars, could defeat the opposing party and help the other party take the enemies money and take over their nation.

Social Impact:
The cannon could construct or deconstruct relationships. It depends on the situation. In a war, if the cannon helps one nation win, that nation could take over their enemies land and force a relationship between the two countries or destroy the one they had had before.