Warwolf

Medieval Ballista

There is no recorded evidence that trebuchets – in the Nordic countries called blida or blide – was used in the Nordic countries until 1134, when the Danish king Erik Emune used them in the civil war i Denmark.

The first recorded use of traction trebuchets was in ancient China. They were probably used by the Mohists as early as 4th century BC, descriptions of which can be found in the Mojing (compiled in the 4th century BC).

Roughly speaking, a trebuchet has two and a half advantages over a catapult: It can handle heavier projectiles. A catapult’s maximum weight tops out at about 180 pounds; trebuchets top out at about 350. Compared to a torsion engine, it’s a fairly robust machine.

They were versatile machines, capable of different ranges, fire rates, and power, depending on the situation. The trebuchet was such a successful piece of engineering that it solidified its place as the superior siege engine — far more powerful and reliable than the inferior catapult.

Trebuchet memes are here. Yep, that’s right, pick your jaw up off the floor: memes about the medieval siege engine known as the trebuchet (pronounced “treh-byoo-shay”), a device capable of flinging 90-kilogram stones more than 300 meters, are en vogue.

Siege equipment like catapults and trebuchets could seriously cripple that tank. And once it runs out of fuel, it is all over.

: a medieval military engine for hurling heavy missiles (such as rocks)

One of the Medieval siege weapons used during the Middle Ages was the Trebuchet. The Trebuchet was an invaluable Medieval siege attack weapon, similar to a catapult, which was used for hurling heavy stones to smash castle or city walls.

Medieval and Middle Ages History Timelines – The Trebuchet. he trebuchet was a wooden siege engine designed to destroy castle walls by throwing large rocks at them. The engine was constructed using a sturdy base, a long throwing arm and a bucket to hold weights.

1521

Today trebuchets are used as teaching tools in high schools and colleges to learn about load, force, fulcrums, velocity, gravity, and parabolic arcs. They are also used as recruiting tools to lure students into engineering programs.

Catapults as siege weapons became ineffective in 885-886 AD rendered useless by new defense technology, but they still continues to be used in military operations. The last large scale use of catapults as a weapon delivery device was in World War 1.

There are five historical types of catapults: the mangonel, onager, ballista and trebuchet, using three types of motive force: tension, torsion and gravity. Side view of a torsion powered mangonel catapult in the cocked position.

Simply so, why is 45 degrees the optimal angle? The reason that 45 degrees is the best launch angle (resulting in the longest flight) is that it perfectly splits the upward and forward forces. Ninety degrees is straight up.

Take a piece of heavy cloth (or burlap, for a very large trebuchet) and fold it in half. Gather the corners on the two sides together and tie them with string, cord, or rope, forming a pouch. Tie loops in the loose ends of the string so you can slip them over the hook on the launching side of the swing arm.