Cannon designs and Economic Impacts

Pre-1800s Cannons

The Howitzer

A howitzer is a weapon with a lower velocity and shorter range than a gun, a multi-charge propellant, and maximum elevation typically more than forty-five degrees. The howitzer was invented in Sweden towards the end of the seventeenth century. It had less stability when firing, which reduced the amount of powder that could be used. The howitzer was a flexible weapon that could fire its projectiles along a wide variety of trajectories. In the eighteenth century the howitzer could let off at the relatively high angles of fire used by contemporary siege howitzers, these field howitzers were rarely defined by this capability. The Howitzer was originally intended for use in siege warfare and for armies that used howitzers had to rely on a greater elevation angle to achieve a given range, which gave a steeper angle of descent.

The Carronade

The carronade was a short smoothbore, cast iron cannon, developed for the Royal Navy by the Carron Company, used throughout 1770-1850s. Carronades had a chamber one caliber smaller than the bore. This was to reduce weight of the cannon which also had the effect of reducing the velocity of the cannonball , and the range to which it could fire similar to a gun firing the same weight of shot, and all other things being equal. Carronades were used on British merchant ships during the American Revolutionary War.

1800-1900 Cannons

Napoleon 12-pounder

Designed by the French in 1853, and named after Napoleon III of France, the Napoleon 12-pounder was most the most popular cannon used. This was because of its safety, reliability, and killing power at close range. Napoleon did not make it to America until 1857, and was the last cast bronze gun used by an American army. The Napoleon was smoothbore cannon, a cannon with weapons that are not rifled,  used shells, balls or canisters.  Also the Napoleon served in the American Civil war and the Crimean War.

3.7 inch Mountain Howitzer

The 3.7 inch mountain howitzer was the longest serving artillery in the nineteenth century and in World War I, and World War II  by British and Commonwealth armies. This Howitzer was designed to be broken into eight loads and was in the United Kingdom. It also had a large rectangular shield to protect the crew from small-arms fire, but this was often omitted to save weight. When it was first introduced, the Howitzer had two wooden wheels and was light enough be towed by two horses.

1900s- Modern Cannons

G5 Howitzer

The G5 Howitzer was created in South Africa. The G5 howitzer was used in the South African Border War and Iran–Iraq War. Its Ammunition is highly explosive shells, and needs eight soldiers to operate

M777 Howitzer

Created in the United Kingdom, the M777 Howitzer is a towed artillery piece manufactured by BAE Systems' Global Combat Systems division. The M777 Howitzer cannon uses a digital fire-control system to provide navigation, pointing and self-location, allowing it to be put into action more quickly than earlier towed and air-transported howitzers. The M777 was used in the War in Afghanistan and Iraq War.

Social Impacts

Pre-1800s

During the pre-eighteen hundreds, the howitzer and Carronade were used in war. These cannons were either intended for siege warfare, or used in warfare, such as the American Revolutionary War.

1800s-1900s

The Napoleon 12 pounder and the 3.7 inch Mountain Howitzer were designed by the French and the United Kingdom, for war. The Napoleon was most popular in war because of its safety, reliability, and killing power at close range and was used in the American Civil war and the Crimean War. The 3.7 inch Howitzer was the longest serving artillery in WWI and WWII.

1900s-Modern

Today’s cannons, like the M777 Howitzer and the G5 Howitzer, are used for the war in Iran-Iraq, and Afghanistan. They are no more complex and sophisticated. You can use technology to target your weapons and fire.

Ethics of Weapon Development

Question:

Is it moral for societies to develop weapons of mass destruction for any reason? What ethics are” called into play” when manufacturing weapons such as cannons.

Ethics is the of moral values and rules. I don’t thin k it is moral for people to use WMD, because of its damage and how it doesn’t just harm people, it can harm everthing around us.  Also, I do not think that using weapons are ethical.  I think that using weapons are unethical because I don't believe in someone hurting so many innocent people, and the environment getting hurt in the process, because of war. The use of weapons can result into mass destruction and deaths of many people, children, and other living creatures. And in the end the problem although you can use WMD, you still may not solve your problem in the end, because war is not always the answer.