Jaivana cannon
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The Jaivana (Hindi: जयवाण) cannon is the world's biggest wheeled cannon ever made. It is located at the Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur at (). It was cast in 1720, during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur.
Jaivan rests on a high 4 wheeled carriage. The front wheels are 2.74 m in diameter and the rear wheels are 1.37 m in diameter.
[edit] The Barrel
The barrel is 6.147 m long and weighs 50 tons. It rests on a 7.3 m long shaft. The tip of the barrel is 711 mm in dia., while the rear of the barrel is 906 mm dia.
A 776 mm long elevating screw was used for raising and lowering the barrel.
Reportedly, it took four elephants to swivel it around on its axis.
[edit] Firing
About 100 kg. (a quintal) of gun powder fired a shot ball weighing 50 kg.
Never used in battle, the Maharaja Jai Singh reportedly test-fired it once in 1720. The cannon ball is said to have landed at Chaksu about 40 km away. The impact forming a lake at the spot.
Cannons always had a water tank beside them, for the cannoneer to jump into to avoid the massive blast. Jaivana's cannoneer is said to have died on the spot on firing the cannon, before he could jump into water. Eight people and one elephant were also reportedly killed by the shock wave and many houses collapsed in Jaipur.
