Discussion and research on cannon and artillery used across Asia, including construction, mounting, ammunition, and historical use of black powder artillery systems.
What is this category for?
This category is dedicated to cannon and artillery systems within Asiatic black powder history.
It includes:
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Land, naval, and fortress artillery
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Cast bronze and iron cannon
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Swivel guns, ship guns, and large-caliber artillery
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Ammunition, powder charges, and mounting systems
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Identification of cannon types and components
The defining feature of this category is artillery-scale firearms, not handheld weapons.
How is this different than the other categories?
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Unlike Matchlock, Flintlock, or Capslock, this category covers artillery, not small arms.
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Unlike Early Firearms, this category focuses on mature cannon systems, not proto-guns or fire-lance derivatives.
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Unlike Breechloaders, classification here is based on artillery form and function, regardless of loading method.
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Unlike Gunsmithing & Supplies, the emphasis is on historical cannon, not modern fabrication techniques.
Small arms, even when large or mounted, should remain in their respective ignition categories.
What should topics in this category generally contain?
Topics may include:
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Historical cannon types and regional traditions
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Museum artifacts and archaeological finds
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Casting methods and materials
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Mounting systems, carriages, and naval installations
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Ammunition types and ballistic considerations
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Source-based research on artillery use and doctrine
Images, measurements, diagrams, and citations are strongly encouraged.
Experimental or unusual artillery designs should be tagged accordingly (e.g. experimental, swivel-gun), but remain in this category if they are cannon-scale weapons.
Do we need this category?
Yes.
Cannon and artillery played a central role in Asian warfare, fortifications, and naval history and differ fundamentally from handheld firearms in construction, use, and study.
Maintaining a separate Cannon category:
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Prevents conflation with small arms
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Allows focused discussion of artillery systems
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Reflects how cannon are treated in museums and academic literature
This category should not be merged with others.