Artillery

I

Introduction

Artillery, general military term for large weapons such as cannons and rocket launchers. Artillery also describes the section or branch of an army that employs these weapons.

The large weapons known as artillery are used by ground forces or mounted on aircraft and ships. They include four main types of weapons: large guns, mortars, howitzers, and rocket launchers. Large guns, mortars, and howitzers are types of cannons.

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Guns

A gun is a cannon that fires projectiles from a long tube (known as the barrel) at high velocity in a low, flat trajectory. The projectile usually carries a charge that explodes when it hits its target. The barrel of a gun may have spiralled grooves in its bore; the process of adding these grooves is called rifling. Rifling improves the stability of a projectile in flight, making its trajectory more accurate. Some guns use ammunition that can pierce armour. Guns are widely used on warships, armoured combat vehicles, and tanks.

The first artillery guns fired simple projectiles that did not explode. Later guns fired ammunition that released shards of metal, called shrapnel, in the air. These early guns were loaded from the front (known as the muzzle) of the barrel. Modern guns are loaded from the side, which increases the speed and ease by which they may be fired.

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Mortars

A mortar is a cannon that fires projectiles, called shells, in a high, arcing trajectory. This trajectory allows the shells to travel over obstacles to hit a target. Shells are loaded through the muzzle into a short barrel. They carry a charge that propels them from the barrel of the mortar. Mortars are particularly suited to warfare in difficult terrain. They are easily transported and simple to operate.

Like guns, the first mortars fired shells that did not explode. Later mortars fired shells filled with gunpowder. These shells had fuses and could be set to explode on impact, or just before they hit the ground. Mortar shells may also release shrapnel.

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Howitzers

Formerly, howitzers were designed with a medium-length barrel to fire a mid-velocity projectile along a curved trajectory. By firing at a low angle, howitzers could achieve adequate range, like guns; at a high angle, they could launch shells over obstacles, like mortars. Today, differences between guns and howitzers are less distinct. Howitzers are now equipped with longer tubes and fire a variety of shells at ranges formerly covered by field guns. Light howitzers are usually mounted on a wheeled carriage that can be towed by a small truck, airlifted by helicopter, or dropped from an aircraft with a parachute.