Hisory Component

Cannon Designs

Pre-1800s:

Falconet:

Developed during the late 15th century, the Falconet can fire a round shot approximately 5,000 feet.This cannon got its name from the small lethal shots of weight that was equal to the weight a bird prey, resulting in a falcon design on it. The falconet was a light cannonmiddle ages. Its barrel was approximately 4 feet long, had a caliber of 2 inches and weighed approximately 500 pounds. This used 0.5 pounds of black powder to fire a 1 pound round shot They could also be used to fire grapeshot. This cannon was used heavily during the Thirty Years War, English Civil War, US Civil War, American Revolution and as Naval    Artillery during the Age of Sail.

Tsar:

 The Tsar Cannon is a huge cannon commissioned by Tsar Feodor and Andrei Chokhov in 1586. This cannon weighs about 44.3 tons, has a length of 17.5 ft, a bronze-cast  barrel with a diameter of 35 in, and an external diameter of 47.2 in. It was originally created with the purpose of defending the Kremlin's Savior Gate, which leads to Red Square, in Moscow,  but the canon was never actually fired and has remained on display in the Kremlin as a fine example of Russian workmanship. The Tsar cannon fires 800kg grapeshots for ammunition.

Cannon

 1800-1900:


Napoleon: 

This cannon is a bronze smoothbore cannon that fires twelve pound shot, shell and canister rounds. The Napoleon is also referred to as the 12-pounder bronze gun, model of 1857 because of the year it was made and the type of ammunition it uses. The Napoleon was considered as a light cannon, all though it weight about 1,200 lbs and can fire ammunition about 300 yards, with accuracy. During the American Revolution, this cannon was used by both sides but most-favored by the north,  specifically in the battle of Gettysburg. These cannons were typically manufactured Massachusetts by the Ames Company and the Revere Copper Company, but they were also made in Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, Georgia and South Carolina.

Gatling Gun:
Designed by Richard J Gatling in 1861, and patented in 1862, some say this cannon was the first ever prototype of the machine gun because of its rapid-fire. Although the first Gatling gun was capable of firing continuously, it required a person to crank it; therefore it was not a true automatic weapon. The first time this cannon was ever employed in combat was during the American Civil War in the 1860s, but it was also later used during the Spanish-American War. The Gatling gun's operation centered on a cyclic multi-barrel design. Each of the six barrels fired a single shot when it reached a certain point in the cycle. The Gatling gun used .58 caliber ammunition when in use.

1900- Modern Day:

Field Howitzer Cannon:

This cannon is known for its short barrel length and the use of explosive charges to propel ammunition, which were shells,  at high trajectories. Because of this, a Howitzer can be characterized as a “mix” between a gun and a mortar. This cannon was used heavily throughout WWI and WWII, but an earlier variation of this cannon was used during the Battle of Manila, in 1899. The earliest type of a howitzer cannon was developed during the late 17th century, but the field howitzer was not made until the 20th century in Europe.

 Autocannon: QF 2 Pounder Mark VIII

This cannon fires steel-link belts or shells as fast as a machine gun, which is why it is a form of autocannon. Originating in Great Britain, this cannon began to be designed in 1923 for the Royal Navy, but it was not until 1930 that it entered the service. This cannon was used in the naval battles during various British battles. The QF 2 Pounder Mark VIII weighs 850 lbs and is 102.6 in long. This cannon has 8 barrels and has a rate of fire of 115 rpm and shoots at 2,400 ft per second.. In can shoot 13,300 ft effectively, but a maximum of 15,000 ft and has a calibre of 1.575 in. 

Economical Impacts:

Making newly invented cannons helped the economy by providing many jobs to people in the surrounding area, but cannons could also be very hurtful to an areas economy as well. It is expensive to make cannons, but if there is a good design behind it a new cannon has the potential to be extremely beneficial to an area's economy. If a cannon works well, it could pay for itself tenfold by helping a country conquer enemy territory, resulting in having all of the enemy's money. Cannons could also help with raiding a surrounding area to get money, even if it means not conquering. Either way would greatly help a country's economy. Also, if a cannon goes well, there is a good chance that new variations/models of the cannon will be created, which means businesses will open and more jobs will be provided. On the other hand, if  a cannon doesn't work as planned, a lot of people would not have jobs and the expense to make the cannon would hurt the economy.


Social Impacts:
While they do help protect a country & citizens and better prepare the military for battle, cannons also promote violence, which could lead to conflicts with other nations or even within a nation/community. By having cannons, it is easier to conquer land, which would destroy the relationship with the people who lived there. In addition, by having cannons, other nations may find the country with cannons a threat to them, which would prompt them to attack. As for conflicts within a region, some people don't agree with the destruction and harm cannons cause to other people, while other people might completely agree with the violence that come with cannons. This could lead to the community being divided. On the contrary, having cannons could make a group of people become more united because they all have the same belief. Overall, cannons can either destroy or make relationships in a society.