Artillery
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Artillery is a word for the big guns used in an army, for example cannons and howitzers. Such guns are used to shoot targets far away. Artillery is often used to stop enemy troops using an area, to bombard trenches and buildings with enemies in it and to support friendly units. There are many different weapons that are called artillery. They may shoot shells or missiles. Newer systems can even drop mines over a big area, making the area uncrossable. Anti-aircraft warfare includes the use of artillery to fight planes and other aircraft.
Those who fire the artillery piece are called "gunners". In most cases someone else, called a "spotter" must see the enemy, because artillery often shoots farther than the gunners can see. The artillery crews do not have to see the enemy to damage them.
Different types of artillery
Field artillery |
Specialized guns |
MortarsRocketsTransport-built-in artillery |
Artillery Media
- M777 howitzer rear.jpg
US Artillerymen test fire an M777 Lightweight 155-millimeter Howitzer at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms (2005)
- French soldiers in the Franco-Prussian War 1870-71.jpg
French soldiers in the Franco-Prussian War 1870–71
7-person gun crew firing a US M777 Light Towed Howitzer, War in Afghanistan, 2009
Artillery illuminating ammunition used in a shooting exercise on Simplon Pass, Switzerland. The illuminated mountain is Mount Fletschhorn, 9 km from the photographer's position.
A bronze "thousand ball thunder cannon" from the Huolongjing.
French gunner in the 15th century, a 1904 illustration
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ATAGS showcasing towing, turning and firing of rounds
Other websites
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- Artillery Archived 2016-06-09 at the Wayback Machine - Citizendium
More reading
- Iggulden, Hal; Iggulden, Conn (2007). "A Brief History of Artillery". The Dangerous Book for Boys. New York: HarperCollins. pp. 209–213. ISBN 978-0061243585.