Inventions of Leonardo Da Vinci war machines Multi-cannon

The design is a multi-cannon gunship, viewed from above with 16 barrels and a complex central mechanism, probably for moving and turning the “gunship” on the water. It was

probably thought by Leonardo to be built on a boat.

Machine-gun

• This particular boat seems to be equipped with a series of repeating mortars. It is a mental experiment to neutralize the effects of kickback. In opposition to what is suggested by the drawing, Leonardo notes that the shooting must take place simultaneously in two opposing bombs.

Multi-barrelled Machine Gun

• This machine gun had considerable firepower. Once the cannons were loaded and ready to be fired, a broad range of fire was ensured. Because the gun carriage was easily moveable, it could be aimed at different objectives as necessary. The altitude of the cannon fire could be adjusted using a hand crank on the rear of the carriage.

Mortar for fragmentation bombs• The drawing shows the

effects of two different kinds of charge: the mortar at the front fires bombs that - on impact or when close to the target - explode into a cloud of metal shrapnel, while the other mortar is loaded with stones or small-caliber iron balls which are fired at the enemy like grape-shot.