07-12-2007, 08:27 PM
Quote:Gaius Julius Caesar:3kdct60c Wrote:I like your idea about the open sight for longer ranged, higher angled shots, but also think it would help the crew to keep from be coming tunnel visioned, and switch to a more important target more easily.You're in good company, Byron. This was essentially Dietwulf Baatz's explanation of the wide cheiroballistra-type frame.
btw I don't like the idea of high-angle mortar-style shooting for catapults. The missile would suffer badly from air resistance over the course of its long trajectory.
Shooting along a reasonably flat trajectory, at a target around 200m away, the missile is in the air for 2 seconds maximum, and retains much of its initial energy.
But over a longer, arching trajectory, in order to reach targets of 400m+, the missile is airborne for much longer, and, besides losing kinetic energy with every passing second, it will be subject to lateral drift.
And how do you target individuals (who are presumably mobile themselves) with this style of shooting? I don't know about you guys, but I can barely see over 400m (but maybe I just need new glasses).
If you buy Baatz's "field-of-view" explanation for such a radical change in a proven design, you should first ask the question "Why did they ever block up what little view they had on the wood-framers with decorative metal sheeting?" IMHO it couldn't have been that important to them. Even if you believe it was, why did Heron specify that the width should be more that 2X arms length? Wouldn't one length have been enough? As a tank gunner shooting much longer ranges I would acquire targets using a 10X sight and fire using 3X. Neither had much field of view (kind of like looking through a toilet paper tube), but the all the Tank Commander had to do was get me in the general area. More importantly, why does everyone focus exclusively on the flat trajectory direct fire mode? Just because a weapon does one thing very well doesn't mean it can't do others. (88mm, .50 cal, FA-18 hornet, et al). Modern weapons are often rated as having two effective ranges. For example 350m vs point targets, 800 vs area targets. Even if the air resistance could stop the bolt in mid air, it would fall at terminal velocity with all it's mass. I guarantee you wouldn't want to be under it when it did. An individual may be able to see high angle fire approaching and dodge the round, but men standing in formation can't (area target). I was once too close for comfort to a barrage of incoming MLRS missiles. At the last minute they seem to get real small and they either fly over your head or kill you. By then it's in God's hands. Firing from an open cart within range 200m? of a group of archers would be suicidal. Stand off at your max range, not theirs and crank off a few bolts at their formation. If they scatter they're undisciplined rabble. If they stand fast they'll be well disciplined corpses. :twisted:
P. Clodius Secundus (Randi Richert), Legio III Cyrenaica
"Caesar\'s Conquerors"
"Caesar\'s Conquerors"
