Cannons

* **Equipment Name:** Cannon
* **Function:**Ballistic Anti-Ship weapon
* **Cost:** Varies (See Price List)

## Overview

Cannons are by far the one of the primary weapons used against other surface targets (Ships, Shore Facilities, Enemy Bases, Aircraft)
These weapons range in size, larger they are more weight & mass to take to fire them.

This article goes over the basics of these weapons; How to use them, build them, and requirements per size of weapon it needs to function.

Additionally, elements of Turret construction are duplicated here, since they do go hand and hand with that equipment.
Turrets are the armored shelters which usually used to house cannons, protecting the gunnery crews from harm.

However, turrets are not necessary (thou preferred) when constructing a cannon small to large sizes on ships and other vehicles.

* **Wiki Note**: The following is focus refer to building a cannon for a ship. However this may apply to other vehicles and bases.

## The Basics

### Operations of a Cannon

This focus on construction and in and outs of cannon, this article specifies details on how to fire a cannon.

However, for construction purposes, understanding how this done will be gone over in this article. Just not in detail.

**Cannons Needs**: Ammunition, Breech, and Cannon Sign. Larger Cannons require Gunpowder, typically 10 inch guns and larger.

**Cannon Signs**: These signs are used when its expected to use Gun Directors/Fire Control signs. Light & Medium Cannons do not require these signs, they are needed for Fire Control purposes. Heavy Cannons ***MUST*** include this sign. They are also associated with use of the Turrets cannons are mounted in.

### Cannon Sizes

Cannon are categorized by their Naval Barrel length (dimensions of barrel in real life, however length is used on server.)

A cannon has three defining things.

1) Type Cannon
There are five cannon types found on the server; 20 & 40mm machine gun like autocannons, Light, Medium, and the Heavy.
2) Breach Block
It's breach mark (base), glass blocks that make up barrel attached to the breach block. Each breach block is different depending on Type gun it is.
3) Length of Barrel/type glass or block on larger guns
In the example of a 6 inch Medium cannon, there are six glass blocks that attach to the breach, thus it's six gun. However, heavy cannons use solid blocks vs stained glass that turn into barrel once assembled.
### Parts of a Cannon

* *Barrel Blocks (Blue Pane)*
These make up the barrel of your guns. Although they ride along with the turret, they are not actually considered a part of the turret vehicle, which basically means, you don't need to worry about the barrels attaching to anything. Notice the barrel of the other turret above this turret, they don't have any problems with attaching because of this reason.

* *Breach Block (Black Pane)*
The breach of the gun, breaches are required to be in a certain position relative to the cannon sign. They are always one block forward, and one block above, the space where the sign is located. There will be more on this later. The space behind the breach must be clear for the gun to fire, as the gun needs to recoil backwards (flex as after firing).

* *Heavy Cannon Breach Blocks*
Heavy Cannons are largest cannons in use. They have extra breach blocks in addition to the total length of a Cannon's barrel blocks.

* *Cannon Sign (Oak Sign)*
Required for all Heavy cannons, or lighter weapons that use turrets (except 20mm & 40mm cannon). On the sign itself, the first line always says **Cannon** on 1st line of sign. The 2nd line you must enter the **caliber of the gun in inches/size.** It accepts values of 3" up to 18" (note that 11" doesn't work at the moment). The length of the cannon barrel must match the caliber! If the cannon is a 5" cannon, then it's barrel must be 5 blocks long.

* *Quartz Deck Block*
Turret related, this block is important because it signifies the base of the turret. This base layer is NOT part of the turret, and does NOT rotate with the rest of the cannon. If I wanted (the turret) to rotate too with the cannon, then I should put the quartz block a level deeper. You can also put a ladder directly under the sign instead of a quartz block, which the *Fletcher* Class Destroyer actually does, due to space limitations. **Note**: If you turn your cannon, and disable/restart your ship, there is a chance in the rotated position your cannon might not start above a quartz block, which will cause the cannon to attach to the vehicle and cause an error. If you want your ship able to safely restart turrets it is recommended you place quartz blocks under all possible positions the sign may end up.

## Price List

Note: 20mm & 40mm autocannons have their own articles to build, they are listed here as comparison of price differences.

### Per Weapon Cost

20mm - $2000 (all are per barrel)

40mm - $4000

3" - $9000

4" = $16,000

5" = $25,000

6" = $36,000

7" = $49,000

8" = $64,000

9" = $81,000

10" = $162,000

11" = $243,000

12" = $324,000

13" = $486,000

14" = $648,000

15" = $972,000

16" = $1,296,000

17" = $1,944,000

18" = $2,592,000

### Ammunition

AA Ammo - $500/block

Lt Ammo (10 rounds) - $1000/block

Md Ammo (4 rounds) - $1000/block

Hvy Ammo (1 round) - $1000/block

Hvy Powder (1 charge) - $1000/block

## Setting up a Cannon

* *Turret vs No Turret*
Normally, smaller to medium cannons are enclosed in turrets. However, these weapons do not REQUIRE these shields. Pre-Dreadnought era vessel will have many medium and light cannons without full protection. Shelters for guns without a full turret are known as casemates, which are found in the hull or the superstructure.

