Brief Description:  The Faule Mette is a massive 15th-century cast-bronze supergun manufactured in Braunschweig, Germany, in 1411. Weighing roughly 8 to 10 tons, this muzzle-loading bombard was designed specifically for siege warfare to batter down the thick stone fortifications of enemy castles and walled cities.

Design and Construction:

Material and Casting: Unlike many other superguns of the era (such as * Mons Meg*) which were built from forged iron bars welded together, the Faule Mette was a masterclass in bronze-casting.

Dimensions: It featured an impressive bore diameter (caliber) of roughly 80 centimeters (31.5 inches).

Ammunition and Performance:

Projectiles: The bombard fired massive spherical stone balls weighing between 322 and 423 kilograms (710 to 933 lbs).

Gunpowder: It required a massive propellant charge consisting of 24 to 33 kilograms (53 to 73 lbs) of black powder.

Range: In a notable test firing on November 1, 1717, the Faule Mette shot a 341 kilogram (752 lb) stone ball an incredible distance of 2,442 meters (8,012 feet).