Brief Description:  The cetbang was a medieval breech-loading swivel gun and hand cannon utilized primarily by the Majapahit Empire (1293–1527) in the Indonesian archipelago. Mounted on ships or fortifications, this light artillery piece allowed naval forces to deliver devastating anti-personnel volleys during the peak of Nusantara's maritime dominance. The cetbang underwent significant evolution during the medieval period, primarily categorized into two distinct styles.

Eastern-Style Cetbang:

Design & Origin: Evolving directly from early Chinese chongtong hand cannons and introduced following the failed Mongol invasion of Java in 1293.

Materials: Cast predominantly in bronze, making them lightweight.

Loading: Front-loaded (muzzleloader) and occasionally designed with a socket-like tube at the rear to mount on a long wooden pole.

Ammunition: Primarily fired arrow-like projectiles, though round lead/iron shot and co-viative incendiary payloads were also utilized.

Western-Style Cetbang:

Design & Origin: Heavily influenced by Turkish and Portuguese swivel guns (similar to the prangi), which reached the archipelago around the late 15th century.

Materials: Usually cast in bronze or iron, featuring a distinct bulging combustion chamber.

Loading: Breech-loading (loaded from the back), allowing for a much faster rate of fire than traditional muzzleloaders.

Mounting: Mounted on a swivel fork (garpu putar) on ship railings or fortress walls, giving it a 360-degree rotational capability.

Ammunition: Fired solid single round projectiles or scatter-shots (shrapnel) packed with small bullets.