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Period: Jan 1, 1337 to Jan 1, 1453
Hundred Years War: Bowmen
The last time mounted knights were significant in combat. Bowmen became more popular and began to replace the mounted knights. -
Jan 1, 1400
Smoothbore Muskets
During the 1400s, smoothbore muskets were invented in Europe. The smoothbore musket was the first weapon to use gunpowder. -
Jan 1, 1400
Culverin
The Culverin was developed by the French in the 1400s. It is the ancestor of the musket ("Culverin"). -
Jan 1, 1520
The Wheel Lock Musket
The wheel lock musket has a spanner with a small amout of pyrite in it which then hits a wheel with rough edges which results in a spark setting off the charge. -
Rifles
The rifling of guns began in the 1600s. These rifles had groves inside the barrels causing the bullet to spin when fired. Rifles were more accurate and had a longer range than other guns used during that time. -
The Flintlock Musket
This musket was desinged so that when the trigger is pulled, a small hammer would come into contact with a piece of flint, causing a spark. It was the first musket to use flint. -
Galloper Gun
The British use the galloper gun for the first time. The term "galloper gun" was used for the attachment of 1.5-pounder or 3-pounder guns to the newly developed carts which were lighter than the carts already in existence. -
Period: to
American Revolution: American Long Rifle
The American Long Rifle was developed and used by the Americans to fight the British during the American Revolution. This rifle, when compared to the English Brown Bess, was more accurate and had a larger range. -
Shrapnel
The invention and use of shrapnel by the British occurred in 1812 during the War of 1812. -
Dreyse Needle Gun
Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse creates a new type of rifle for the Prussians which aids them in their successes in the Wars of German Unification. This rifle had a long needle that pierces the cartrige containing the bullet upon firing. The Dreyse Needle Gun also has a faster firing time that other guns at the time. However, this rifle leaked dangerous gasses, causing those who used the gun to hold it at the hip instead of at the shoulder. -
Dahlgren Guns
John A. Dahlgren created two different types of guns, a smoothbore and a rifle in May of 1850. Both guns had a curved shape and two vents to lengthen the life of the gun. His guns were popular among the U.S. Navy in 1851 and during the American Civil War. -
Exploding Shells
Russians use expolding shells, later called land mines, for the first time during combat at the harbor of Sinope against the British in the Crimean War. -
Napoleon 12-pounder Gun
The Napoleon 12-pounder gun was invented in America in 1857 to replace the Pattern 1844-1845 6-pounder gun and 12-pounder gun and howitzer. This gun was the standared piece of artillery for the Union and Conferdate armies in the American Civil War. -
Period: to
American Civil War: Gatling Gun
The first time the Gatling Gun was used was in the American Civil War. This gun is the first successful machine gun. -
1.65-inch Hotchkiss Mountain Gun
The 1.65-inch Hotchkiss Mountain Gun was invented by Benjamin B. Hotchkiss and put to use in 1876. This mountain gun was lighter than others and thus easier to carry. -
De Bange 90 mm cannon
The De Bange 90 mm cannon was invented by the French in 1877. This cannon had the original mushroom-shaped obturator system developed by de Bange which caused the breech to seal correctly after each fire. -
Period: to
World War I: Canon d'Infanterie de 37 modèle 1916 TRP
The Canon d'Infanterie de 37 modèle 1916 TRP was a French infantry support gun that was first used in World War I. This gun could be broken down into three pieces for easy transport. -
Period: to
World War I: Submarines
Submarines were first used by the Germans during World War I. These ships that could go underwater provided a huge advantage for the Germans, they could hide and sink enemy ships more easily. -
Tank
During World War I, the tank was used for the first time. -
10 cm Kanone 17
The 10 cm Kanone 17 was first produced in 1917 in Germany. It was a field gun which could be swiveled to fire. The ability to swivel made it earier to shoot multiple targets in different positions quickly. -
37 mm M1930 (1-K)
The 37 mm M1930 (1-K) was an anti-tank gun invented by the Soviet Union. This gun was very similar to the German PaK 35/36 with minor differences. -
Period: to
Type 91 10 cm Howitzer
The Type 91 10 cm Howitzer was developed by the Japanese from 1927 until 1931. It was a basic howitzer but it could fire highy explosive, chemical, armor piercing, and shrapnel shells. -
Nebelwerfer
The Germans invented the first multiple rocket launcher, the Nebelwerfer, during the 1930s. -
Period: to
World War II: 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43
The Germans created the 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43. The gun was the same as other German anti-aircraft cannons except the practical firing rate was upped to 120 rpm. -
Period: to
World War II: Atomic Bombs
Atomic bombs were both developed and used for the first time in World War II. Two well known bombings in which atomic bombs were utilized is the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and in Hiroshima, Japan. -
Period: to
World War II: SG 500 Jagdfaust
The SG 500 Jagdfaust was invented in Germany during World War II. It was an experimental anti-bomber recoilless rifle in the Me 163 Komet rocket plane. This rifle had an automatic trigger and a sensor which could detect the enemy bombers. -
Period: to
World War II: M18 Recoilless Rifle
The M18 recoilless rifle was invented during World War II by the United States. It was a rifle with the firing capabilites of a cannon. -
Me 262, The First Jet Fighter
The Germans invent the first jet fighter in 1942, during World War II. -
7.5 cm PaK 97/38
The 7.5 cm PaK 97/38 was invented by the Germans during World War II. This anti-tank gun was the first to have a muzzle brake which lessened the strength of the recoil. The muzzle brake shortened the time between firings. -
Anti-Tank Gun
Anti-tank guns were used during World War II. -
M20
The M20 was developed by the United States in March of 1945, shortly before the end of World War II. It was able to permeate 100 mm of armor.
