Cannon (artillery)

A small canyon of the time of the English Revolution exhibited as a monument in Bucharest.

Cannon is the name of any artillery piece that uses gunpowder to fire a projectile. Guns vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower. The different types of cannon combine and balance these characteristics, depending on the intended use on the battlefield. The word cannon derives from the diminutive of caño by extension of the tube through which the projectile is fired.

The ordinary cannon allows you to hit targets within the gunner's direct line of sight. The cannon is generally used in main battle tanks and also as an anti-tank weapon, because it has a taut or grazing trajectory. To attack targets that are not within the range of the piece and that are hidden behind natural obstacles or defenses, the howitzer or mortar is used, which have a curved trajectory, that is, when a projectile is fired, it describes a curve parabolic.

Currently, most of the artillery pieces, except those with smaller calibers, are mixed cannon-howitzer, to be able to act in both functions. Specific models continue to be pure cannons, such as those carried by battle tanks, anti-tank or anti-aircraft, and those mounted on warships.

In addition to their widespread use in warfare, cannons are also used for a number of peaceful purposes such as avalanche control.

Etymology and terminology

The word "cannon" is derived from the Old Italian word cannone, meaning "big tube", which comes from the Latin canna, itself originating from the Greek κάννα (kanna), "reed", and later generalized to mean any hollow tube-shaped object; cognate with Akkadian qanu(m) and Hebrew qāneh, "tube, reed". The word has been used to refer to a pistol since 1326 in Italy and 1418 in England.

Parts

External parties

1. Brocal, mouth, jewel (ing. Muzzle)
2. Brocal widening (ing. Swell of Muzzle)
3. Neck (ing. Neck)
   • Catch it from brocal (ing. Muzzle Astragal): it is an ornament.
4. Caña (ing. Chase)
   • Catch it with reed (ing. Chase Astragal):
   • Second ring or reinforcement belt (ing. Second reinforce ring)
5. Muñon (ing. Trunnion)
   • First ring or reinforcement belt (ing. First reinforce ring)
6. Concha, cazoleta (ing. Pan)
   • Base ring (ing. Base ring)
7. Culata
   • Scotland
   • Lamp base, closing (ing. Breech base)
   • Lamp, closure (ing. Breech)
   • Marble neck (ing. Button neck)
   • Cascabel (ing. Cascabel, Knob, Button)

Internal parts

1. Anima (ing. Bore)
2. Hear, fire (ing. Vent field)
3. Chamber (ing. Chamber)
4. Rigula, regola, canal

History

First used in China, the cannon is among the earliest forms of gunpowder artillery, eventually replacing siege weapons—among other forms of ancient weaponry—on the battlefield.

Middle Ages

Middle Ages Canyon.

The first hand cannon appeared during the 1118 Battle of Ain Yalut between the Mamluks and the Mongols in the Middle East. The first cannon in Europe was probably used in the Iberian Peninsula, during the Reconquest, in the XIII century, and the English cannon it was first deployed in the Hundred Years War, at the Battle of Crécy, in 1346. It was during this period, the Middle Ages, that the cannon became standard and most effective in both anti-infantry and anti-infantry weapon roles. siege. After the Middle Ages the larger cannons were abandoned in favor of a larger number of lighter and more maneuverable guns. In addition, new technologies and tactics were developed that rendered most defenses obsolete; this led to the construction of the Italian traces, forts specifically designed to resist artillery bombardment and associated siege tactics. Although these forts (along with the Martello Towers) became obsolete when explosive and armor-piercing shells appeared which made even these fortifications vulnerable.

Modern Age

The cannon also transformed naval warfare in the early modern period, as European navies harnessed its firepower. As the rifled barrel became commonplace, the barrel's accuracy improved significantly and it became deadlier than ever, especially for infantry.

In the beginning, in Spain there were usually three types of cannons:

• Side Canyon, large pieces of whisk with iron bullets.
• Rocky cannon, with stone balls.
• Culebrina, with less weight and greater scope.

Contemporary Age

In World War I, the majority of all deaths were caused by cannon; they were also widely used in World War II. Most modern guns are similar to those used in World War II, except for the heavy naval guns, which have been replaced by missiles. Specifically, the autocannon remained almost identical to its World War II counterparts.

In popular culture

Cannon sounds have sometimes been used in classical pieces with a military theme. One of the best-known examples of such pieces is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. loud enough that the musicians must wear ear protection. The cannon fire simulates the Russian artillery barrages of the Battle of Borodino, a critical battle in Napoleon's invasion of Russia, the defeat of which celebrates the piece. When the overture was first performed, the cannon were fired by an electric current triggered by the conductor. However, the overture was not recorded with actual cannon fire until the 1958 recording by Mercury Records and conductor Antal Doráti by the Minnesota Orchestra. Cannon fire is also frequently used annually in 1812 performances on American Independence Day, a tradition started by Arthur Fiedler of the Boston Pops in 197 4.

Hard rock band AC/DC also used cannons in their song "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)", and live performances used replica Napoleonic cannons and pyrotechnics to perform the piece. A recording of that song accompanied the firing of an authentic reproduction M1857 Napoleon 12-pounder during the Columbus Blue Jackets' goal celebrations at Nationwide Arena since opening night of the 2007–2007 season. 08. The cannon is located behind the back row of section 111 and the focal point of the team's alternate logo on their third jerseys.

Cannons have been fired in touchdown celebrations by various football teams, including the San Diego Chargers. The Pittsburgh Steelers used only one during the 1962 campaign, but discontinued it after Buddy Dial was startled as a result of inadvertently colliding head-on with the smoking cannon discharge in a 42–27 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at Forbes Field on October 21.

Restoration

Cannons recovered from the sea are often badly damaged from exposure to salt water; due to this, electrolytic reduction treatment is required to prevent the corrosion process. The barrel is then rinsed with deionized water to remove the electrolyte, and treated with tannic acid, which prevents further rust and gives the metal a color. bluish-black. After this process, the barrel on display can be protected from oxygen and moisture with a wax sealant. A layer of polyurethane can also be painted over the wax sealant, to prevent the wax-coated barrel from attracting dust on outdoor displays. In 2011, archaeologists reported six barrels recovered from a river in Panama that may have belonging to the legendary pirate Henry Morgan are being studied and could eventually be put on display after going through a restoration process.

Image gallery

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  Tsar Pushka, one of the world's largest cannons.

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  Cañón Tigre (Santa Cruz de Tenerife), this canyon opened the arm of Admiral Horatio Nelson in 1797.

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  The USS Iowa battleship firing its 406 mm (16") cannons.

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  381 mm (15") Vickers Canyon on the coast of La Coruña.

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  283 mm Krupp K5 rail.

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  40 mm Bofors L60 anti-aircraft cannon.

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  Old tools for the operation of a cannon.