Can This Ancient Roman Catapult Live Up to its Reputation?

Weapons expert Stephen Bull is putting the ancient Roman 'Scorpio' catapult to the test. His aim: to find out if it can live up to its legendary reputation for unerring accuracy.
From the Series: World of Weapons: Deadly Inventions bit.ly/2VsRLQT

[@pixelpatter01]

I'm not sure why that thing doesn't have any power. did they remove 75 percent of the spring material? It looked very anemic.

[@gustavofring9013]

It’s because of the darts they are using if you look closely they are made of wood with a metal tip, whereas the real thing would’ve fired a wholly metal bolt

[@pixelpatter01]

@@gustavofring9013 Light wooden darts should go FASTER but not as far. The problem isn't with the darts.

[@gustavofring9013]

@@pixelpatter01 true. The replica is just bad I guess

[@garywilson7992]

Well, I had the impression that the portion of the video showing the missile in flight and hitting the target, was in slower motion, but if not, you’re right, it didn’t look like it had the speed to puncture a balloon, and yet it penetrated what looked like 3/4” thick wood.

[@garywilson7992]

I would’ve been interested in knowing how authentic was the design specs they were supposedly replicating? And from what I’ve read they used animal tendons and ropes for spring coils, and they never mentioned using chains for anything, but that wouldn’t necessarily mean that they didn’t ever use them. And I’d rather see a replica test of the Romans heavy artillery catapult, that’s supposedly could hurl a 150 pound boulder over 400 yards? And they didn’t mention it, but I would imagine that sometimes if you happened to be one of they’re lucky captives , or just someone they didn’t like too much, you could end up being the boulder, splattered across a walled fortress. You might not of hurt the fortress too much, but you probably wouldn’t of helped the enemies morale any.

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

What a poorly designed replication of a weapon which could send bolts weighing 2 kilograms easily to 200 meters with far better accuracy . The bolts are way too short in length and the fletchings which stabilize the bolt for greater accuracy are almost nonexistent .

[@maninalift]

It's a sad sight seeing those bolts tumbling in the air

[@Tscharlieh]

Quantum Mechanic: They need Joerg Sprave to get it right...

[@Tscharlieh]

What Question: I would disagree. You do not need accuracy with such a weapon. It was for example very effective against the fortified villages of Celtic tribes when the Romans conquered Britannica...

[@thomasthetanderloin]

not to mention that the entire contraption was put on wheels, the recoil would dislodge the aim with every shot.

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

@@thomasthetanderloin There is no recoil .

[@kito96]

Good that this uses the inswinger design, but torsion springs need to be wound up further. The fact that the bowstring is slack upon release shows that the springs were not properly tensioned. In addition, levers should be synchronized to ensure accuracy.

[@HistoricalWeapons]

exactly lots of information left out for a documentary

[@ginseng3080]

alright beast

[@ngabhishek8459]

Recreation of that weapon isn't that great

[@user2144]

They need to factor in wind speed and direction at each shot. Also, each arrow would be slightly different in weight, shape, aerodynamics, etc.

[@Eskay1206]

also heat and stretch would be a factor with expansion and contraction of rope, steel, springs

[@adrianaslund8605]

Supposedly they could pin people to trees. So this must not have been a great replica.

[@derpsterio2917]

it seems like it kinda lacked a lot of power, you wouldn't have to aim it pointing up at that distance if it really had all of it's power

[@GregoryTheGr8ster]

THere was a weapon like this in Age of Empires, and it was EXTREMELY powerful!

[@cut_putashatsang9784]

Still wondering how this come to my Recommendation. But, interesting. Yet too short 😅

[@AmazingNatureRelaxation]

🌺 fascinating stuff. Love seeing these old weapons re-created. - H

[@whatquestion]

What an impressive and powerful weapon. Those Romans sure knew how to science

[@Warhero1171]

This was actually a Greek design that Romans simply copied. Romans were obsessed with the Greeks and copied just about everything from them. The Romans hardly contributed to science and technology when compared with the Greeks. Pretty much everything credited to the Romans was actually Greek.

[@Warhero1171]

@moo moo The Greeks were influenced by other cultures, however not nearly as much as the Romans were by Greece. The Romans were very fascinated by the Greeks which is why so much Greek influence is seen in Roman culture.

[@whatquestion]

@@Warhero1171 either way, this is a marvel of medieval military might. I wouldn't want to get poked by one of those pointy sticks. Imagine if it hit your shin?! Bruise city, guaranteed.

[@Naraku-no-Hana-WE]

@@Warhero1171 well the Romans borrowed from a lot more than just the Greeks, we simply have a lot more documentation on Greek culture and technology than, say, Iberian, Phoenician, or Celtic societies. Also bare in mind they were far from the only civilization borrowing from other cultures, the Greeks were no exception. The Romans certainly had plenty of their own innovations that expanded on ideas rooted in other cultures.

[@nio3791]

@@Warhero1171 yea yea yea you're jealous😢

[@scottpaul4487]

Did they use sinew in the reconstruction , if they didn’t then it’s not an accurate Roman design

[@knudback]

The narrator talks about the catapult as if it has just been built. But if it has just been built, why are all the parts rusty?

