Cannons in the 1900s - Modern Day

 
• Another type of cannon like weapon used in the 1900s are mortars; they are weapons that fire shells at low velocities, short ranges, and high arching trajectories. They consist of three parts: a barrel, a base plate, and a bipod. When the round slides into the tube towards the bottom, the primer hits the firing pin and ignites the initial charge inside of the fin assembly. Then the fuse assembly is compressed and expands a gas ring that goes around the body. The gas ring is what traps the gas from the charges inside of the round to force it up and out of the tube. They are generally smaller than most field artillery. Mortars are used at short ranges because they can send projectiles over obstacles by lofting them at a lower velocity (Pike).

Howitzer

• Common type of cannons in the 1900s were howitzers. A howitzer is a muzzle loading type of artillery that has a relatively short barrel and sends shells into the air so they descend at a steep angle. They are usually categorized in groups called batteries. Howitzers were used primarily in the first World War. They works similarly to a gun and are sometimes put on armored vehicles or tanks. One type of howitzer is Big Bertha, manufactured by Alfred Krupp in Essen Germany (Spartacus). They were so big they had to be transferred in five parts.
• Although Big Bertha is no longer used other, more automatic types of mortars and howitzers have been manufactored and used today.



Big Bertha