How Cannons changed the History of India?

History of Cannons

Cannons were first developed and used in China sometime between the 12th and 13th centuries, evolving from earlier gunpowder weapons like the fire lance. 

Earlier Chinese Cannon - 12th Century

During the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260, the Mamluk Turks used a cannon to defeat the Mongols. This was the first use of a cannon in Islamic history that used a gunpowder formula. Super-sized cannons were used by the troops of Mehmet II to capture Constantinople, in 1453.

Mughal Cannons Conquers India

Impact of Cannons in Battle of Panipat

Cannons were the game-changing advantage that allowed Babur’s small army to defeat the massive, traditional forces of the Delhi Sultanate led by Ibrahim Lodhi. They fundamentally altered the battlefield through superior firepower, psychological warfare, and defensive fortification. At the First Battle of Panipat (1526), Babur understood this advantage and his cannons artillery by tying together hundreds of wooden carts (Arabah) with rawhide ropes. Cannons were positioned behind these carts, giving his gunners a safe, fortified line from which to fire without being overrun by enemy cavalry.

The loud, thundering boom of the cannons was entirely new to Indian warfare. The terrifying sounds and smoke shocked and terrified Lodhi's horses and war elephants, turning them into a panicked liability. Babur’s cannons caused the elephants to panic, leading them to trample and scatter their own armies in their desperate attempt to escape the noise. The steady cannon fire pinned down the massive infantry centers of the Indian armies, compressing them into tight formations. This allowed Babur to execute his Tulughma (flanking) strategy—using his highly mobile cavalry to surround the enemy and force them directly into the devastating line of artillery fire.

Brave Rajputs Defeated by Cannons

 At the pivotal Battle of Khanwa (1527), Babur's cannons were the decisive technological advantage that broke Rana Sangha's much larger, traditional Rajput army. They provided the crucial firepower needed to offset the Rajputs' massive numerical superiority and devastating cavalry charges. Babur gave a religious color to the battle against Hindus by denouncing the people of India. He wrote that the inhabitants had "no good looks ... no manners, and lacked genius or bravery."

Babur defeated Rajputs with Cannons

 The Rajput confederacy relied heavily on aggressive massed cavalry charges and close-quarter melee combat. Whenever the Rajput heavy cavalry charged, they were met with withering, concentrated volleys of cannon and musket fire that decimated their ranks before they could reach Babur’s lines. The deafening roar, smoke, and explosive destruction of Babur's cannons caused the elephants and horses to panic.

Elephants and Bulls carried Mughal Cannons

Babur’s gunners utilized a strategy of aiming at enemy commanders. Because Rajput leaders, including Rana Sanga himself, directed their forces while mounted on massive elephants, they made highly visible targets for the artillery, which eventually resulted in Rana Sangha being severely wounded and falling unconscious. Ultimately, without the unfamiliar, devastating barrage of gunpowder weaponry, Babur's vastly outnumbered forces likely would have been overwhelmed by the superior numbers and martial valor of the Rajputs who continued to fall without being able to engage in close combat. They were hopelessly outclassed by cannons and muskets and their dense masses only increased their hopeless slaughter, as every bullet found its target.

Cannons Powering the Sikh Empire

Cannons of Khalsa Army 1849

Cannons were the backbone of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's military modernization, transforming his army from a feudal force into one of the most formidable in Asia. The Maharaja established a dedicated artillery corps (Topkhana) that could match European capabilities, effectively using these heavy weapons to secure border forts, breach walls, and win key regional campaigns. 

Zamzama Cannon - Captured by Sikhs from Abdali - Lahore Fort

The Zamzama Cannon is an iconic 18th-century large-bore weapon currently displayed outside the Lahore Museum in Punjab, Pakistan. It was cast in Lahore around 1757 by the order of Ahmad Shah Abdali. A tax collection was levied on local Hindu/sikh families to surrender copper and brass kitchen utensils. It was cast by the famous metalsmith Shah Nazir. The Name: "Zamzama" translates from Persian to mean "murmur" or "pealing thunder". An inscription on the barrel fiercely declares it to be a "destroyer even of the strongholds of the heaven"

Ahmad Shah Abdali used the cannon effectively during the decisive Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 defeating the Marathas. He was unable to carry it to Afghanistan and it was seized by the Bhangi Sikh Misl. The legendary Sikh Emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured the cannon in 1802. He deployed it in his major military campaigns, including operations in Kasur, Daska, and Multan, During the Siege of Multan, the cannon was severely damaged when it lost a wheel during intense bombardments. According to historical records, Sikh soldiers heroically substituted their own shoulders to support the weapon so it could keep firing, suffering fatal injuries from the intense recoil. 

