Leonardo da Vinci arranged 33 barrels on his organ-shaped multi-barreled cannon.
The weapon is often called an organ gun because its parallel barrels resemble the pipes of a musical instrument. Leonardo’s design placed the barrels in a fan-like or organ-like arrangement so that several shots could be fired in succession or in a concentrated volley. The goal was to increase the rate of fire compared with a single cannon.
The concept addressed a real military problem: early gunpowder artillery was slow to reload, and repeated fire could be valuable against advancing troops. A multi-barreled weapon could spread projectiles across a wider area, although it would still require substantial preparation, ammunition, and crew support.
Leonardo proposed many military machines, but drawings do not prove that every design was manufactured or tested. The 33-barrel figure belongs specifically to the organ-gun concept and should not be confused with Leonardo’s other artillery sketches, such as his giant crossbow or steam-powered cannon ideas. The design illustrates his habit of combining mechanical arrangement with tactical purpose.