Photon440
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When you think of multistage rockets, you assume fairly modern warfare. China, on the other hand, actually used these in combat as far back as the 13th century.
This blueprint was an example of "huo long chu shui" (Fire Dragon out of the Water), a two staged dragon shaped rocket. The four rockets with fins were attached to the body, while the fan tail helped with guidance. After the front two rockets had fired, the second stage rear two rockets continued the trajectory, reaching the intended target (the range was described as two or three 'Li', or village diameters), then the internal fuses would ignite and shoot out three or four rocket arrows out of the mouth of the dragon.
Made of bamboo with a wooden head, they were quite useful as both a long range siege weapon and coastal defense artillery.
Earlier forms of rockets go back as far as the 9th century, being rudimentary bamboo tubes filled with gunpowder that were shot along the ground to frighten the horses of enemy cavalry.
During the Song Dynasty, (960-1279 AD) the Chinese military developed rocket launchers that would fire multiple rockets simultaneously.
This blueprint was an example of "huo long chu shui" (Fire Dragon out of the Water), a two staged dragon shaped rocket. The four rockets with fins were attached to the body, while the fan tail helped with guidance. After the front two rockets had fired, the second stage rear two rockets continued the trajectory, reaching the intended target (the range was described as two or three 'Li', or village diameters), then the internal fuses would ignite and shoot out three or four rocket arrows out of the mouth of the dragon.
Made of bamboo with a wooden head, they were quite useful as both a long range siege weapon and coastal defense artillery.
Earlier forms of rockets go back as far as the 9th century, being rudimentary bamboo tubes filled with gunpowder that were shot along the ground to frighten the horses of enemy cavalry.
During the Song Dynasty, (960-1279 AD) the Chinese military developed rocket launchers that would fire multiple rockets simultaneously.
