Catapult Design

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A catapult by definition is “a ballistic device used to launch a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines” (Wikipedia). Catapults have been used by the Greeks, Romans, and Chinese as siege weapons throughout history. Catapults were used to “launch missiles (many different objects were utilized). These missiles were either launched directly at the wall to cause maximum damage to the fortifications or were launched over the wall to lay siege on the population within the protective walls.”(History of Catapults).
The most commonly used weapons in ancient weapons as siege engines were battering rams, catapults, and assault ladders. Battering rams were most commonly used because of their protection that they allowed to hide behind and also because of their use in taking down a castle wall (Siege Engines). Assault ladders were ladders that were used to scale the walls of the castle so that they could enter into the castle. A huge disadvantage was the enemy could push the ladders away and the enemy would shoot arrows at them as they were trying to enter. The advantages of the catapult ended up overpowering the advantages of other siege weapons. Some of these advantages included being able to shoot a projectile from long distances, a large amount of damage, and relatively unskilled laborers to operate a machine. The bulk amount of people affiliated with catapults only helped to move and wind up the machine. There was a soldier in charge of positioning and how far back the catapult should be in relation to the castle. Most catapults launched large rocks, arrows, diseased cows, and explosives as the century went on. During Medieval ages castles starte...

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...as attached to the wood. The Onager was different because they switched from a bucket holding the rock to a sling. After that came the Trebuchet. This is the best kind and it has a counterweight that pushes the stick forward and it also has the swing. The only force that’s acting on the stick now is gravity and this is where the sling gets its power.

Works Cited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catapult https://sites.google.com/site/physicsofcatapults/home/history-of-catapults http://www.lordsandladies.org/catapults.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_engine http://www.stormthecastle.com/catapult/development-timeline-of-the-catapult.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_Ladder http://www.ehow.com/info_8163189_types-catapults.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onager_(siege_weapon) https://sites.google.com/site/physicsofcatapults/home/history-of-catapults

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