Cannon Sizes

Last Updated on 11th March 2026

Chart
from one in Ward, “Animadversions of Warre” ¶

The names of the pieces of Great Ordnance now in most use	Bore of Piece (ins)	Dia. of shot	Weight of shot	Weight of Serpentine Powder	Weight of Corned* Powder	Weight of Piece (lbs)	Length in feet	Length of planks of carriage (feet)	Depth of planks at fore end (ins)	Depth of planks at lower end (ins)	Thickness of the plank (ins)	Number of men to pull	Number of horses	Yoke of oxen	Range in paces Point blank	Range in paces Utmost random
Cannon	8	7½	64	40	32	8,000	12	16¾	32	32	8	90	16	9	300	1,500
Cannon Serpentine	7½	6¾	52	25¼	26	7,000	11½	16¾	20	18½	7½	80	14	8	340	1,600
French Cannon	7¼	7	46¾	25	23¼	6,500	12	16¾	29	18	7¼	70	12	7	360	1,740
Demi Cannon Eldest	6¾	6½	36½	20¾	20	6,000	11¼	15½	27	16¾	6¾	65	11	6	370	1,800
Demi Cannon Ordinary	6½	6¼	32	20	18	5,600	10½	15¾	26	16¼	6½	60	10	5	350	1,700
Demi Cannon	6	5¾	24½	18	16	5,000	11	16	24	15	6	56	9	5	340	1,600
Culverin	5½	5¼	19	16	15	4,500	13¼	18¼	22	13¼	5½	50	8	4	420	2,100
Ordinary Culverin	5¼	5	16¼	15	12½	4,300	12	17½	21	13¾	5¼	46	8	4	400	2,000
Demi Culverin	4½	4¼	11¾	9	9	3,000	11	16½	18	11¼	4½	36	7	4	380	1,800
Demi Cannon Lesse	4¼	4	9	8	7½	2,300	10	14½	17	10¾	4¼	28	6	3	320	1,600
Saker Ordinary	3¾	3½	5½	5½	3	1,900	9½	14	15	9½	3¾	24	5	3	300	1,500
Sakeret or Minion	3¼	3	3¼	5	3½	1,100	8	11½	13	8¼	3½	20	4	2	280	1,400
Fawcon	2¾	2½	2¼	2½	2¼	750	7	10¼	11	7	2¾	16	3	2	260	1,200
Fawconet	2¼	2	1	1½	1½	400	6	8½	9	6½	2¼	10	2	2	220	1,000
Rabinet	1½	1¼	¾	¾	½	300	5½	7½	8	5½	2	8	2	2	150	700
Base	1¼	1	¼	¼	¼	200	4½	6½	7	5	2	6	2	2	100	560
*Too powerful for many pieces