Repeating crossbow Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
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Chu-ko-nu was operated by moving a lever forwards and backwards. In that movement, a bolt would be dropped in place, the string would be strung, then the bolt would be shot and another one would be ready to take it's place.
This put the weapons string under heavy wear since it had forces straining it from above and below, especially lifting of magazine added serious pressure to the string. That is why nu-strings were often reinforced with quill of birds, preferably swan or duck.
Alternations of Chu-ko-nu's included mountable siege crossbow with bigger arrows and greater power which required two men to operate: sighter and operator. Then there was a heavy version using two magazines, thus doubling the amount of arrows discharged. Latter were used in extreme close-quarter combat because they had extremely short range. They proved to be effective in defending gates and doorways of castles. Consider it as kind of submachine gun or shotgun of ancients.
This is an Article on Repeating crossbow. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Repeating crossbow Repeating crossbows
History
Repeating crossbows have a long history, oldest accurate written knowledge dating into times of Han-dynasty (ca. 20-220 A.D.) in China. The Chinese repeating crossbow (Chu-ko-nu or Zhuge-nu) is extremely simple piece of equipment. It is claimed to be invented by Chinese strategist Zhuge Liang (181-234 A.D.), which is arguable since the earliest drawings of weapon have been found from buried library of Chu, dating themselves all the way back to 250 B.C. Chinese repeating crossbow saw its last serious action in China-Japan war of 1894-1895, where photographs show repeating crossbows as common weapon among Manchurian troops. Basic construction of this weapon has remained very much unchanged since its invention, making it one of the most long-lived mechanichal weapons.Chu-ko-nu
One of the most simple, rugged and famous designs. This weapon was extremely easy to manufacture and use, and could easily discard ten arrows in fifteen seconds. In comparison, a standard arbalest could barely shoot one. Chu-ko-nu didn't, however, have the power nor accuracy of a common crossbow due to operational reasons. This meant a shorter range, which was compensated by using lightweight arrows instead of the heavy bolts of single-shot crossbows. Because of that, Chu-ko-nu wasn't very useful against more heavily armored troops unless poison was smeared on arrows, in which case even a small wound could be fatal. Since a chu-ko-nu was shot from hip, the accuracy was horrible but could be adjusted very swiftly since the next shot was only a second away.See also
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