Catapult

A **catapult** is a ballistic device used to launch a projectile a great distance without the aid of gunpowder or other propellants – particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. A catapult uses the sudden release of stored potential energy to propel its payload. Most convert tension or torsion energy that was more slowly and manually built up within the device before release, via springs, bows, twisted rope, elastic, or any of numerous other materials and mechanisms. The counterweight trebuchet is a type of catapult that uses gravity.

## Background

On Earth, the catapult is already considered as an ancient weapon that its military uses were already faded away due to the advent of gunpowder weapons. However in the New World, these weapons are still in use by countries outside the Civilization Areas. Historically, Earth has five types of catapults:

* **Mangonel (torsion-powered)** - The mangonel, also called the traction trebuchet, was a type of trebuchet or siege engine used in Ancient China starting from the Warring States period, and later across Eurasia in the 6th century AD. Unlike the earlier torsion engines and later counterweight trebuchet, the mangonel operated on manpower pulling cords attached to a lever and sling to launch projectiles. Although the mangonel required more men to function, it was also less complex and faster to reload than the torsion powered ballista and onager which it replaced in early Medieval Europe
* **Onager (torsion-powered)** - The onager (British /ˈɒnədʒə/, /ˈɒnəɡə/, U.S. /ˈɑnədʒər/) was an imperial-era Roman torsion powered siege engine; in other words, a small catapult. The onager consisted of a large frame placed on the ground to whose front end a vertical frame of solid timber was rigidly fixed. A vertical spoke that passed through a rope bundle fastened to the frame had a sling attached which contained a projectile. To fire it, the spoke or arm was forced down, against the tension of twisted ropes or other springs, by a windlass, and then suddenly released. As the sling swung outwards, one end would release, as with a staff-sling, and the projectile would be hurled forward. The arm would then be caught by a padded beam or bed, when it could be winched back again.
* **Ballista (torsion-powered)** - The ballista (Latin, from Greek βαλλίστρα *ballistra* and that from βάλλω *ballō*, "throw"), plural **ballistae**, sometimes called **bolt thrower**, was an ancient missile weapon that launched either bolts or stones at a distant target.
* **Trebuchet (gravity-powered)** - A trebuchet (French *trébuchet*) is a type of catapult that uses a long arm to throw a projectile. It was a common powerful siege engine until the advent of gunpowder. The larger **counterweight trebuchet**, also known as the **counterpoise trebuchet**, uses a counterweight to swing the arm. It appeared in both Christian and Muslim lands around the Mediterranean in the 12th century, and made its way back to China via Mongol conquests in the 13th century.

In the New World, those countries are using what is resembles like the Greek and Roman Ballista that is not only capable of shooting stone and iron balls, but also bolts that are tipped with magic stones. These New World ballistae are often used as a naval and an anti-air weapon as it can shoot down a Wyvern or a Land Dragon if properly aimed.

## Service History

### Rodenius War

During the Great Naval Battle of Rodenius, numerous ballistae are mounted onto the 4,400 ships of the Lourian Navy and managed to hit the Kongo-class destroyer *Myoukou* but those weapons only chipped the paint job of the AEGIS destroyer.

### Japanese-Parpaldian War

During the Parpaldia Empire's Invasion of Altarus , the Altaran Navy used ballistae bolts that are equipped with magic gems to fight the Parpaldia Imperial Navy. However, none of those bolts managed to sink a single Parpaldian ship as they are equipped with anti-magic steel armor.