4 September 2015

Rocket weaponry of the Ming Dynasty

UNDER REVISION


Overview

While first rocket was believed to be invented around twelfth century, it was not until the Ming period that rocket was employed as practical battlefield weapon. Chinese constantly sought to create more deadly rocketry, and developed many platforms to better utilise this devastating weapon, whether stationary, handheld or mobile.

1) Types of Rocket

1.1) Common rocket

Shen Ji Jian (神機箭, lit. 'Divine engine arrow')

Ming Dynasty Shenjijian Rocket
Drawing of a Shen Ji Jian (right) and its launch tube (left), from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Shen Ji Jian (神機箭), also known as Shen Ji Huo Jian (神機火箭, lit. 'Divine engine fire arrow') or simply Huo Jian (火箭, lit. 'Rocket'), refer to a type of two or three shot bamboo rocket launcher or its ammunition. Like its smaller cousin Meng Jian, Shen Ji Jian rocket can be carried by other types of rocket pod, such as the famous Nest of Bees.

The Korean Singijeon (신기전 or 神機箭) rocket was derived from, and shares its name with, this weapon. Nevertheless, incendiary and poisonous gas warheads that were ubiquitous among Ming rocketry remained largely elusive to the Koreans.

Huo Jian (火箭)

Ming Chinese Rocket
Huo Jian from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
In its simplest form, a rocket or Huo Jian is just an arrow with a black powder rocket motor attached to its shaft. However, simply attaching a rocket motor to an arrow does not make an effective weapon, as the arrow can easily become unbalanced and wildly inaccurate. Ming Dynasty Huo Jian has specifically straightened shaft and carefully attached counterweight to offset this issue.

While launch tube or rocket pod are preferred, a Huo Jian can be launched from anything with a fork-like structure, including tree branch and Tang Pa (鎲鈀).

A normal-sized Huo Jian is usually four chi two cun long, with a five cun long rocket motor.

Ming Huo Jian (明火箭, lit. 'Bright fire arrow')

Ming Chinese Huo Jian
A Ming Huo Jian (right), two single shot launch tubes, and a normal Huo Jian (left), from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Also known as Ming Huo Fei Jian (明火飛箭, lit. 'Bright fire flying arrow'), this is a Huo Jian with up to two incendiary warheads. It is often used in conjunction with Du Huo Fei Jian (毒火飛箭, lit. 'Poisonous fire flying arrow'), its counterpart with poison smoke-cum-incendiary warhead.

Meng Jian (猛箭, lit. 'Fierce arrow')

Ming Chinese Rocket Arrow
A Meng Jian and its launch tube, from 'Bing Lu (《兵錄》)'.
Meng Jian can refer to a type of five shot rocket launcher or its ammunition, which is a small (one chi six cun to two chi long shaft, three cun long rocket motor) rocket. Aside from its own launcher, Meng Jian can be carried by other types of rocket pod, such as Bai Hu Qi Ben Jian (see below).

Da Tong Huo Jian (大筩火箭, lit. 'Big tube rocket')

Ming Chinese Rocket Artillery
Detailed plan for Da Tong Huo Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Da Tong Huo Jian is a large (five chi long) rocket with extended range.

Fei Dao Jian (飛刀箭, lit. 'Flying sabre arrow')
Fei Qiang Jian (飛鎗箭, lit. 'Flying spear arrow')
Fei Jian Jian (飛劍箭, lit. 'Flying sword arrow')
Yan Wei Jian (燕尾箭, lit. 'Swallowtail arrow')

Ancient Chinese Rocket
Drawings of Fei Dao Jian and Fei Qiang Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Ming Dynasty Fire Arrow Rocket
Drawings of Fei Jian Jian and Yan Wei Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Fei Dao Jian, Fei Qiang Jian, Fei Jian Jian and Yan Wei Jian are four nearly-identical large rockets (six chi long shaft and eight cun long rocket motor), with their only difference being differently-shaped arrowhead. Capable of easily punching through iron armour, these powerful rockets also have poisoned arrowheads for increased lethality.

