ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Harpoon cannon

Alright kiddo, have you ever gone fishing with a rod and reel? Well, a harpoon cannon is kinda like a big, fancy fishing rod that shoots a sharp spear called a harpoon.

Instead of casting your line into the water, you aim the harpoon cannon at something you want to catch like a whale or a tuna. Then you pull a lever and the harpoon shoots out really fast and sticks into the animal.

But it's not just any harpoon, it has a special rope or chain attached to it so that you can reel the animal in. Think of it like pulling in a big fish, but much harder because the animal is much bigger and stronger.

Harpoon cannons are used by fishermen and sometimes by researchers who want to study sea creatures up close. They're very expensive and not very common, but they can be very useful in certain situations.