Cannon different from howitzers and mortars
As previously emphasized, cannons are characterized by a flat trajectory, which distinguishes them from mortars and howitzers. Howitzers are capable of striking targets even behind many obstacles. Cannons are generally recoilless guns, equipped with relatively short barrels. Nevertheless, cannons are characterized by considerable projectile range and high rate of fire. For automatic cannons, this rate of fire is calculated at approximately 500 rounds per minute.
Cannons for special use
In the military, so-called field cannons are distinguished, as well as cannons for special use, for example, anti-tank and anti-aircraft, railway, and coastal cannons.
Meaning of the word cannon
The name “armata” (cannon) etymologically comes from a word simply meaning “armed”. Originally, this name was used to describe all offensive weapons. In the 16th-17th centuries, cannons began to be used as artillery equipment. In the same period, ship cannons were used, to name the sailors operating these cannons as “Navy”, as was done, for example, to refer to the Great Spanish Armada.
Cannons in the January Uprising
Due to the lack of foundries in our country occupied by partitions, more resourceful conspirators produced wooden cannon barrels. In the insurgent camp of Marian Langiewicz, the second dictator of the Polish January Uprising, in the town of Wąchock where the dictator’s units were stationed, there were three wooden cannons “turned from tree logs”. Additionally, they were reinforced several times with iron hoops. Langiewicz divided his insurgent camp into three sub-camps, assigning one cannon to each. They were made of strong oak, additionally bound with iron hoops, but all this military equipment could only withstand up to four shots. After that, these cannons fell apart. But most importantly, they were light and did not cause problems during transport. When Marian Langiewicz learned from his intelligence officers that a well-armed unit of Russians equipped with large cannons, mounted and foot riflemen, was approaching him, they prevented them from getting close to Langiewicz’s units from a distance. Because their cannons would have massacred the Polish army.
The editorial team of “Dziennik Polonijny” visited the Kielce History Museum to see old examples of cannon barrels.