Fei Dao Jian, Fei Qiang Jian and Fei Jian Jian are also collectively called San Fei (三飛, lit. 'Three flying').

1.2) Specialised rocket

Ding Peng Jian (釘篷箭, lit. 'Sail-nailing arrow')

Ming Chinese Fire Arrow
Drawing of Ding Peng Jian, from 'Bing Lu (《兵錄》)'.
Ding Peng Jian is a type of incendiary rocket specifically designed to set fire on the sail of enemy sailing ship. It has a secondary poison smoke warhead that prevents the enemy from attempting to put out the fire, as well as barbed arrowhead to prevent extraction.

It is usually launched from a bamboo tube called Liu Tong (溜筒, lit. 'Slip tube').

1.3) Unusual rocket

Er Hu Zhui Yang Jian (二虎追羊箭, lit. 'Two tigers chasing goat arrow')

(to be updated)

Liu Xing Jian (流星砲, lit. 'Shooting star bomb')

Drawing of a Liu Xing Pao, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. Note that the illustration is inaccurate as Liu Xing Pao has proper fletching.
Liu Xing Pao is a rocket with a four chi five cun long bamboo shaft, four cun five fen fletching, a grooved barbed arrowhead (the groove is used to store poison), as well as a five cun rocket motor. The warhead of Liu Xing Pao is a firecracker that produces a very loud salute, which is used to disorient enemy troops and startle horses. 

Huo Long Jian (火龍箭, lit. 'Fire dragon arrow')

Huo Long Jian is a type of medium-sized rocket with a four chi nine cun shaft (156.8 cm or 61.7 in) and a five cun rocket motor known to be used by Ming border army from Xi Ning (西寧) garrison since at least 1560s. It is highly unusual in that its rocket tube is made of iron, making it the earliest recorded iron-cased rocket in the world, predating Mysorean and Congreve rocket by several centuries.

2) Types of launch platform

2.1) Improvised launcher

Tang Pa (鎲鈀)

(to be updated)

2.2) Single-shot launcher

Liu Tong (溜筒, lit. 'Slip tube')

Ming Chinese Rocket Launcher
Drawing of a Liu Tong, from 'Bing Lu (《兵錄》)'.
(to be updated)

2.3) Rocket pod

Xiao Zhu Tong Jian (小竹筒箭, lit. 'Small bamboo tube arrow')

Ming Chinese Bamboo Rocket Tube
Drawing of Xiao Zhu Tong Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Xiao Zhu Tong Jian is the smallest handheld rocket launcher in Ming arsenal. It is essentially a short bamboo tube that carries ten miniature (nine cun long) poisoned rockets. It is so light (entire tube plus ammunition only weigh two catties) that a soldier can carry up to five tubes without issue.

Xiao Zhu Tong Jian is usually carried by close combat troops to be employed as surprise close-in weapon. A very large salvo of miniature rockets can be launched at unsuspecting enemy at extremely close range, just before two armies clash in hand to hand combat. It can still be employed as long range weapon like other rockets, however.

Huo Long Jian (火籠箭, lit. 'Fire basket arrow')

Ming Dynasty Handheld Rocket
Two soldiers launching Huo Long Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Huo Long Jian is a handheld rocket pod made of bamboo basketry that carries up to twenty incendiary rockets.

Si Shi Jiu Shi Fei Lian Jian (四十九矢飛廉箭, lit. 'Forty-nine shot Fei Lian arrow')

Ming Dynasty Rocket Pod
Drawings of Si Shi Jiu Shi Fei Lian Jian and its rocket pod, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Si Shi Jiu Shi Fei Lian Jian is a forty-nine shot rocket pod made of bamboo basketry. It carries a type of specialised rocket that has a three-pronged arrowhead dipped in poison as well as two paper tubes attached to the shaft back-to-back. The front tube is a incendiary-poison smoke warhead, while the back tube is the rocket motor. The rocket can be modified to deliver incendiary-fragmentation payload as well.

