The best siege unit in middle ages

Oh, thanks for the link, Demon

That depends on the school of definition you follow. The French-speaking experts tend to maintain the distinction between trebuchets and mangonels (and I would keep that distinction when talking with French experts) but the English-speaking academic circles seem to favor the definition that puts the engines defined in French as "mangonels" and "trebuchets" under the single heading of counterweight trebuchets. In that line of definition, pierrieres are traction trebuchets and bricoles are "combined" or "transition" trebuchets. These terms (both French and English), of course, are modern definitions because it's very likely that medieval engineers never had such a clear-cut rule for classifying siege weapons. You're free to choose which school to follow as long as you remain consistent in your usage of terms.

Originally posted by demon What do you think was the best siege unit in the middle ages? It can be either for anti siege, or anti unit.  You tell

The Song Dynasty's cannons. I've only heard of them being used for defense though, but at that era China did not seem interested in conquoring the cities of other nations. Mongols faced heavy resistance in fortefied cities with cannons (amongst other things) to guard them.

They also threw bombs into the invaders. Big loud bombs that flung out shrapnel.

Edited by TMPikachu

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i think the hwacha were the best siege weapons because of its very unique features,it was both anti unit and anti seige!! it had a range of 1000m (not a typo) which is about 10 times more than a trebuchet. the hwacha fired up to 100 arrow-rockets which could be made to blow up in mid air to throw spikes and shrapels at the enemy or for it to blow up on contact. the hwacha was perfect for a siege becauseit caused fear, could blow up walls, destry archers on walls farther than the enemy archer's range, could kill large masses of troops at a time. On the other hand, trebuchets and catapults were strong against the wall, but short on range and had to have an entire team of people to operate it. The hwacha only took one.the boulders that the trebuchet or catapult threw could only squash one man (if lucky) and just make a whole bunch of dust.... so now what do u think is the best siege weapon? p.s. i got most of the info from another writer on this website. i dont know his name but thank you for your facts!!

Edited by pb_91

...it took a very long time to reload though

I don't know if that is true...because all you do is put more shinkichon into the cartridges the way you reload bazooka  And to fire it, you just torch em like tarkans in Age of Conquerors!

Edited by demon

Yes. And by that time, you'll be lucky to get maybe 3 shots off, if you're experience, before the enemy cavalry runs your ass down and slaughters your team to a man.

Yes. And by that time, you'll be lucky to get maybe 3 shots off, if you're experience, before the enemy cavalry runs your ass down and slaughters your team to a man.

Well, I know that in every battle with hwacha, they were fully loaded .  And they can shoot down men 2km away+ it's thunder and thick smokescreen scares untrained horses, creating chaos before they reach the front line... so no need to be in the field worried unless the foes attack you by backstab...and koreans have halbs

They are portable as well....one men can push it the way mayan trading cart pushes in Age Of Conq...

Hwachas were useful in siege and defending siege warfares...they mowed down rows of Musket Samurais during a siege in imjin war.  It helped the Korean militias numbering like 3000 defeat 20,000 professional Musket samurais in this fort...i think the name was fort hengju

I never liked trebuchets in that game.  Too slow.  Pack and unpack and ect.  I like bombards instead...