The Cannons Effect on Tactics in Warfare

PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

THE CANNONS EFFECT ON TACTICS IN WARFARE

A TERM PAPER SUBMITTED TO

KEVIN PEARL

HISTORY

BY

 EDWARD ADAMS

,

24 APRIL 2014

        During the middle of the fourteenth century, the emergence of a new weapon of war was introduced. On August twenty-sixth 1346, during the battle Crecy, King Edward II employed the use of this new weapon, the cannon. A tube made of iron and later bronze, closed at one end, filled with a small amount of gunpowder would launch a projectile toward the enemy.

        These first cannons were primitive, not very powerful and very inaccurate. But their introduction and adoption by nearly every kingdom in Europe would cause a change in military strategy and tactics that continues to evolve even today.

        Due to the small numbers and limited power of cannons used during the battle of Crecy, their physical damage was minimal, but the psychological role was significant.^[1] The smoke and noise from the cannon would frighten cavalry horses, confuse enemy soldiers and boosted the morale of the English forces. In the confusion, English bowmen were able to deal terrible damage to French units. This led to one of the worst losses for the French, up to that point in the war.  With King Phillips retreat and his military strength reduced, Edward II was able to move on and lay siege to the city of Calais. There Edward attempted to use his new weapon against the walls and gates of the city trying to smash them. Unfortunately his vision for the weapon was beyond the current technology, and he was unable to breach the walls. However once again the psychological effect took its toll on the city inhabitants and realizing that reinforcements would not be coming, they surrendered after a short siege.

        Due to the success of Edwards’s cannons, others began to view their potential. The evolution of the cannon moved quickly from small barrels laid on the ground, propped up by a dirt mound and hurling two to three pound stones or iron balls at the enemy, to wagon mounted monstrosities capable of terrible destruction. Siege warfare would be changed, no longer did an army have to try to break down the gates of a city or starve out the inhabitants. With these new cannons they could break down walls creating their own gates.^[2] With the use of cannons, laying siege to a city took less time, allowing military leaders to conquer territory more quickly, thus shorting their campaign. To combat this new tactic, cities began reinforcing walls and building them at angles in order to try deflecting the cannons rounds. They also had massive guns built that could fire farther than the mobile guns, allowing city defenders to hit invading armies before their own guns could be readied. One such weapon built in 1388 resided in Nuremberg, christened the Krimheld, it was reported to be able to fire rounds out over a thousand paces.^[3]