Posted on 09/18/2023 8:50:25 AM PDT by FarCenter
An international research team led by maritime archaeologist Staffan von Arbin of the University of Gothenburg has studied what might be Europe's oldest shipboard cannon. The cannon was found in the sea off Marstrand on the Swedish west coast and dates back to the 14th century. The findings from the interdisciplinary study contribute new knowledge about the early development of artillery on land and at sea, but also bears witness to a troubled period for seafarers as well as coastal populations.
The small, muzzle-loading cast copper-alloy cannon, found by a recreational diver at a depth of 20 metres in the sea off Marstrand, is believed to come from a shipwreck. The researchers conclude that it is a shipboard cannon, and not a cannon that was being transported as cargo, because it still had parts of a charge left in its powder chamber when it was found. This means the cannon was loaded and ready for use in combat at the time it ended up on the sea floor.
"Thanks to the preserved remains of the charge, it has been possible to use radiocarbon dating to establish the age of the find," says Staffan von Arbin.
"The study's findings show that the Marstrand cannon is probably from the 14th century, making it one of the oldest artillery pieces ever found in Europe."
The researchers documented the find with 3D scanning, and also conducted a chemical analysis of the metal used to cast the cannon. The analysis showed that it was a copper alloy containing about 14 weight per cent lead and only small amounts of tin.
This alloy is far from optimal for casting cannon according to the researchers, and it is likely that the cannon would have cracked and been rendered unusable if used intensively for longer periods.
https://www.gu.se/en/news/shipboard-cannon-found-off-the-swedish-coast-may-be-the-oldest-in-europe
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
Is there an F-35 lying alongside of it? Asking for a friend.
Did they pass a background check, endure a waiting period and under go cannon safety training before being allowed to possess such a dangerous thing.
Shipboard cannon found off the Swedish coast may be the oldest in Europe
Phys dot org
by University of Gothenburg
September 12, 2023
https://phys.org/news/2023-09-shipboard-cannon-swedish-coast-oldest.html
Looks more like another NATO weapon on its way to Ukraine.
Probably made by Beretta.
Wow, I didn't realize the Swedish economy is so bad.,.
lol
The Consumer Product Safety Commission would surely have issued a recall for such a shoddy piece of equipment.
I'm sure the BATF would have a ruling covering this. It may have been capable of being converted to a full auto, high capacity machine cannon.
The only pictures I saw in the post were in all the 20 or 30 ads in it.
lol
You’ll be fine as long as you don’t put a bump stock on it.
Or maybe a FRT. (“forced reset trigger”) Not sure where that stands at the moment.
That transition from broadswords and battle axes to cannons must have been confusing for those Vikings.
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