Changes

'''Naval guns''' came into general use in the West in the 15th century. They replaced the tactics or ramming or boarding, and became the main naval weapon when it was realized they could sink an enemy ship some yards away, regardless of the wind.  From 1500 to 1941 all the major fleets were built around platforms that could shoot bigger and more accurate guns. The aircraft carrier proved itself at the [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Battle of Pearl Harbor]] in 1941, ending the era. Naval guns are now used primarily in defense against small boat or missile attacks.

'''Naval guns''' came into general use in the West in the 15th century. They replaced the tactics or ramming or boarding, and became the main naval weapon when it was realized they could sink an enemy ship some yards away, regardless of the wind.  From 1500 to 1941 all the major fleets were built around platforms that could shoot bigger and more accurate guns. The aircraft carrier proved itself at the [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Battle of Pearl Harbor]] in 1941, ending the era. Naval guns are now used primarily in defense against small boat or missile attacks.

==First guns: 15th century==

==First guns: 15th century==

The first authenticated mention of a naval gun came in the early 15th century, shortly after the appearance of land-based artillery. Italian and English warships carried guns by 1440. They were about 4 feet long with 4-inch caliber.<ref> Kelly R. DeVries, "A 1445 Reference to Shipboard Artillery," ''Technology and Culture'', Vol. 31, No. 4 (Oct., 1990), pp. 818-829 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0040-165X%28199010%2931%3A4%3C818%3AA1RTSA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-8  in JSTOR]</ref> The early guns were simple tubes built up from long bars of iron held together with iron bands. These guns were breechloaders with a separate [[gunpowder]] chamber, or servidor, which was wedged into the breech after the stone or iron cannon ball, had been inserted. Muzzle-loading cast-bronze guns came into use soon after the wrought-iron breechloaders. Cast-iron guns came into being soon after cast-bronze guns. Despite distinct advantages of cast iron, its heaviness, the rust factor and the great danger to crewmen when it burst meant that for centuries heavy cast-iron and lighter cast-bronze guns (which split rather than burst) were both used.

The first authenticated mention of a naval gun came in the early 15th century, shortly after the appearance of land-based artillery. Italian and English warships carried guns by 1440. They were about 4 feet long with 4-inch caliber.<ref> Kelly R. DeVries, "A 1445 Reference to Shipboard Artillery," ''Technology and Culture'', Vol. 31, No. 4 (Oct., 1990), pp. 818-829 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0040-165X%28199010%2931%3A4%3C818%3AA1RTSA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-8  in JSTOR]</ref> The early guns were simple tubes built up from long bars of iron held together with iron bands. These guns were breechloaders with a separate [[gunpowder]] chamber, or servidor, which was wedged into the breech after the stone or iron cannon ball, had been inserted. Muzzle-loading cast-bronze guns came into use soon after the wrought-iron breechloaders. Cast-iron guns came into being soon after cast-bronze guns. Despite distinct advantages of cast iron, its heaviness, the rust factor and the great danger to crewmen when it burst meant that for centuries heavy cast-iron and lighter cast-bronze guns (which split rather than burst) were both used.

[[Category:Weaponry]]

[[Category:Weaponry]]

[[Category:United States Navy]]

[[Category:United States Navy]]