The Heavy Cannon is the typical heavy artillery piece for the Spanish, Portuguese, Germans, Russians, Dutch, French, Swedes and Maltese. Its power and hit points are similar to the Great Bombard, but the rate of fire is slightly faster and it has no penalties versus Cavalry. The Heavy Cannon is effective against enemy infantry and artillery units.
Overall, a Heavy Cannon (1 on 1) would have a good chance to beat a Great Bombard with full health, though it would rely on the Heavy Cannon getting two shots off (12 seconds) before the Bombard began attacking the Heavy Cannon. This is realistically possible due to the Heavy Cannon's smaller penalty versus other artillery and its greater rate of fire. Other common factors such as battlefield confusion, varying levels of micromanagement skill and line of sight advantages allow this scenario to occur frequently. The population cost of this unit is 7.
The Heavy Cannon has a base cost of 200 wood, 600 coin, and a train time of 115 seconds (103.5 seconds with "Engineering School", 109.25 seconds with "TEAM Engineering School" Home City Card, 92 seconds with both), while the Factory generates 5.5 (7.15 with the respective improvements) resources every second.
Therefore, a Factory producing a Heavy Cannon uses up 632.5 resources (475.75 with "Engineering School" or "TEAM Engineering School", 379.5 with both); with all three of the respective improvements, the value goes up to 822.5 (618.475 with "Engineering School" or "TEAM Engineering School", 493.35 with both).
This means for the majority of civilizations, especially those lacking significant damage potential with Heavy Cannon, it is very economically damaging to create them. Improvements and Home City Cards that reduces artillery train time will also affect the Factory, whereas no economic cards do the same. With "Engineering School" or "TEAM Engineering School", the bonus for Heavy Cannon is only 5% whereas regular artillery will train 70% faster (30% faster for civilizations lacking their "Engineering School"), fielding much quicker.
Since Knights of the Mediterranean, any civilization (except the British, Italians, and Ottomans) can train Heavy Cannons by allying with the House of Hanover and researching the Victorian Era, which ships a Factory Wagon, allowing the player to build a Factory.
Consulate Heavy Cannon[]
“
Heavy artillery. Good against infantry or buildings.
”
—In-game description
The Consulate Heavy Cannon is a counterpart of the Heavy Cannon, which starts with +10% hit points and attack.
Upgrades[]
The Consulate Heavy Cannon is automatically upgraded in the Imperial Age:
Ships 5 Consulate Culverins; artillery get +10% hit points and -10% train time; Culverins get +20% hit points and -25% train time instead; costs 500 wood
"Engineering School" is available to the French, Ottomans, Portuguese, Russians, and Swedes.
"1 Heavy Cannon" is available to the Germans and French (upon revolting to Revolutionary France).
"Flying Battery" is available to the Germans, Italians, and Spanish upon revolting to Argentina, and French upon revolting to Revolutionary France.
"Lantakas" is available to the Dutch and Portuguese upon revolting to Indonesia.
"Wanderlust" is available to the Dutch upon revolting to South Africa, and can be sent 3 times.
"Knox's Continental Artillery" is available to the British, Dutch, French, Italians, and Swedes upon revolting to the United States.
Upgrades Horse Artillery to Heavy Horse Guns (if not already); Horse Artillery and Heavy Cannons get +20% hit points; Horse Artillery train time -20%; Heavy Cannon train time -10%
According to pre-release screenshots, the Heavy Cannon would be available to the British. There are unused voice files for British Heavy Cannon in the game files and in the Scenario Editor, which are the same voice files used by the Rocket.
For the Chinese, Heavy Cannons spawned from the Factory, shipped by the Russians' allies, speak German like Heavy Cannons trained from the Consulate.
History[]
“
The logistics of moving, maintaining, positioning, aiming, and firing artillery required a highly drilled and disciplined team with a sharp commander. In addition to the men and artillery pieces in his command, an artillery officer had to see to the horses used to haul the pieces around - sometimes up to six for heavier guns. When one side in a battle could field hundreds of artillery pieces, the logistics of just moving them into position were taxing. "Heavy Cannon" is a relative term, but in general, cannon considered 'heavy' were typically used as permanent gun emplacements to defend Forts and strategic locations.
”
Gallery[]
A Heavy Cannon in Bombard mode
A Heavy Cannon in Limber mode
Heavy Cannon side model
Heavy Cannon in Bombard mode model
Heavy Cannon in Bombard mode side model
A Heavy Cannon in Limber mode in the Definitive Edition
Heavy Cannon in Bombard mode in the Definitive Edition