Cannon Zamzama in use by Sikhs during the Siege of Multan

When the British Empire annexed Punjab, they preserved the relic. In 1870, it was moved to its current location on Mall Road to mark a visit by the Duke of Edinburgh.

 Recognizing the power of artillery, the Maharaja actively modernized his arsenal. In 1807, he established state-of-the-art Karkhanas (foundries) in Lahore. Under the guidance of skilled Punjabi engineers and European advisors (like the French General Claude Auguste Court), these factories successfully copied the brass, western-style cannons and howitzers of the East India Company. The Maharaja even built smithies to manufacture exploding shells and shrapnel, giving his guns devastating stopping power at distances up to 1,200 yards. From just about 35 to 40 heavy artillery pieces early in his reign, the Maharaja expanded his arsenal to around 250 to 500 guns by the time of the First Anglo-Sikh War.

 To ensure the cannons could be utilized across diverse terrains, from the plains of Punjab to the mountainous Kashmir and North-West Frontier, the artillery was highly categorized:

• Topkhana-i-Fili: Heavy siege cannons drawn by elephants.
• Topkhana-i-Aspi: Light, fast-deploying horse artillery.
• Topkhana-i-Gavi: Medium cannons pulled by oxen.
• Topkhana-i-Shutri: Mobile, camel-mounted swivel guns (Zamburaks), highly effective in rugged frontier regions.

The Punjabi Mussalmans led the artillery forces of the Khalsa Army.  In combat, Ranjit Singh used his cannons as the tip of the spear. Instead of relying purely on cavalry charges, his strategy involved:

• Artillery-Led Offensives: Cannons softened up enemy infantry lines before his modernized infantry (Fauj-i-Khas) engaged.
• Fort Sieges: The heavy brass cannons and howitzers proved decisive in capturing heavily fortified Afghan positions. A prime example was the famous 1818 siege of Multan, where the Maharaja used the massive Zam-Zammah (a colossal 14.5-foot cannon captured from the Durrani Empire) to breach the city's seemingly impenetrable walls.

East India Company under fire by Sikh Cannons

The legacy of this massive investment in artillery meant that even after Ranjit Singh's passing, his gunners earned the enduring respect and fear of the British Army during the Anglo-Sikh Wars.

Cannons of World Wars

Cannons used in World War I

In the World Wars, traditional "cannons" evolved into highly sophisticated field artillery, howitzers, and anti-tank guns. No longer fired using direct sight lines at visible enemies on a battlefield, they became mechanized, long-range weapons that caused the majority of all combat casualties.

Mechanized Cannon of World War II

Bofors Guns of Kargil

Fire power of Bofors Guns at Kargil War

During the 1999 Kargil War, the Indian Army's 155mm FH77B Bofors howitzers served as the definitive game-changer, completely altering the course of the conflict. Despite prior political controversies surrounding their procurement, these artillery pieces provided the overwhelming fire superiority required to dislodge Pakistani infiltrators entrenched on high-altitude Himalayan peaks.

During the 1999 Kargil War, Brigadier Lakhwinder Singh served as the Commander of the 8 Mountain Artillery Brigade. He is widely recognized as the strategic mastermind who revolutionized the use of artillery during the conflict, earning him the famous military moniker, the "Enraged Bull of Dras". 

Brigadier Lakhwinder Singh - Hero of Kargil war

The capture of Tiger Hill was achieved through a flawless infantry-artillery synchronization planned and executed by Brigadier M.P.S. Bajwa (Commander of the 192 Mountain Brigade) and Brigadier Lakhwinder Singh (Commander of the 8 Mountain Artillery Brigade). Nicknamed the "Enraged Bull of Dras," Brigadier Lakhwinder Singh leveraged overwhelming firepower to pave a path for Brigadier Bajwa's infantrymen.