* *Spacing in the Turret*
All turrets must be square, however sizes Cannon and the turret self matter. On a larger turret, this is one on an ancient CL-Castle Cruiser, with its roof removed. First off, notice the larger breach (red pane) and barrel (green pane) which are used for 6-10" guns. As mentioned before, a breach must ALWAYS be placed one block forward and above where the sign is..HOWEVER, you may place a breach, or multiple breaches, anywhere left/right in this line. The green glass blocks highlight all possible positions for breaches with this type of turret. Note that all turrets are limited to a maximum width, which is based on the caliber of the turret

* *Squaring the Turret*
It is required that all turrets have "square" bases in order to work. The barrel itself not technically a part of the turret base and is not counted. This only refers to the overall dimensions of the turret also, it does NOT mean the entire turret must be box shaped, and there are many tricks to make elongated turrets square.

## Getting Started - Setting up to Build

* *Pick a Size and Type Ship you want*
Building turret related to what your building it for. There arrange of ships that a turret can be fitted on it and their sizes vary sometimes greatly. That being said, it should be seen that turrets built for

* *Know what you need*
Chiseled Quartz block, Oak Sign, blocks for the turret self, stained glass for the turret's cannon of your choice, breech block for 11 inch guns and larger.

* *Know Your Ship*
How many turrets you need, where will the Magazine will be located. Traditionally Magazine and Barrett are spaces located directly below the turret themselves. (not required as of this writing, but it is subject to change.) They contain the shells / ammunition for the gun and gunpowder. You should plan out where your going place these turrets with their supplies keep them working.

* *Lock & Loaded*
Remember, your ship cannons need gunpowder and ammunition. Remember: Small Autocannons, Light, and Medium guns only need ammunition per their size. Heavy Cannons requires ammunition shells and gunpowder. While gunpowder blocks are universal with all weapons, the shells (ammo) for the guns are per type of cannon (light, medium & heavy)

## Building Your Turret

See the Turrets article on construction of a weapon with a Turret. While full turret is not required for all guns, they are needed for the big ones to function.

## Trouble Shooting - Things to Watch Out For

Ships on the server, like all the other vehicles are complex in comparison to simply putting a sign on what you made and go. Turrets trouble shooting is included.

* **Have Ammo, No Fire** : Gun Powder must be present for Heavy Cannons to fire. If this is not onboard, the guns will not shoot. Message SHOULD tell you when ship is selected if it's missing this critical element of being able to fire the big gunss.

* **Click Click, No Fire** : Ammunition out. You may want check to see if enough ammo was allotted to the ship.

* **Keeping it Square** : As described above, main guns of turrets are subject to breaking if the turret itself is not squared or rounded so both width & length (not counting barrels) are matching. Some blocks such as "Iron Rods" can be virtually invisible if single one is used, can through off the measurements of the turret. They also can help fix the dimensions as well since they are almost invisible with current texture pack.

* **Tight Quarters** : Cannons and their turrets need at least 1 space from any structures near the turret wall's. This includes ladders and other blocks attach to it no matter how small they are.

* **Barrel Breaking** : When a turret is NOT square, a barrel will disconnect from the turret when it either turn or the ship "bobs" in the water. This movement will most certainly break the barrels off the turret, leaving them floating in air where they were spawned in. While gun will fire before the break,it will be listed as destroyed when the break accrues. Not Squaring the turret will reason.

* **Cannon won't Turn**: There multiple issues that causes this; 1) Battle damage will cause a turret or the barrel itself, this would cause it to be unable to move. On average elements of the cannon barrels themselves was destroyed. A repair block will mend this issue. 2) Unloaded Guns will also cause the turrets not to turn. The guns mounted in the turret must be fully loaded before they can be turned completely.

* **Failed Repairs**: If the turret receives significant damage from enemy fire and the cannons itself is destroyed. Repairs to the turret will not replace the barrel itself no the cannon sign. Only armor on the turret maybe repaired to allow it to work again.

## Building Gallery

4 Inch gun's cannon sign, breech4 inch gun turret (no texture)5 inch gun turretUnarmored 3 inch Turret mount. Note the breech physically moves back.Example Large Caliber Cannons being fired. A Gunner can be seen on top of the turret.Side profile of unarmored 3 Inch Cannon gun mount. Note the chisled quartz can be seen.Front view of a unarmored 3-in Cannon turret.
## Important Links

* Master Block Link - This is the List of blocks used make ships & other equipment
* How to Fire a Cannon - Basic Instructions
* **How Build Cannons - 101 of Cannons and how their put together**

## Notes

* Maximuspayne wrote the original portion of how to build cannons on the NBZ: HC's Discord channel with many of this article's pictures.

* Developer Notes on Cannons & Turrets
Cannons work conjuncture with turrets, thus they use the same signs, doesn't matter the caliber. A simple gun (with just breach and barrel, and the optional base cannon chair block) doesn't need a cannon sign, but if you have more attached to the gun. Then it has to be a turret and needs a sign....large caliber guns don't work as individual guns due to a bug i think, so they only work as turrets

## External Links

* Turrets 101 channel on NBZ: HC's Discord Server