Wan Shi Fei Lian Jian (萬矢飛廉箭, lit. 'Ten thousand shot Fei Lian arrow')

Ming Chinese Multi Rocket Launcher
Drawing of a Wan Shi Fei Lian Jian, from 'Wu Bei Yao Lue (《武備要略》)'.
Wan Shi Fei Lian Jian is a modified Si Shi Jiu Shi Fei Lian Jian (see above) that can carry one hundred rockets. It is mounted on a swiveling stand similar to Bai Zi Chong (百子銃).

Wu Hu Chu Xue Jian (五虎出穴箭, lit. 'Five tiger emerging from a cave arrow')

Ming Chinese Handheld Rocket Pod
Drawing of a Wu Hu Chu Xue Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Wu Hu Chu Xue Jian is a handheld five shot rocket launcher that fires small (two chi five cun long shaft, three cun long rocket motor) poisoned rocket. With a range of five hundred paces, Wu Hu Chu Xue Jian is one of the longest ranged rocket in Ming arsenal (the recorded range might be exaggerated, though), yet still light enough to be used comfortably on horseback.

Xiao Wu Hu Jian (小五虎箭, lit. 'Small five tiger arrow')

Ming Chinese Mini Rocket Arow
Drawing of a Xiao Wu Hu Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Xiao Wu Hu Jian is the lightened, but no less deadly, version of Wu Hu Chu Xue Jian. It shoots slightly smaller rockets than the full-sized version.

Bai Hu Qi Ben Jian (百虎齊奔箭, lit. 'Hundred tiger running together arrow')

Ancient Chinese MLRS
Drawing of a Bai Hu Qi Ben Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Bai Hu Qi Ben Jian is a box-shaped wooden rocket pod that carries one hundred Meng Jian rockets. It is a bulky weapon that has to be laid on the ground before firing, but can be mounted on wheeled cart or warship as well. When mounted on a mobile platform, Bai Hu Qi Ben Jian can be modified to accommodate larger Shen Ji Jian rocket.

Together with Chang She Po Di Jian, it is the main armament of
Jia Huo Zhan Che (架火戰車).

Qun Bao Heng Ben Jian (羣豹橫奔箭, lit. 'Prowl of leopards stampede arrow)

Ming Dynasty Multi-launch Rocket System
Drawing of a Qun Bao Heng Ben Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Also known as Qun Bao Chu Lin Jian (羣豹出林箭, lit. 'Prowl of leopards emerging from a forest arrow'), this is a octagonal wooden rocket pod that carries forty Shen Ji Jian rockets. Like Bai Hu Qi Ben Jian, it has to be laid on the ground before firing. The rocket pod is slightly flared so that it can spread the rockets over a large area.

Chang She Po Di Jian (長蛇破敵箭, lit. 'Long serpent enemy-breaking arrow')

Ming Chinese Handheld Multiple Rocket Launcher
Drawing of a Chang She Po Di Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Chang She Po Di Jian is a wooden rocket pod that carries thirty medium-small (two chi nine cun long shaft, four cun long rocket motor) poisoned rockets. Unlike other weapons in this article, Chang She Po Di Jian is specifically designed with handheld shooting in mind without sacrificing firepower or number of shots. It even comes with a "gun sling" that allows the soldier to carry the rocket pod over his back.

Together with Bai Hu Qi Ben Jian, it is the main armament of
Jia Huo Zhan Che (架火戰車).

Qun Ying Zhu Tu Jian (羣鷹逐兔箭, lit. 'Convocation of eagles chasing hare arrow' )

Ancient China Handheld Multiple Rocket Launcher
Drawing of a Qun Ying Zhu Tu Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Qun Ying Zhu Tu Jian is a double-ended rocket pod that carries thirty small (one chi four cun long shaft, three cun long rocket motor) poisoned rockets on each ends, for a total of sixty rockets. Like Chang She Po Di Jian, it comes with a "gun sling" for ease of carrying.

Yi Wo Feng (一窩蜂, lit. 'Nest of bees')

Ming Dynasty Nest of Bees
Drawing of a Yi Wo Feng, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
See my other post.

