Present arms!

In the 17th century when Jan Michał Link was remodelling Zamość fortifications, heavy siege cannons, 24-pounder half kartouwen weighed about 2800 kg and to transport them as many as 12 pairs of horses were needed. The calibre of their barrels was about 150 mm and the range of effective fire was about 600 m; however, the range of breaching/demolishing fire was only 150 m. Due to its complicated handling (since there were no cartridges, it was necessary to pour powder into the barrel by means of a shovel whose capacity was clearly defined, to compress the powder it was necessary to use wadding and a cannonball and to wait for the barrel to cool after firing to avoid incidental explosion of powder) the kartouwe could fire only 70-80 times a day.