Play Catapult

Take yourself back to the Middle Ages; you're trying to break down a fortified wall. What do you do? Get a catapult of course. Widely-used in ancient warfare, catapults utilize tension and leverage to launch devices or objects at enemies' buildings --- and sometimes the enemies themselves. Several types of catapults existed, some of which were large and bulky, others small and mobile.

Trebuchet

Trebuchets hold a major distinction from other catapult types. Rather than creating force by rope tension, they use a large counterweight which subsequently throws the object loaded into the lighter, opposing end. Usually used as siege weapons, trebuchets started in China, gradually making their way to Europe over subsequent centuries. Trebuchets played a significant role in warfare in Europe during the middle ages. The French military even made alterations to the trebuchet making it more accurate and keeping it in service for centuries.

Ballistas

The ballista is also familiar to most people as it has been featured in many movies. Looking like a modern-day crossbow, a ballista holds and fires an arrow. Many objects substitute well for an arrow within a ballista; arrows can be wooden or metal and although a sharpened end helps, isn't necessary.
Ballistas utilize tension in rope by pulling back a single rope which twists around two tension-loading posts on the sides. The ballista has a longer and richer history than the trebuchet; although it was used during the Middle Ages, it dates back to Greek and Roman warfare.

Mangonel

The mangonel dates back to Roman times, where it was commonly used in warfare. Larger than the ballista, but smaller than the trebuchet, the mangonel consists of a base with wheels, a long maneuverable arm, and a hollowed semi-circle at the end of the arm used for holding projectiles. Unlike the ballista, mangonels shoot projectiles with an arc as opposed to a straight-line. Dangerous in warfare, the projectiles have a range of up to 1,300 feet for top-of-the-line mangonels.

Modern Catapults

Although they might have lost their critical stronghold in warfare, catapults can still be found today. One common use is aircraft carriers, which utilize a very large and powerful catapult built to launch aircraft to a high speed over a very short distance, allowing them to take off successfully. Basic ballista-style catapults can be bought for clay-shooting, a common technique for hunters. Small versions of mangonel catapults were even used during World War I for grenade launching out of trenches.

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