10 April 2015

Unique weapon of the Ming Dynasty — Fei Kong Ji Zei Zhen Tian Lei Pao (飛空擊賊震天雷砲)

MINOR UPDATE JANUARY 29, 2024


Chinese rocket-powered exploding wingball
Drawing of a Fei Kong Ji Zei Zhen Tian Lei Pao, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Fei Kong Ji Zei Zhen Tian Lei Pao (飛空擊賊震天雷砲, lit. 'Bandit-attacking, flying heaven-shaking thunder bomb'), also known as Zhen Tian Fei Pao (震天飛砲, lit. 'Heaven-shaking flying bomb'), is a type of ball-shaped winged rocket named after the famous cast-iron bomb used by Jin Dynasty army during Siege of Kaifeng. The weapon consists of three components: a globular warhead made of papered basketry, a black powder rocket motor embedded within the warhead, as well as two wings. It is loaded with explosive, poisonous smoke gunpowder as well as poisoned fragmentation, and is suitable as both siege and field artillery.

Despite its menacing name, this weapon is actually not practical due to its aerodynamically unstable design.

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