A catapult by definition is a ballistic device use to launch a projectile some distance, in particular. A catapult was a large machine on wheels with a basket attached to a long wooden arm and a power source for hurling projectiles such as large stones and spears.
The catapults were integral to the Siege Warfare. They were one of the most effective weapons during the Siege Warfare. They were used by the Greeks, Romans, and Chinese. The first catapults were early attempts to increase the range and power of a crossbow (more advanced version of a crossbow). Diodorus Siculus was the first to document the use of the catapult or “mechanical arrow” in 399 B.C. Catapults were introduced into Europe during the middle ages. The French were the first …show more content…
Advantages: among the various types of catapults, the trebuchet was the most accurate and the most efficient in transferring the stored energy to the projectile. In addition, it allowed greater consistency in the throws due to the fact that the same amount of energy could be delivered every time, because it gains kinetic energy from the ropes, making it likely to hit something and destroy it. The gravity does all of the work, so there wasn’t the need for a large amount of manpower to operate the machine and more men available for the actual fighting. The trebuchet was built bigger and better than a crossbow (History …show more content…
The trebuchets were a complicated weapon, making the operations difficult. The trebuchet is was in itself complicated to build. The trebuchet was large making transporting difficult. Some of them could be dismantled and carried in pieces on the back of their work-animals, but most were built in place. This required having the right tools and materials. Also, the workers had to be smart. It was also expensive to build. Another disadvantage was that often the counterweight portion of the trebuchet was misjudged against the weight of the projectile. When the trebuchet was set it would misfire, sending the projectile in an unpredictable direction hitting things that was unintended or killing innocent people (History
The catapults were integral to the Siege Warfare. They were one of the most effective weapons during the Siege Warfare. They were used by the Greeks, Romans, and Chinese. The first catapults were early attempts to increase the range and power of a crossbow (more advanced version of a crossbow). Diodorus Siculus was the first to document the use of the catapult or “mechanical arrow” in 399 B.C. Catapults were introduced into Europe during the middle ages. The French were the first …show more content…
Advantages: among the various types of catapults, the trebuchet was the most accurate and the most efficient in transferring the stored energy to the projectile. In addition, it allowed greater consistency in the throws due to the fact that the same amount of energy could be delivered every time, because it gains kinetic energy from the ropes, making it likely to hit something and destroy it. The gravity does all of the work, so there wasn’t the need for a large amount of manpower to operate the machine and more men available for the actual fighting. The trebuchet was built bigger and better than a crossbow (History …show more content…
The trebuchets were a complicated weapon, making the operations difficult. The trebuchet is was in itself complicated to build. The trebuchet was large making transporting difficult. Some of them could be dismantled and carried in pieces on the back of their work-animals, but most were built in place. This required having the right tools and materials. Also, the workers had to be smart. It was also expensive to build. Another disadvantage was that often the counterweight portion of the trebuchet was misjudged against the weight of the projectile. When the trebuchet was set it would misfire, sending the projectile in an unpredictable direction hitting things that was unintended or killing innocent people (History