Superguns
Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: Regional History or Period History
Forum Name: De Re Militari: The Society for Medieval Military History
Forum Discription: Official forum for the academic society De Re Militari: News about the society, its website and forthcoming publications; Discuss medieval warfare as well as ar
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32402
Printed Date: 20-May-2024 at 23:04
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.56a - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Superguns
Posted By: Nick1986
Subject: Superguns
Date Posted: 15-Sep-2012 at 21:09
 The great Turkish bombard was just one of several medieval superguns designed to smash fortifications. Above is Mons Meg, a gift to James II from the French king. This naval gun was installed in James' flagship Great Michael and was later used at the siege of Threave Castle, firing massive stone balls at the king's enemies. It was still used for ceremonial occasions in the 1680s, firing salutes at the coronation of James VII ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Replies:
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 16-Sep-2012 at 19:34
 England's answer to the Scottish and Turkish superguns: Queen Elizabeth's Pocket Pistol, a 5 inch caliber basilisk with a range of over 2000 yards ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 17-Sep-2012 at 20:39
 Dulle Griet or "Mad Greta," Belgium's supergun. Originally used by the town of Ghent, she was captured by the defenders of Oudenarde in 1452 and not returned until 1578 ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 18-Sep-2012 at 19:20
 Pumhart von Steyr is the largest caliber bombard of the Middle Ages, capable of firing 700kg stone balls 600 metres ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 19-Sep-2012 at 20:00
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The last time Mons Meg was fired, her barrel split. The Scots blamed it on sabotage by the English gunner and predicted disaster during the reign of James II
------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 20-Sep-2012 at 19:44
 Russia's Tsar Cannon, still guarding the Kremlin 500 years after it was cast. Its cannonballs were deliberately made too big to fit the bore as part of the friendly rivalry between Moscow and St Petersburg ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 21-Sep-2012 at 20:50
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Tsar Pushka was never used in a war, but scorch marks within the barrel suggest it was fired at least once, probably at the proof-house or for a ceremony
------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 22-Sep-2012 at 21:16
 Faule Mette - the largest cannon in Germay until it was melted down to make several field guns in 1787 ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 23-Sep-2012 at 19:25
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http://www.kreml.ru/en/kremlin/tsar_gun/%20 - http://www.kreml.ru/en/kremlin/tsar_gun/
------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 24-Sep-2012 at 19:27
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Frederick IV used Faule Grete to force an unruly rebel called Bismarck to submit http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MDMFAAAAQAAJ&lpg=PA42&ots=Il-47URJZu&dq=faule%20grete%20cannon&pg=PA42#v=onepage&q&f=false - http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MDMFAAAAQAAJ&lpg=PA42&ots=Il-47URJZu&dq=faule%20grete%20cannon&pg=PA42#v=onepage&q&f=false ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Mountain Man
Date Posted: 24-Sep-2012 at 19:47
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Considering the generally terrible condition of roads and battlefields of the period, the entire "supergun" concept was actually a waste of valuable resources, a tenet which remains true til this present day. They just aren't worth the money and the effort. "Superguns" of old were prestige weapons in a constant game of "mine's bigger than your's". ------------- Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 29-Sep-2012 at 19:46
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True, but when they were deployed, superguns could be devastating. 400 years after breaching the walls of Constaninople the Dardanelles Gun was used to shoot at British warships. It needed a crew of about 50 to load and aim it. http://civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com/11454/the-first-super-weapon - http://civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com/11454/the-first-super-weapon ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 21-Dec-2012 at 14:04
 Roaring Meg, a powerful mortar from the English Civil War ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Mountain Man
Date Posted: 21-Dec-2012 at 16:00
And yet they disappeared faster than battleships. ------------- Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 22-Dec-2012 at 14:21
That's right. Large teams of horses and oxen were needed to move cannons of this size. These beasts would be put to better use pulling field guns that could be deployed in greater numbers ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |