>From: Paul J. Gans [EMail:gans@SCHOLAR.CHEM.NYU.EDU]
>Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 7:29 PM
>To: MEDTEXTL@listserv.uiuc.edu
>Subject: Re: siege engines
>
>
>On Tue, 27 Feb 2001, Atchley, Clinton wrote:
>
>> My thanks to all for such quick responses.
>>
>> > The later versions, far more accurate and powerful, used
>weights. Those
>> are the ones illustrated in the video.
>>
>> This brings up my other questions. Just how accurate are we
>talking? What
>> would be an average range and height?
>
>People have argued this. It depends on the size of the
>lever beam and the amount of weight in the counterweight.
>From a practical point of view a conservative estimate is
>that a reasonably sized one could throw two to four hundred
>pound stones 200 yards or possibly a bit more.
>
>It took cannon well over a hundred years to supplant them.
>Trebuchets were in use down to, IIRC, the 15th century.
>
>As for accuracy, the counterweight trebuchets were quite
>accurate and could consistently hit the same area of a wall
>over and over again. I'm guessing here, but I'd figure that
>they could hit within five to eight feet of the target point
>repeatedly.
>
>On the video the rank amateurs were able to hit a fairly small
>target after only five or so ranging shots. Folks with much
>experience likely could to better. Unfortunately they are
>in short supply nowadays.
>
> ---- Paul J. Gans
>