Posted on Feb 13, 2019
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Mortars, Howitzers, and Cannons
A cannon typically refers to a light caliber long barreled automatic weapon fit on armoured cars, personnel carriers, helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, and j...
In receiving a pic from the ladies of the YPJ I was impressed with their "small" sniping Zagros rifle. My first thought was - what's the caliber then it went its a big gun, then to its a small cannon then to what is this thing? Is it as simple as a matter of barrel length compared to the bore or is there more?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7yAMV95Zl4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7yAMV95Zl4
Artillery
Rifle Shooting
Sniper
0341: Mortarman
13B: Cannon Crewmember
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 8
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This Is My Rifle. This Is My Gun
This is for fighting. This is for fun. *UPLOADED WITH PERMISSION*
I do believe Gunnery Sergeant Hartman already answered the first part of the question
https://youtu.be/4kU0XCVey_U
https://youtu.be/4kU0XCVey_U
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A rifle is a weapon with a rifled barrel and stock.
A cannon is a smooth bore direct fire (as opposed to indirect fire like artillery) weapon greater than 50 cal (.5 inches)
A howizter is an indirect fire weapon (between the gun and the mortar)
A gun is a "catch all" term. Some rifles are also guns (the M16/M4 is a light machinegun).
A cannon is a smooth bore direct fire (as opposed to indirect fire like artillery) weapon greater than 50 cal (.5 inches)
A howizter is an indirect fire weapon (between the gun and the mortar)
A gun is a "catch all" term. Some rifles are also guns (the M16/M4 is a light machinegun).
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LTC Jason Mackay
The M68 105mm Cannon (tank Cannon) are rifled. The M119 Howitzer is rifled. Many cannon and howitzers are rifled.
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And for the Navy, they are called guns. Interesting thing, most all Naval gun shoots are low angle. That's because platforms and targets are moving and anything to reduce the time of flight makes for a more reliable solution. That said, way back in the day, the dreadnoughts tended not to be armored heavily on the main deck. The Battlecruiser HMS Hood was one example and was done in by "plunging fire". Bismarck's naval guns were elevated to function like a howitzer, but in direct fire mode.
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The UN cutoff for Large Caliber weapons is 75mm. Smaller than that they are considered either small arms (hand guns, SMGs, rifles etc) or light weapons (AT missiles, machine guns, mortars below 75mm, etc)
https://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/transparency-in-armaments/
The trajectory, muzzle velocity. and indirect fire vs direct fire differentiate between gun or cannon (direct fire, flatter trajectory), mortars (indirect fire, arc trajectory), and howitzers (can be employed in direct or indirect modes)
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-cannon-a-mortar-and-a-howitzer
https://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/transparency-in-armaments/
The trajectory, muzzle velocity. and indirect fire vs direct fire differentiate between gun or cannon (direct fire, flatter trajectory), mortars (indirect fire, arc trajectory), and howitzers (can be employed in direct or indirect modes)
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-cannon-a-mortar-and-a-howitzer
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
LTC Jason Mackay The deceased kid brother had a ‘sight, mortar?’ in his duffle-bag when he shipped to Nam.
He claimed that as an very experienced, Direct Fire Crewman, 11 H type, he could also fire indirectly with a Jeep mounted 105 Recoilless Rifle.
He claimed that as an very experienced, Direct Fire Crewman, 11 H type, he could also fire indirectly with a Jeep mounted 105 Recoilless Rifle.
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LTC Jason Mackay
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 you can do that by parking it in a 45 degree slope, like a tank during Korea
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
LTC Jason Mackay His 30 days of leave/ delay enroute after being extended 30 days courtesy of the E-4 Mafia did not allow us time to discuss the finer points points of Infantry Soldiering in USAEUR.
I cannot remember how, but he described caching Aggressors there and winding their limbs around a tree as a method of captivity.
I cannot remember how, but he described caching Aggressors there and winding their limbs around a tree as a method of captivity.
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I'd say crew served, small cannon! Would not want to be on the receiving end of what that crew serves.
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Kurdish 12.7mm Zagros and 14.5mm Şer Anti-Materiel Rifles
Support Forgotten Weapons: http://www.patreon.com/ForgottenWeapons Thanks to correspondent Ed Nash (he gave me permission to use his name after I had recorde...
Howitzers and canons, mortars are all crew served. of course not everything fits that mold
https://youtu.be/7eZ4MwgViQI
https://youtu.be/7eZ4MwgViQI
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Hi folks. I stumbled upon this old thread, and as a newbie to this forum, I thought I'd chime in. Thanks a lot for sharing the info on the difference between rifle, gun, cannon and howitzer As for the Zagros rifle, I'm not exactly sure about the specifics, but I think it's a sniping rifle with a smaller caliber than a typical gun. In terms of barrel length and bore, those factors can definitely impact the performance of a firearm, but there's a lot more that goes into it than just that. Just wanted to say that I recently got myself Bergara BXR on https://walkeroutdoors.net/product/bergara-bxr-22lr-semi-auto/ , and I'm really exited to give it a shot this Saturday (give it a shot, lol). Anyways, thanks a lot for the info! Let's keep this discussion updated.
BERGARA BXR .22LR SEMI-AUTO (Carbon Fiber) 16.5" Barrel - Walker Outdoors
Bergara BXR .22 LR Semi-Auto16.5" CARBON FIBER/BLACK SYN
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