Huo Jian Xia (火箭匣, rocket box)

Ancient China Rocket Launcher
Drawing of a Huo Jian Xia, from 'Jun Qi Tu Shuo (《軍器圖說》)'.
Huo Jian Xia is a box-shaped rocket pod that carries twenty-seven poisoned rocket. It is the main armament of Gai Shi Wu Gang Che (改式武剛車).

Shen Huo Jian Ping (神火箭屏, lit. 'Divine fire arrow screen')

Ming Dynasty Rocket Barrage
Drawing of a Shen Huo Jian Ping, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Shen Huo Jian Ping is a stationary rocket launcher that carries one hundred rockets. It can be activated by a pressure plate Zhong Huo Ku (種火庫).

Huo Long Shen Ji Gui (火龍神機櫃, lit. 'Fire dragon divine engine cabinet')

Ming Chinese Mobile Rocket Pod
Drawing of a Huo Long Shen Ji Gui, from 'Huo Long Shen Qi Zhen Fa (《火龍神器陣法》)'.
Huo Long Shen Ji Gui is a box-shaped rocket pod that carries thirty-six Shen Ji Huo Long Jian (神機火龍箭, lit. 'Divine engine fire dragon arrow', which is just a fancy name for ordinary rocket). It is possibly the earliest iteration of Ming Dynasty multiple rocket launcher.

Huo Long Shen Ji Gui is light enough that one man can carry two at the same time. However, it is not a handheld weapon, and must be laid on the ground before firing.

2.4) Unusual launch platform

Huo Jian Liu (火箭溜)

Drawing of a Huo Jian Liu, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.
Invented by Zhao Shi Zhen (趙士楨), Huo Jian Liu is a matchlock gun that shoots rocket instead of the usual lead ammunition.

For more information, see my other post.

Huo Jian Dao Liu Xing (火箭刀溜形)

Drawing of a Huo Jian Dao Liu Xing, from 'Shen Qi Pu Huo Wen (《神器譜或問》)'.
Another invention by Zhao Shi Zhen.

For more information, see my other post.

Huo Jian Pan Qiang (火箭盤鎗, lit. 'Rocket tray spear')

Ming Chinese Rocket Spear
Huo Jian Pan Qiang and rocket (highlighted), from 'Si Zhen San Guan Zhi (《四鎮三關志》)'.
Huo Jian Pan Qiang is an unusual spear with two attached round plates that function as rocket rack.

Qi Tong Jian (七筩箭, lit. 'Seven tubes arrow')

Ming Dynasty Multiple Tube Rocket Launcher
Drawing of Qi Tong Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Qi Tong Jian is a handheld rocket launcher that carries seven rockets. Instead of a single, large rocket pod, Qi Tong Jian is assembled from seven small bamboo tubes, each loaded with a single rocket. It comes with a disc-shaped hand protector made of cowhide.

Shuang Fei Huo Long Jian (雙飛火籠箭, lit. 'Twin flying fire basket arrow')

Ming Chinese Rocket Bomb
Drawing of Shuang Fei Huo Long Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Shuang Fei Huo Long Jian is a very interesting weapon—it is not a rocket pod in the traditional sense, but a rocket launching incendiary rolling bomb made of bamboo basketry. Once the fuse is lit, entire basket is rolled down a slope (or thrown from high place) into enemy formation and will soon start blasting away with rockets from both ends.

4 comments:

  1. Did Ming ever create explosive warheads like the British did with Congreve rockets?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. For example, the Forty-nine shot Fei Lian arrow (四十九矢飛廉箭) can deliver fragmentation payload, which requires explosive powder.

      Delete
  2. Is there any information on the diameter or weight of the rocket tubes? I see them described as being three cun or eight cun in length, but that doesn't give a solid idea of their overall size without including how big around they are.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For Qi Jiguang's large rocket (i.e. San Fei), the tube is 8 cun (25.6 cm) long and 1.2 cun (3.84 cm) in diameter.

      Records about other rockets are less clear about the diameter of the tube, but since San Fei were some of the largest rockets fielded by the Ming army, other rocket tubes were presumably smaller.

      Delete

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