kanón

Kanón is the Czech and Slovak term for a cannon, a large artillery piece designed to fire projectiles over long distances. Cannons use a gunpowder charge to propel a projectile through a barrel, and they have been central to siege warfare and field battles since the Middle Ages.

The first cannons in Europe appeared in the 14th century and soon evolved from small siege pieces to larger field guns and naval guns. They were initially muzzle-loaded and mounted on wooden carriages with limited mobility; later innovations introduced improved carriages, recoil systems, and more robust mounting.

A cannon consists of a barrel, a mounting carriage, and a mechanism to aim and load. Early calibers varied from a few inches to over a foot in diameter. Ammunition included solid shot, explosive shells, case shot, grapeshot, and later canister rounds. The introduction of rifling and breech-loading in the 19th century increased range and accuracy, while steel construction strengthened durability.

Field cannons were used to support infantry on open ground; siege cannons broke fortifications; fortress and coast-defense guns protected fixed positions; naval guns equipped warships. In the modern era, artillery remains a key component of armed forces, with large-caliber, breech-loaded, rifled guns and automated targeting, as well as associated ammunition and missiles for long-range roles.

Related topics include artillery and cannon.