Carronades

Carronades were short cast-iron guns, of all calibres from 6-pounders to 68-pounders, invented in 1752 by General Robert Melville, and first made by Mr Gascoigne in 1779 at the Carron Ironworks. They were chambered, and attached to the carriage by a loop underneath instead of trunnions. Firing a comparatively large shot accurately at close quarters, they were at that time well adapted for use on board ship, but have long been superseded. See CANNON.