5 November 2016

Fei Cui Zha Pao (飛摧炸砲)

Ming Chinese Bombard
A man firing three Fei Cui Zha Pao, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Fei Cui Zha Pao (飛摧炸砲, lit. 'Flying destroyer explosive cannon') was an iron mortar, possibly a repurposed Wan Kou Chong (碗口銃, lit. 'Bowl-muzzle gun'), that was used to shoot cast iron shells. The shells were filled with small caltrops, which served as fragmentation during detonation but would stick on the ground to deter enemy advance afterwards. The mortar was typically loaded with multiple shells, allowing even one volley to cover a wide area.

4 November 2016

Ba Mian Xuan Feng Tu Wu Hong Lei Pao (八面旋風吐霧轟雷砲)

Drawing of a Ba Mian Xuan Feng Tu Wu Hong Lei Pao, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Ba Mian Xuan Feng Tu Wu Hong Lei Pao (八面旋風吐霧轟雷砲, lit. 'Eight directions tornado mist-spewing roaring thunder cannon/bomb') was a type of swivel-mounted gun, similar to Bai Zi Chong (百子銃), that shot a cast iron explosive shell. It was one of the few Ming cannons that shot explosive shells.

31 October 2016

Di Yong Qiang (地湧鎗)

UPDATED NOVEMBER 17, 2023


Ming Chinese Pressure Plate Spike Trap
Sprung trap (left) and unsprung trap (right), from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.
Di Yong Qiang (地湧鎗, lit. 'Ground surge spear'), also known as Di Yong Shen Qiang (地湧神鎗, lit. 'Ground surge divine spear') was a simple yet deadly pressure plate-activated spiked trap. Designed to be easy to use, mass-producible and disposable, Di Yong Qiang consisted of a flat, rectangular wooden frame, a wooden plank serving as pressure plate, and up to eight steel spikes connected to the pressure plate with ropes and eye bolts.
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