This list contains all types of
cannon through the ages listed in decreasing
caliber size. For the purpose of this list, the development of
large-calibre artillery can be divided into three periods, based on the kind of projectiles used, due to their dissimilar characteristics, and being practically
incommensurable in terms of their bore size:
Stone balls: Cannon of extraordinary bore, which fired stone balls, were first introduced at the turn of the 14th to 15th century in
Western Europe. Following a logic of increasing performance through size, they had evolved from small
handguns to giant wrought-iron or cast-bronze
bombards within a span of just several decades.[1]
Iron balls and shot: By the 16th century, however, a general switch from stone balls to smaller, but much more effective iron projectiles was in full swing. This and the parallel tendency towards standardized, rapid-firing cannon made the enormously costly and logistically demanding giant guns soon obsolete in the European theatre (with the exception of the odd showpiece).[2]
Explosive shells: In the
Industrial Age, artillery was again revolutionized by the introduction of
explosive shells, beginning with the
Paixhans guns. Breakthroughs in metallurgy and modes of production were followed up by new experimentation with super-sized caliber weapons, culminating in the steel colossi of the two
World Wars. In the post-war era, the development of extremely overpowered artillery was gradually abandoned in favour of
missile technology, while heavy guns are still demanded by various arms of the service.
^
Bown[4]
indicates a larger bore of 36 in (914 mm), but
Hollenback[5]
says that
Kritoboulos, a contemporary source, indicates a
circumference of 12
spans and concludes that in this case the smallest of three possible sizes of span is the correct unit, giving 0.745 m for the bore. Hollenback also notes that granite cannonballs dating from the
siege of Constantinople had a diameter of 0.711 and could have been shot from this weapon using a wooden
sabot.
^Schmidtchen 1977a, p. 162; ball diameter is 20 mm less (p. 171, Fn. 41).
^Stephen R. Bown (2005). A Most Damnable Invention: Dynamite, Nitrates, and the Making of the Modern World. Penguin Group.
ISBN0-670-04524-1.
^George M. Hollenback (2002), "Notes on the Design and Construction of Urban's Giant Bombard", Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 26 (1): 284–291,
doi:
10.1179/030701302806932231,
S2CID161056159
^Schmidtchen 1977b, p. 222; ball diameter is 20 mm less (p. 171, Fn. 41).
^Schmidtchen 1977a, p. 164; ball diameter is 20 mm less (p. 171, Fn. 41).