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Cannons and Artillery: Heavy Weapons Through the Centuries

January 1, 2010

The word ‘cannon’ derives from many languages where it was originally defined and can be translated as cane or tube. In modern times, ‘cannon’ is not used so much and words such as ‘guns’ or ‘artillery’ have generally replaced the older word. Sometimes more specific terms can be used and names like ‘mortar’ or ‘howitzer’ can be heard over most military radios.

A cannon is any hollowed piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or another explosive-based propellant to fire a large projectile. Cannons come with different calibers, ranges and they also come with different mobility, rates of fire, firepower and fire angles. Depending on their intended use on the battlefield, different cannons combine these key characteristics in different ways, for instance some will sacrifice mobility for more firepower.

Cannons were designed in medieval China and they were probably among the earliest gunpowder pieces. Over time they replaced conventional equipment such as siege engines and siege towers as a means of command on the battlefield. The oldest cannons in Europe were apparently used in Iberia, during the Spanish war there in the 13th century and English cannon were first fired at the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

Cannons became largely standardized during this late medieval era and they became far more effective in both anti-infantry and siege roles. Afterwards large cannons were abandoned in favor of greater numbers of lighter more maneuverable weapons. Tactics became much more advanced making most contemporary defensive measures obsolete. This, in turn led to the development of star forts, larger stone palisades specifically designed to repel artillery and other associated tactics.

As grooves in the barrel which spin the projectile (rifling) became more widespread, the accuracy potential of artillery was drastically improved, and they became more lethal (particularly where infantry were concerned) than ever before. In World War I, much of the overall death toll was caused by cannons and they were also widely deployed in WW2. Except for the heaviest naval guns, which have been replaced by smart missiles, most modern cannons are very similar to those deployed during WW2.

For instance, current autocannons are nearly identical to their World War 2 relatives. Indeed, though there is no minimum bore for autocannon ammo, the only real difference between modern weapons and World War 2 models is that the new pieces are generally larger than heavy MGs, typically 20mm or greater since World War 2. They have an auto firing system, similar to that of a field MG. They also have an automatic loading system and therefore have a faster rate of fire than other artillery pieces.

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