Grasshopper cannon

Grasshopper was the nickname for a cannon used by the British in the late 18th century as a light battalion gun to support infantry. It was designed for service in rough terrain such as the frontiers of British North America.

Its barrel was made of bronze instead of iron. Bronze is less brittle than cast iron, and so the barrel could be made thinner and lighter than that of an iron gun. If a bronze gun developed a defect it would rupture; an iron gun with a flaw would shatter, at great cost to its own crew. It fired a 3 lb ball (or same weight of canister shot).

Using the conventional bracket or split trail, the gun could be moved by its own crew using drag ropes and wooden shafts much like a handcart. Two straight shafts were placed on each side of the cheek pieces facing forward, and two angled ones at the trail. The appearance of the shafts when fixed in place led to the nickname of Grasshopper.

Famous battles with grasshopper cannon

 * Cowpens in the American Revolution
 * Guilford Courthouse in the American Revolution
 * Yorktown in the American Revolution
 * Craney Island in the War of 1812
 * Frenchtown in the War of 1812
 * Queenston Heights in the War of 1812