This list contains all types of cannon through the ages listed in decreasing caliber size. For the purpose of this list, the development of large-calibre artillery can be divided into three periods, based on the kind of projectiles used, due to their dissimilar characteristics, and being practically incommensurable in terms of their bore size:
Stone balls: Cannon of extraordinary bore, which fired stone balls, were first introduced at the turn of the 14th to 15th century in Western Europe. Following a logic of increasing performance through size, they had evolved from small handguns to giant wrought-iron or cast-bronze bombards within a span of just several decades. Iron balls and shot: By the 16th century, however, a general switch from stone balls to smaller, but much more effective iron projectiles was in full swing. This and the parallel tendency towards standardized, rapid-firing cannon made the enormously costly and logistically demanding giant guns soon obsolete in the European theatre (with the exception of the odd showpiece). Explosive shells: In the Industrial Age, artillery was again revolutionized by the introduction of explosive shells, beginning with the Paixhans guns. Breakthroughs in metallurgy and modes of production were followed up by new experimentation with super-sized caliber weapons, culminating in the steel colossi of the two World Wars. In the post-war era, the development of extremely overpowered artillery was gradually abandoned in favour of missile technology, while heavy guns are still demanded by various arms of the service.
The list includes only cannons that were actually built, whether or not they were ever used in combat; excluded are cannons that existed only as concepts, ideas, proposals, plans, drawings, or diagrams. Also excluded are incomplete cannons that were only partially built (meaning not a fully built single complete artillery piece of the cannon type in question). The list does include completed cannons that were either never fired, or there is debate or insufficient evidence about whether they were ever fired. Naturally, the list only includes real cannons (i.e., those made from metal and meant to fire projectiles with gunpowder to cause major damage); excluded are replicas and other non-real cannons (e.g., those made from plastic or fiberglass).
Cannon by caliber
Stone balls Heyday: 15th to 17th centuries
Image Caliber (mm) Name Type Produced Place of origin Made by Remarks890The bombard has a conical bore of 82.5–90 cm.Tsar CannonBombard1586 Tsardom of RussiaAndrey Chokhov1 made; it is debated whether the cannon was ever fired (evidence of gunpowder residue in the gun has been found in some studies); never used in combat; 1 made; 1 survives820The bombard has a conical bore of 76–88 cm.; ball diameter is 20 mm less (p. 171, Fn. 41). Pumhart von SteyrBombardHouse of Habsburg, 1 made; 1 survives745BasilicBombard1453Ottoman EmpireOrban1 made; used in combat; none survive735The bombard has a conical bore of 67–80 cm.; ball diameter is 20 mm less (p. 171, Fn. 41).Faule MetteBombard1411City of Brunswick, Henning Bussenschutte1 made; fired 12 times during its existence; none survive700Malik-i-MaidanBombardCity of Bijapur, Adil Shahi dynastyMuhammad Bin Husain Rumi1 made; used in combat; 1 survives660; ball diameter is 20 mm less (p. 171, Fn. 41).Dulle GrietBombardCity of Ghent, County of , Duchy of 3 made (the Dulle Griet, the Mons Meg, and a third piece that went to France); used in combat; 2 survive (those named)635Thanjavur cannon (Rajagopala Beerangi)Bombard1620Thanjavur NayaksVikas Naikwade1 made; used in combat; 1 survives635Dardanelles Gun or Great Bronze GunBombard1464Ottoman EmpireMunir Ali3 made; used in combat; 1 survives530E. Rocchi, Le artiglierie italiane nel Rinascimento, Rome, 1899Galeazzesca VittoriosaBombard1471 Duchy of Milan Caliber: 530 mm (ball diameter); Mass: ~ 8.6-8.8 t; Shell weight: 209 kgL. Beltrami, La Galeazesca Vittoriosa, Milan, 1916Giovanni Garbagnate520; ball diameter is 20 mm less (p. 171, Fn. 41).Faule GreteBombard1409Monastic state of the Teutonic KnightsHeynrich Dumechen1 made; used in combat520–820Grose BochseBombard1408Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights1 made520; ball diameter is 20 mm less (p. 171, Fn. 41).Mons MegBombard1449Mons, County of Hainaut, Duchy of BurgundyJehan Cambier3 made (the Mons Meg, the Dulle Griet, and a third piece that went to France); used in combat; 2 survive (those named)510The bombard has a conical bore of 45–58 cm.Bombard1480Knights Hospitaller
Iron balls and shot Heyday: 16th to 19th centuries. The list contains only cannons of caliber of 6 inch (152.4mm) or larger.
Image Caliber (mm) Name Type Produced Place of origin Made by Remarks508Dahlgren smoothbore cannons, XX inchNaval gun1864American Civil WarJohn A. Dahlgren4 made; never used in combat508M. 1864 20-inch Rodman gun1864American Civil WarThomas Jackson Rodman2 made; 2 survive50820 inch "Perm Tsar Cannon" or "Perm Giant" (ru)Naval gun (technology demonstrator never installed to a ship)1868Russian EmpireMotovilikha manufacturing plant1 made; a total of 314 shots were fired in tests; never used in combat; 1 survives390Roaring MegMortar 1646Kingdom of EnglandCreated by Colonel Birch for the Siege of Goodrich Castle286Dal Madal Kaman/Dala Mardana1565 or 1742 (differing sources)Mallabhum, Malla dynasty Jagannath Karmakar1 made; according to an Indian local legend of divine intervention, fired only once in battle; 1 survives280Archiv für die Officiere der Königlich Preußischen Artillerie- und Ingenieur-Korps, Vol. 19, Berlin, Posen, Bromberg 1846, p. 101Kanone GreifScharfmetze ("medium size")1524Electorate of TrierMaster Simon1 made; evidence of being fired exists; no evidence of use in combat exists; 1 survives280Jaivana1720Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur Riyasat1 made; fired once; never used in combat; 1 survives254Zamzama1757Lahore, Durrani EmpireShah Nazir2 made; used in combat; 1 survives206.268-pounder gun1841UKWilliam DundasNo. built In excess of 2,000174.836-pounder long gun1600sFranceIn use from 1600s to 1800s, thousands made152Jahan Kosha Cannon1637Bengal Subah, Mughal EmpireJanardan Karmakar1 made; 1 survives ? Sebastopol Mortar 1868 Ethiopia 1 made; 1 survives
Twenty-inch (508 mm) Rodman and Dahlgren smoothbore cannons were cast in 1864 during the American Civil War. The Rodmans were used as seacoast defense. Although not used as intended, two 20-inch Dahlgrens were intended to be mounted in the turrets of and . Both Rodman gun and Dahlgren gun were designed to fire both shot and explosive shell.
Explosive shells Heyday: 19th to 20th centuries. The list includes 16-inch (400 mm) guns and larger calibers.