
Photo of actual armstrong cannon used during Boshin War.
The Armstrong Cannon was a powerful rifle-bore breech loading cannon. Not an actual model but a design lineage, the armstrong lends its name to its English inventor, Sir William Armstrong.
Design[]
Being made of wrought iron and later steel the Armstrong cannon was far lighter and portable compared to previous artillery pieces, thus the weapon could be carriage towed or flush mounted on naval ships. In the manga, one cannon was designed to attach to Kujiranami Hyōgo's arm.
History[]
The weapon was used around the world extensively, the American Civil War (where both sides used the cannon), the Opium Wars, and the Boshin War.
In the 11th year of the Meiji Era, Hyogo met with Enishi which Enishi gave Hyogo an Armstrong Cannon (that is able to attach to Hyogo's arm). Hyogo then uses it to destroy the Akabeko. Days later, Hygoro and his comrades attack the Kamiya Dojo. Hyogo fires a cannonball at the Dojo but Sano is able to reflect it back with his Zanbato. Hygoro then uses the cannon to redirect the cannonball away from him. Kenshin then takes this chance to destroy the Armstrong Cannon.