Brief Description:  The prangi (also spelled paranki or pirangi) was a lightweight, early breech-loading swivel gun developed by the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. It was primarily used as a highly mobile, anti-personnel weapon on the battlefield, aboard galleys, and in fortresses.

Key Characteristics of the Prangi:

Design: Compact and lightweight, it was typically cast in bronze, though iron variants existed. It often featured a funnel-shaped muzzle.

Breech-Loading: Instead of being loaded from the muzzle, it utilized separate, mug-shaped chambers (breech blocks) that were pre-loaded with gunpowder and shot. This design allowed for a rapid rate of fire, as multiple chambers could be prepared ahead of time and swapped quickly.

Swivel Mount: The cannon was equipped with a swivel fork, allowing the gunner to quickly rotate and pivot the weapon.

Ammunition: It was a relatively small artillery piece designed for close-range combat, typically firing 150-gram projectiles. It was devastating when loaded with grapeshot or scattershot against massed infantry or enemy ships.

Deployment: Because of its portability, it was mounted on small carts pulled by oxen, on naval ships, and even on war elephants (known as gajnal) by the Mughal Empire.