Creeping Barrage

With the mass slaughter of men in the trenches of the first world war, the generals decided to introduce a new tactic in the Allied armoury.The majority of the casualties were from soldiers killed after going over the top. The idea of a creeping barrage was to fire shells in a slow forward motion overhead of the advancing troops.

This it was hoped would keep German heads down long enough for Allied troops to advance and take their objectives. This was of course a huge advancement in artillery tactics. This also would save hundreds of thousands of lives in the upcoming battles of the Somme and Ypres. This allowed no mans land to be crossed in relative safety.   

Greek Fire

Greek Fire was an early incendiary first used by the Byzantine Empire. They primarily used it in their navy, it proved to be a technical advantage for them and secured their place in History. The most notable of these victories was the liberation of Constantinople from two, Arab sieges of the city. Greek fire was also used on the European Crusades which instilled the name 'Greek Fire'.

This weapon was deadly against drawbridges and overhangs on castle walls. The weapon itself could not be put out by conventional means, it could only be put out with urine. It was a weapon that must have struck fear into the hearts of warriors it was in every sense an ancient super weapon. The Pisans were the first to utilise the weapon in sea warfare. They even managed to make what was equal to the early flamethrowers. Being made out of wood, ship of that period stood little chance, against fire orientated weapons.

Castles and fortified cities had use of this medieval super weapon too.  With the fact you could launch greek fire in barrels, whichwould then smash on people, buildings and animals alike. It was earlier used by the Romans by fireing burning balls of cloth, launched by onager into Romes enimies. They could also be used on the battlefield in form of clay pots ( Grenades ) which would have struck terror into calvery and or elephants.

Medieval Siege - Trebuchet

The Trebuchet was the main siege weapon in the medieval armoury. Capable of smashing down castle walls in a matter of hours. With the bonus of being able  to let fly with a barrel of boiling oil / Greek Fire or even dead animals to spread disease an early form of biological warfare.  Early variants were used by the Roman Army to gain entry to the tougher targets. These were though difficult to transport and to build them required the right now how. They saw use in all of the medieval wars. But most of all the Crusades but after the advent of cannons it saw the end of the Trebuchet and the introduction to the most exciting period of defensive building the world has ever seen.  

Medieval Siege Warefare - Mining