| Cannon is a type of artillery gun, differing from other members of barrel artillery, such as howitzer or mortar, with elongated barrel, high initial projectile speed but with small maximum angle of elevation. Conventional boundary between the howitzers and gun barrel is its length in 25 mm calibre. If the barrel length is less than 25 mm calibre, then the weapon is classified as howitzer and if length is more, then it is considered as cannon.
Basic function of the cannons is firing along flat trajectory on the objects of an enemy. Firing from cannons can be carried out from firing position of closed viewpoint at un-aimed targets (artillery batteries of enemy, columns of marching troops and at concentrated and inhabited localities) as well as through aiming (point-blank) — at tanks, ships and enemy fortifications. Specialized cannons on carriages with circular bombardment and very high angle of elevation are used as antiaircraft gun, meant for fighting the bombers of enemy. Other type of specialized cannons is antitank guns (ATG). The angle of elevation and initial velocity of projectile are very less in antitank guns and are used mainly for firing at point-blank at armor technology of enemy. Sizes and weight of antitank guns (ATG) are taken into consideration while manufacturing so as to facilitate the transportation and camouflaging of them at a site. In modern times, in connection with modernization and development in aviation and missile technology, antitank and large-calibre non-automatic antiaircraft cannons, to a large extent, are replaced by other combat means with armored and air targets.
Cannons, for the first time ("Fire lances") appeared in Chine and were made of bamboo. At least, the cannons were known from 1132.
Mortars were used in battles between Mongolians and Song dynasty (1268-1279).
4 Arabic manuscripts (Al-Makhzan manuscripts) exist: One of the manuscripts is stored in St. Petersburg, two in Paris and one in Istanbul, belonging to 1320 year describing the first transportable cannon with the usage of gun powder. Its description, principally, is almost identical to the modern cannons.
During the 14 hundred years, development of artillery continued by Mamluk dynasty. Muslims started the usage of artillery in the battles against Mongolia as in famous Ain-Galut battle. In Spain, Muslims used the cannons while protecting the Seville (1248), Grenada (1319), Albasetti (1324), near Heskar Martose (1325), Alicante (1331) & near Algeciras (1342-1344).
Modern author J. Partington quite rightly states that “History of Artillery in Spain dates back to artillery of Arabs” and also notes that “Arabs brought firearms to Spain, from where it sneaked into Italy, France and Germany”.
Tsar Cannon: Masterpiece of Russian casting art in the workshop of Andrey Chokhov. It would be more precise to call it a bombard. At that time, the Tsar Cannon was the largest artillery weapon in the world.
Atomic Cannon: Meant for firing at land and sea targets with projectiles, equipped with nuclear charge. One of the first specimens of such systems was 280 mm cannon, manufactured in USA. In 1953, USA conducted trails on range in Nevada State and nuclear projectile with a weight of approximately 360 kg was used in the firing trials. |
