Artillery

Artillery, once the term for all military machinery, now applied to guns too heavy to be carried by one or two soldiers. Modern artillery had its origins in the 14th century, when weapons using gunpowder were first developed. Its use became more important as equipment became more mobile, accurate, and effective. World War II saw the development of antitank and antiaircraft guns and the first effective use of rockets. The most modern artillery is often made of light, tough alloys, and targeting systems draw on laser and radar technology.