Ship Design

[Olesens]

I'm thinking about using a new ship type IMC and I'd like some input on
whether the idea is possible or not. Now a trechbuct (I can't spell it)
is basically just a lever with a weight on one end and your ammo on the
other. You pull out a "pin" and the weight drops, throwing the ammo
like a catapult. So would it be possible to mount a large trechbuct on
a ship? Take a roundship and place the trechbuct in the area between
the sails, using the normal cargo area for swing room. You'd have to
turn the trechbuct a bit so it wouldn't hit the mast (you could only
fire with the sails up). The purpose of such a contraption would be to
bombard seaside fortifications. Using four or more anchors you could
align the ship then fire. Possible or just too impratical?
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[Robertson]

I think what you're referring to is what I've heard of as a trebuchet. (I
suppose that would be the French name for the same thing.) I just happen to
have done some research on them for a project I've been doing with my ninth
grade science classes.

They work using a counterweight to generate the initial force, as you
mentioned. However, the ones I researched also included a sling, attached to
the lever arm. Basically, the initial force generated by the lever arm was
amplified by the centripetal force of the sling, and the projectile would be
released at the optimum angle (about 45 degrees) with a MASSIVE amount of
thrust for a relatively small amount of weight.

The only potential problem I see with mounting these on a ship is that the
sling could potentially become entangled with the masts or rigging if they
are stationed midship. (Not being an expert on ships, I can't be sure, but
the reach of the sling far exceeds the area taken up by the actual device,
at rest.) The other issue is that, when misfired, they can have a tendency
to throw their projectile straight up in the air. And what goes up, must
come down! Pity the crew of a ship that misfires!

Hope this is of some help.

Jamie
Long-time lurker, unless I happen to have something relevant to say.

Jamie



>I'm thinking about using a new ship type IMC and I'd like some input on
>whether the idea is possible or not. Now a trechbuct (I can't spell it)
>is basically just a lever with a weight on one end and your ammo on the
>other. You pull out a "pin" and the weight drops, throwing the ammo
>like a catapult. So would it be possible to mount a large trechbuct on
>a ship? Take a roundship and place the trechbuct in the area between
>the sails, using the normal cargo area for swing room. You'd have to
>turn the trechbuct a bit so it wouldn't hit the mast (you could only
>fire with the sails up). The purpose of such a contraption would be to
>bombard seaside fortifications. Using four or more anchors you could
>align the ship then fire. Possible or just too impratical?
>

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[Memnoch]

Being somewhat familiar with old-style sailing ships (caravel, galleon,
etc), I believe having basically what amounts to a catapult on the central
main deck of the ship is impractical. There are guidelines, and rigging
that would become a problem with the flight of the ball itself, as well as
any attempt to rotate the trebuchet any significant amount. At least one of
the size I believe you are speaking about (being applicable for seigeing a
castle). It is better to have smaller catapults on the fore- and
after-decks that rotate about 90 degrees. But ones that I am speaking about
are much smaller than ones that would be needed for seaborne siege engines
and would only be effective against ships.

Hope this helps,

Memnoch
- -----Original Message-----
From: Robertson
To: birthright@lists.imagiconline.com
Date: Thursday, June 03, 1999 8:54 PM
Subject: Re: [BIRTHRIGHT] - Ship Design


>I think what you're referring to is what I've heard of as a trebuchet. (I
>suppose that would be the French name for the same thing.) I just happen to
>have done some research on them for a project I've been doing with my ninth
>grade science classes.
>
>They work using a counterweight to generate the initial force, as you
>mentioned. However, the ones I researched also included a sling, attached
to
>the lever arm. Basically, the initial force generated by the lever arm was
>amplified by the centripetal force of the sling, and the projectile would
be
>released at the optimum angle (about 45 degrees) with a MASSIVE amount of
>thrust for a relatively small amount of weight.
>
>The only potential problem I see with mounting these on a ship is that the
>sling could potentially become entangled with the masts or rigging if they
>are stationed midship. (Not being an expert on ships, I can't be sure, but
>the reach of the sling far exceeds the area taken up by the actual device,
>at rest.) The other issue is that, when misfired, they can have a tendency
>to throw their projectile straight up in the air. And what goes up, must
>come down! Pity the crew of a ship that misfires!
>
>Hope this is of some help.
>
>Jamie
>Long-time lurker, unless I happen to have something relevant to say.
>
>Jamie
>
>
>
>>I'm thinking about using a new ship type IMC and I'd like some input on
>>whether the idea is possible or not. Now a trechbuct (I can't spell it)
>>is basically just a lever with a weight on one end and your ammo on the
>>other. You pull out a "pin" and the weight drops, throwing the ammo
>>like a catapult. So would it be possible to mount a large trechbuct on
>>a ship? Take a roundship and place the trechbuct in the area between
>>the sails, using the normal cargo area for swing room. You'd have to
>>turn the trechbuct a bit so it wouldn't hit the mast (you could only
>>fire with the sails up). The purpose of such a contraption would be to
>>bombard seaside fortifications. Using four or more anchors you could
>>align the ship then fire. Possible or just too impratical?
>>
>
>
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[Ben]

They are built at a rate of 1d6 GB per domain turn until the total cost
of the ship is spent.


- ----- Original Message -----
From: Nathaniel Rushton
To:
Sent: Monday, June 07, 1999 5:43 AM
Subject: RE: [BIRTHRIGHT] - Ship Design


> Does anyone have info on the time it takes to build a ship?
> In particular a Galleon or a Caravel.
>
> Nathaniel
> Kaeden@spin.net.au
> "The Race is not always to the Swift,
> nor the Battle to the Strong...
> But that's the way to Bet."


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