Minion (cannon)

The minion (from the French mignon or "dainty") was a type of smoothbore cannon used during the Tudor period and into the late 17th century.

It was of a smaller bore diameter - typically 3 inches (76 mm) - than larger cannons such as sakers and culverins, and usually fired round shot weighing 5 pounds (2.3 kg).

The minion constituted the main armament of the fast and maneuverable Elizabethan-era galleons, such as Francis Drake's Golden Hind, along with the smaller falconet.

[2] During the Age of Sail, minions were used to repel boarding parties, although larger-caliber guns such as carronades were becoming increasingly popular, due to their greater ability to disable enemy vessels.

Minions remained in service as man-of-war quarterdeck guns until 1716 when George I appointed Albert Borgard to redesign the Royal Navy's artillery.