Development of Cannon Types

Trebuchets were very popular in Western Europe during Medieval Times. When trebuchets were first invented that used manpower along with a counter weight to hurl stones up to three-hundred pounds. They were called Traction trebuchets and were considered to be one of the earliest siege weapons. Later they became slightly more automatic and were called Counterpoise trebuchets. This new design eliminated the use of humans to power the trabuchet. Eventually however trebuchets were replaced with catapults which in turn became obsolete after the rise of gunpowder. During sieges trebuchets were usually grouped in batteries or placed on ship to attack the walls of an enemy castle or port (Factoidz).

The Pot-de-fer was the first metal cannon(Hyper History) and its simple design made it easy to create other cannons based on the basic principle of this early cannon. After the Pot-de-fer not many cannons used iron arrows anymore because it was easier to generate more power and impact with a round stone or cannon ball. The Pot-de-fer was used by the French during the Hundred Years War in a raid on Southampton and in the battles in Perigord, Cambrai, and Quesnoy (Wikipedia).

The Armstrong Gun from the 1800s was designed by sir William Armstrong in England. Initially the Armstrong was only a 6 pounder, 9 pounder, or 12 pounder. The demand was more for larger weapons so a 20 pounder and 40 pounder were made which found homes in either the Royal Navy or in New Zealand (Word lingo). In 1864 an Armstrong Gun was imported to the confederacy and was stationed at Fort Fisher her in Wilmington. Its purpose was to help guard the entrance to the port of Wilmington (Ncstrories). The cannon was taken after the fall of Fort Fisher to the union on January 15, 1865. It was placed in the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, where it is still on display today.

The Canon obusier de 12 was one of the several smoothbore cannons developed in the 1800s by the French (Museum stuff). Some modifications were made to the original cannon design which led to the outcome of this particular cannon. This cannon was mainly used in the American Civil War where both the Confederacy and Union being were well equip with these cannons.

The Mortar has been used since the 15th century and were primitive and unwieldy and usually too heavy to move. They usually fired at impractically slow speeds. The first portable mortars were first seen in the American civil war and were mostly used to defend the Union railways and supply lines(Associated Content). In World War I the mortar's design was adjusted so it could be carried and operated by one person. This made them very popular which made them go into mass production and distribution.

The original Howitzer had a shorter tail which cause it to have less stability than other weapons and reduced the amount of gun powder that could be used. The howitzer had an advantage over other weapons because the angle of the cannon was not a fixed angle and could be easily adjusted. In the 1800s Howitzers became mobile enough that they could be used in the field. Howitzers were popular in the American Civil War, the War with Mexico, and the Spanish-American War (Wikipedia).