Naval Guns, a Central-Plan Church and a Fire-Ship
Cortaldo and serpentine cannon, a free-standing domed temple with its plan, and an incendiary raft
This sheet mixes naval artillery, architecture and incendiary warfare. Two cannon barrels at the upper right are labelled a cortaldo, judged good against large ships, and a serpentine suited to slender galleys, meant to throw a 4-pound lead ball. At upper left stands an octagonal domed church with corner towers, drawn above a Greek-cross plan, with the maxim that a building must be detached all around to show its true form, while a burning sailing craft below is a fire-ship whose black-sailed hull carries a charge fired by bent iron wires.
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Cortaldo and serpentine naval guns
The cortaldo is judged good against large ships. The serpentine suits slender galleys for striking the enemy from afar; it should throw 4 pounds of lead and be 40 balls long.
Free-standing central-plan church
An octagonal domed church with corner towers is drawn above a Greek-cross plan. Leonardo notes that a building must always stand detached all around in order to display its true form.
Ramming spikes to fix the striking device
Two spikes are drawn; this spike will hold the instrument fast to the ship if the blow is great.
Incendiary fire-ship with a black sail
A fire-craft is built up a braccio above the water from wood, tow, gunpowder and kindling laid ever thicker. Bent iron wires tipped with burning linen ignite the charge; when the wind-driven hull, its sail blackened for night, reaches the anchored enemy ships, the fire M sets the powder alight.