The term ‘cannon’ comes from many languages where it was originally defined and can be translated as cane or tube. In modern times, ‘cannon’ is not used as much and words such as ‘guns’ or ‘artillery’ have generally replaced the older word. Sometimes more specific terms can be used and names like ‘mortar’ or ‘howitzer’ can be heard over most military radios.

A cannon is any tubular piece of artillery that requires gunpowder or another explosive-based propellant to fire a large projectile. Cannons offer different calibers, ranges and they also come with different mobility, firepower, rates of fire and angles of fire. Depending on their intended use on the battlefield, different cannons combine these key characteristics in different ways, for an example some will sacrifice mobility for increased firepower.

Cannons were first designed in medieval China and they were among the earliest gunpowder artillery. Soon they replaced conventional equipment such as siege engines and siege towers as a means of commanding the battlefields of Europe. The oldest cannons in Europe were apparently used in Iberia, during the Spanish war there in the 13th century and the first English cannons were fired at the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

Cannons became largely standardized during this late medieval era and they became more useful in both anti-personnel and siege roles. Afterwards larger cannons were left behind in favor of greater numbers of smaller more maneuverable weapons. Battle methods became much more technical rendering most contemporary defensive measures obsolete. This, in turn led to the development of larger stone walls and star forts specifically designed to repel artillery and other associated tactics.

As rifling (groves in the barrel which spin the projectile) became more widespread, the accuracy potential of cannon was drastically improved, and they became more lethal (particularly where infantry were concerned) than ever before. In the Great War, most of the overall death toll was caused by cannons and they were also widely deployed in World War 2. Except for the heaviest naval guns, which have been replaced by smart missiles, the majority of current cannons are very similar to those used during World War 2.

For instance, contemporary autocannons are quite identical to their World War 2 relatives. Indeed, even though there is no minimum caliber for autocannon ammo, the only real difference between modern weapons and World War 2 models is that the new pieces are usually larger than heavy MGs, typically 20mm or greater since World War 2. They have an automatic firing mode, similar to that of a heavy MG. They also have an auto-load system and a much faster rate of fire than larger artillery pieces.