Brigadier Lakhwinder Singh deployed the Bofors in a direct-firing role, pointing the barrels straight up at Pakistani bunkers visible on the ridge. Rather than firing in isolated batteries, he massed 100 to 120 Bofors and other artillery pieces to fire in concert on single targets like Tiger Hill and Tololing. Operating sometimes at ranges of nearly 10,000 meters, this direct line-of-sight shooting meant almost every shell hit its target. After firing a rapid volley, Indian gunners used the engine to quickly move the weapon to a new location. This "shoot and scoot" tactic, combined with the deployment of dummy wooden Bofors guns, repeatedly tricked Pakistani artillery into shelling empty positions. 

Brigadier Singh successfully planned and executed the coordination of more than 100 artillery guns simultaneously aimed at a single objective. This massed, relentless bombardment pulverized fortified stone enemy positions that infantry forces could not otherwise penetrate.This obliterated heavily fortified stone and ice bunkers that infantry could not otherwise breach. The gun's ability to fire three rounds in 12 seconds allowed artillery units to quickly saturate a target before enemy soldiers could react or seek shelter.

Pinpoint Accuracy of Bofors Guns at Tiger Hill

 Over the course of the conflict, the artillery fired over 250,000 shells. This intense bombardment completely softened enemy positions and shattered the morale of Pakistani troops, clearing a path for Indian infantry to launch successful final assaults with minimal casualties. Brigadier Bajwa utilized this precise, overwhelming artillery cover to advance his infantry columns (18 Grenadiers, 8 Sikh, and 2 Naga) up the steep mountain walls under the cover of pitch darkness. 

Brigadier MPS Bajwa, Yudh Seva Medal

While the artillery focused heavily on the main peak, Brig. Bajwa executed his multi-pronged tactical maneuver. He ordered the 18 Grenadiers to climb the vertical cliffs from the front while deploying 8 Sikh to flank the enemy from the left and rear. This coordinated push ultimately overwhelmed the Pakistani defensive line and resulted in the recapture of Tiger Hill.

Cannons of Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor was launched on the night of May 7–8, 2025, with airstrikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan supported by relentless firepower of artillery guns. This marked the beginning of a four-day military conflict that lasted from May 7 to May 10, 2025. Indian Army’s Artillery played a decisive role by executing the majority of the precision strikes against terror camps and successfully silencing retaliatory cross-border shelling inside Pakistan.

Modern Artillery in Use -  Operation Sindhur

 Bofors, M777, and Soltam 155mm howitzers were deployed at optimal forward positions to maximize fire effect and pulverize the assigned camps. The deployment of GPS-guided Excalibur precision artillery ammunition allowed the Army to hit specific buildings and terror bunkers up to tens of kilometers away with minimal collateral damage.

Indian Guns in Action - Operation Sindhur

 According to military officials, India's relentless and highly accurate retaliatory fire caused massive panic and infrastructure damage in the adversary's camps, forcing the opposing artillery to completely go quiet within two to three days.

Future of Cannons

Cannons and heavy tube artillery are not fading into obsolescence; instead, they are undergoing a massive, tech-driven transformation. The advent of weaponized drones and long-range precision missiles most notably the war in Ukraine and Indo-Pak war of 2025—have proven that traditional artillery remains indispensable for delivering massed, sustained firepower. However, the future of cannons will rely heavily on shifting away from unguided "dumb" shells toward highly integrated, hyper-mobile, and intelligent system.

Kinetic Electromagnetic Railgun

Looking further down the timeline, the physics of conventional gunpowder are reaching their absolute upper limit. Kinetic Electromagnetic Railguns that use magnetic fields to launch solid metal slugs at hypersonic speeds. Because these systems require no explosive powder or volatile chemicals inside the ammunition, ships and ground vehicles can safely carry thousands of rounds of cheap, inert kinetic projectiles that rely purely on impact velocity to destroy target.