Leonardo da Vinci designed a 33-barrel organ to fire several shots in succession.
The weapon arranged many small cannon barrels in a broad, organ-like formation. The nickname comes from its resemblance to the pipes of a musical organ, not from any musical function. The arrangement was intended to let the gun crew fire repeated volleys more efficiently than with a single barrel.
Leonardo’s version is connected with Renaissance experiments in rapid-fire artillery. Multiple barrels could reduce the delay between shots, although reloading and handling the weapon would still have been difficult. Its practical battlefield effectiveness remains uncertain because the design was not a standardized firearm.
The 33-barrel organ is distinct from Leonardo’s giant crossbow and armored vehicle. It was an artillery concept based on grouped gun barrels, whereas the crossbow used a bow and the armored vehicle was designed for protected movement.