artilleries
Large military weapons
Artillery is the collective term for large weapons that are too heavy to be carried.
Before the invention of gunpowder, artillery was powered by tension (catapults, ballistae) or torsion (trebuchets).
Today artillery refers to cannons, howitzers, mortars, and rockets.
Artillery also refers to the branch of an army that is responsible for using these weapons.
In figurative use, artillery can be applied to any forceful argument or action: Be prepared to defend your proposal against heavy artillery.
Large mounted artillery pieces
- howitzersHigh-angle artillery weapons
- batteriesPortable energy storage units
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
- barragesConcentrated volleys of fire
guns · ordnance · mortar · siege · shelling · firepower · munitions · projectiles
Simultaneous discharge of guns
- turretsSmall projecting towers
- battleshipsHeavily armed naval vessels
- destroyersFast armed naval vessels
- cruisersArmed naval ships
warships · frigates · gunboats · naval warfare · fleet · salvo · magazines · rangefinders
Devices for launching projectiles
- trebuchetsCounterweight-powered projectile launchers
- ballistaeAncient projectile-launching weapons
- culverinsLong early firearms
- bombardsAttacks with heavy fire
serpentines · basilisks · siege warfare · ramparts · castles · Napoleon · Krupp · smoothbore
cannons
Large mounted artillery pieces
- howitzersHigh-angle artillery weapons
- batteriesPortable energy storage units
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
barrages · guns · ordnance · mortar · siege · shelling · firepower · munitions · projectiles · caliber
broadsides
Simultaneous discharge of guns
- turretsSmall projecting towers
- battleshipsHeavily armed naval vessels
- destroyersFast armed naval vessels
cruisers · warships · frigates · gunboats · naval warfare · fleet · salvo · magazines · rangefinders · dreadnoughts
catapults
Devices for launching projectiles
- trebuchetsCounterweight-powered projectile launchers
- ballistaeAncient projectile-launching weapons
- culverinsLong early firearms
bombards · serpentines · basilisks · siege warfare · ramparts · castles · Napoleon · Krupp · smoothbore · rifled
artilleriessmall arms
Handheld military weapons
handguns · pistols · sidearms · derringers · pocket pistols
artilleriesmelee weapons
Arms requiring physical contact
bayonets · knives · swords · hand-to-hand combat · edged weapons
artilleriesinfantry
Ground combat troops
cavalry · foot soldiers · ground troops · light infantry · skirmishers