While infantry carries the title of “Queen of the Battle,” it’s the artillery that’s king. It strikes over vast distances, hits with a lot of force, and remains mobile and accurate. Here are 18 photos of these awesome weapons and their crews:
1. Artillery belches smoke and fire every time it shoots a round.
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295962/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
2. When crews emplace the weapons, they anchor them to the ground and set up aiming aids to ensure rounds go exactly where they should.
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295963/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
3. While the gun crews are emplacing the cannons, other artillerymen move the rounds to the firing point and prepare them for action.
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295964/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
4. Different guns have different muzzle velocities, but most can fire rounds at over 1,500 feet per second.
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295965/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
5. Between shots, crew members quickly remove the spent casing and load a new round.
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295966/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
6. Between shots on 155mm howitzers, the gun is swabbed out. (The white-tipped rod in the left of the photo is the swab.)
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295967/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
7. The guns are often towed around the battlefield behind vehicles, but can also be flown to firing points.
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295604/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
8. Even UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters can fly the guns around.
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295968/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
9. When they need to travel long distances, the artillerymen can throw their guns out of the backs of planes (with parachutes).
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295969/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
10. Some artillery units have self-propelled guns with light armor.
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295970/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
11. They’re highly mobile, but still put on an awesome light show.
![Artillery being fired from a tank](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295971/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
12. Back in the day, the Navy’s artillery moved quickly as well, provided there was plenty of water.
![Artillery exploding off a battleship](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295972/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
13. Night fires light up the darkness.
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295973/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
14. Maneuver units can request illumination rounds from artillery, giving them plenty of light with which to see.
![Artillery being prepared in the dark](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295974/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
15. Modern artillery carries a lot more than just cannons. Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems can fire a dozen rockets each.
![Artillery rockets being launched](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295506/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
16. MLRS can put on its own amazing light show.
![Artillery being fired](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295505/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
17. Also back in the day, the U.S. Army fielded atomic artillery that could launch rounds with .5 to 15-kiloton yields.
![Explosion after artillery attack](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17295975/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)