[@MoritzvonSchweinitz]

At first, I thought this was about the clearly inferior (compared to the Trebuchet) siege weapon "catapult".

[@JoaoSoares-rs6ec]

The fedders at the back were to small to be effective and they were flat not curved,

[@dennishunt1590]

Poor old Will! Why does everyone fire at Will?

[@donnash5813]

Because he is a ginger. No one likes gingers.

[@BingleFlimp]

Looking him up he seems to specialise in ballistic weapons of the early to mid 20th century.

[@coffeyvideoproductions7767]

Try chocking the wheels better. It seems to be drifting to the left.

[@Jordan-rb28]

Not dogging on the craftsmanship or anything, but if someone from "the ancient world" military were to see this, they'd probably scoff and call it a child's toy. They were real experts at what they did, and many crafts and arts, they were superior to us at. Definitely including siege engines and siege weapons, as we haven't had to use them for centuries.

[@darkestkhan]

I wouldn't say they were superior, but they were definitely far more familiar with lever and tension forces than the average person is today. Much of our knowledge is actively being lost from the wider community, leaving it in hand of hobbyists at best. Sometimes it is lost entirely.

[@shadowdeslaar]

They did an okay job. They really are afraid of something happening to them cause that should go STRAIGHT threw that Board

[@darkstar2315]

If you were for example shooting at a charging Barbarian horde. You would definately get some kills. Even better with a row of these pieces. However the tension should be stronger than in this example. You want it to shoot faster and harder ideally.

[@jinhyung1792]

That sarcasm at the end tho. . .

[@stinger4712]

You'll need to have hundreds of these firing to a schedule for this to be of much use in battle.

[@nicoangelobado9913]

Need a better replica, does not give justice to what history call ancient war machines. Pretty lame, I bet balearic slingers would put this poor replica to shame to a higher distance.

[@nileshbenee8113]

I love the documentary

[@ciii1237]

Om the ancient word this is remarkably accurate 😭

[@HistoricalWeapons]

crossbows more

[@bigcatclassics6759]

I'd stand where that first wooden plank was -- I'd catch the arrow with my hands.

[@joshispro345]

wow the romans were very smart

[@bestamerica]

' nice big arrow... try put a small videocamera on the arrow and shot

[@AlaskanInsights]

needs more power for sure.

[@stephenbull2225]

The castle is on the Black Sea, ottoman Fortress.

[@nhtFB]

what is name of it

[@RodneyPeters]

That's not a catapult, it's a ballista

[@stcroixatlast]

I’m gonna guess whatever the Romans had was about 1000x better

[@machinistpro140]

all that time, effort only to produce something that if presented to a centurion would land you an appointment to the mines - i guess this points out the difference twix a "grant" and a job . . . and the ensuing Knowledge being taught (please don't re-create a turbo vette)

[@podsmpsg1]

Not bad.

[@slpplz]

They need to oil they equipment.

[@folfielukather8083]

pretty sure thats a ballista

[@LevelUpTrivia1]

Do more with a bowman 15 ft ,lol

[@FighterTiger1]

Wow!

[@julianaylor4351]

Still want get back as those pesky bad neighbours.😆

[@demom_demom]

that was bad

[@yvindfjrtoft7689]

cool

[@HistoricalWeapons]

poorly made tbh

[@thechosenone7962]

Quah

[@dennisalfaro521]

fast

[@Feelthefx]

Is that an actual Middle-age built castle in the backdrop?? Why are they risking damage to that priceless artifact by shooting at it?

[@mikemaster1773]

Lol. I think the grass will survive a couple bolts tossed into it.

[@Boeing-lp1bf]

Who’s early 👍

[@KIT2142LAW]

Honestly - bad replica. Almost no power and terrible projectiles

[@Davefinney370]

Unimpressed. Poor replica?

[@pbarosso1977]

What a piece of junk. Severely under powered

[@gigilaco]

Is this a joke?

[@Storming360]

"For the ancient world, this is remarkable accurate" the thing can't accurately hit a target 5 meter away, it barely make a dent in a wood plank, it is heavy as much as a small cannon, it is quite expensive and it takes along time to reload. No wonder people stopped using it.

[@nickeyz4]

Second

[@chrisanddan08]

Bad aim

[@alexandert2275]

You can’t call this an accurate design of a Roman Catapult The engineering knowledge use by the Romans is mostly lost.

[@DragnEYE]

How so? We have a lot of archeological evidence of the scorpion, especially of the late roman ones as they were typically framed with metal. Though this design imp articular is an inswinger and I find it inaccurate in many ways.

[@gopikagopidas9457]

Woahh I m earlyyyy!!!🤩🤩

[@naelair]

That is not a catapult it is a crossbow!

[@supremericardo5805]

First like and comment how about that! Lol

[@carlosramos5579]

Boring

[@justsomeguywithoutinternet2283]

First sorry BIG NOOBS

[@CHERNOBYL1986-i5t]

early