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For other uses, see Cannon (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Canon.

A cannon is a type of artillery, usually large and tubular in shape, that uses gunpowder to propel a projectile over a distance. Cannons vary in size, range, mobility, rate of fire, and fire power; different types of cannon combine these attributes in varying degrees to carry out their intended purpose. They were first used in China, and were the earliest form of gunpowder artillery. The first cannon in Europe were probably used by the Moors in the 12th century, at Saragossa, Spain. English cannon were first used during the Hundred Years War, when small, primitive cannon were used at the Battle of Crécy, in 1346. The end of the Middle Ages saw the introduction of more standardised and effective cannon. In modern military use, cannon generally refers to a high velocity, low trajectory, direct fire weapon, such as the main gun on most main battle tanks.

The many types of cannon have evolved over time: from the early Arab hand cannon and Great Turkish Bombards, to the first wheeled cannon—such as the field gun or falconet—and the more modern guns, for example the howitzer, or the rapid-fire autocannon.

Etymology

The term cannon is derived from the Old Italian word, "cannone",—meaning "large tube"—from Latin, "canna", originating from the Greek word, "kanna", and ultimately the Akkadian "qanu"—which meant "tube". The word cannon has been used to refer to a gun since 1326, in Italy, and 1418, in England. Bombardum—or "bombard"—was the earliest-used word for "cannon", but from 1430 onwards, it came to refer only to the largest weapons. "Cannon" serves both as the singular and plural of the noun, although the plural "cannons" is also correct.

Types of cannon

Cannon may be used to refer to several types of weapons, spanning different time periods. The term also applies to the autocannon, a modern gun with a caliber of 20 mm or more. Autocannons have been used extensively in fighter aircraft since World War II, and are sometimes used on land vehicles as well.

While "cannon" has come to refer to cannon in general, the term originally referred to the largest—42lb (19kg) or more—pieces.

Cannon projectiles

Main article: List of cannon projectiles

History

Main article: History of cannon

The first cannon in Europe probably appeared in Moorish and Christian Spain. They eventually came to dominate warfare, creating the first gunpowder empires.

The end of the Middle Ages saw the construction of ever larger and more powerful cannon. Asia saw the construction of some of the world's largest cannon, such as the Indian Jaivana cannon. The "giant gun" trend eventually disappeared as improvements in technology lead to the use of larger numbers of lighter, more maneuverable pieces, presaging the use of modern field artillery. While the medieval Dardanelles Gun had required 200 men to operate, 18th century English cannon required only a dozen men, while during the Napoleonic Wars only five gunners were used.

The Age of Discovery brought cannon to the Americas. With European colonisation and their navies vying for supremacy, the use of cannon spread throughout the world. Forts featuring cannon batteries were built during and after the Renaissance.