The history of cannon spans several hundred years from the 12th century to modern times. The cannon first appeared in China sometime during the 12th and 13th centuries. It was most likely developed in parallel or as an evolution of an earlier gunpowder weapon called the fire lance. The result was a projectile weapon in the shape of a cylinder ...

The first of the western cannon to be introduced were breech-loaders in the early 16th century, which the Chinese began producing themselves by 1523 and improved on by including composite metal construction in their making.

The first category was the culverins, “long” guns with bores on the order of 30 calibres or more. The second was the cannons, or cannon-of-battery, named for their primary function of battering down fortress walls; these typically had barrels of 20 to 25 calibres.

Wrought-iron breechloaders were the first cannon to be produced in significant numbers. Their tactical viability was closely linked to the economics of cannonballs of cut stone, which, modern preconceptions to the contrary, were superior to cast-iron projectiles in many respects.

2021年11月16日 · Coming to the use of artillery in ships, the earliest evidence of cannons on sailing vessels can be traced back to the 14th century. Primarily used in the Mediterranean region and northern Europe, these cannons were initially small, swiveling weapons mounted on the stern, castles, and ships' sides.

2023年7月26日 · World history records that firearms originated in China, but the first cannon was born in Europe. In the 9th century, the Chinese began to make the first type of gunpowder called huo-yao (fire weapon).

During the Hundred Years' War (1339-1453) cannon came into gen- eral use. Those early pieces were very small, made of iron or cast bronze, and fired lead or iron balls. They were laid directly on the ground, with muzzles elevated by mounding up the earth.

2024年7月13日 · The first cannons emerged in the 14th century as simple tubes made of metal, stone, or even wood. These primitive artillery pieces were often referred to as "bombards." Their design was rudimentary, but they marked a significant turning point in battlefield technology.