In Europe, 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.[6]
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 cannon has been dated c1520, found beneath the floor, near the main castle door. A skeleton was lying beside it. It is a wrought iron breech loader, swivel, set on the rail of a ship, or land fortifications; it fired grape shot, range 150 yards; information St Aubyn 1985. A similar is shown by Norden on the summit c1595.
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