minimal elevation. This velocity and mass imply that the cannonball had a kinetic energy of roughly when leaving the muzzle. In Britain, Brigadier General Michael Richards was appointed Master-General of the Ordnance in 1714 and he commissioned a Danish expert, Albert Borgard, to design a new artillery system. Borgard did away with the traditional nomenclature of culverins, sakers and minions, and devised a new system based on the weight of shot that each gun used, from 4 to 64 pounds. Although Borgard's gun designs were quickly superseded, the practice of naming ordnance by weight of shot persisted in Britain into the 20th century. See also Arquebus Demi-culverin Doglock Flintlock Hand cannon Matchlock Miquelet Musket Pistol Snaphance Snaplock Wheellock References External links "Culverin (cannon)" at the Encyclopædia Britannica Specifications and pictures of a French culverin found in the Azores Cannon Medieval artillery Muskets Renaissance-era weapons