The Catapult's history:

The Catapult is a mechanism of encirclement that the functionality launch objects to large distances. The model of catapult Trebuchet, was the successor of Onagro model, that received this name because of the ricochets made to launch the projectiles. The Onagro used braided cords for doing energy of launch, the launcher stayed lock in the middle of this cords that been twisted, and when was released, launched the projectiles that stayed in extremity of this launcher, achieving launch stones with 30Kg, but don’t inflict damage in walls at a distance of 160m, because of the big energy wasted in the ricochets that it doing to shoot.

The Catapult Trebuchet has Chinese’s source and been introduced in Europe for the Mediterranean’s east by the Arabs in the end of 6^th century. With the invasions of Muslins, it was taken to the rest of Europe, replacing more old catapults because it’s incomparable destruction power. Early in it was called Pierrière(used the human power with aid), it was able to launch projectiles  three to six times more than the model Onagro.

This actuation type already gave a big differential in relation to others catapults, even with its operation with human force. But with the came the middle Ages, the engineers of this season succeeded the most potential of this mechanism, when utilized the gravity force in their favor, and building the catapult Trebuchet with a counterweight pensile. With a load much greater than projectiles, this new model could launch objects to much greater distances and causing more damage in its target, now the objects launched acquired greater heights, gaining more potential energy.

The operation of catapult Trebuchet is very simple, consists of a large lever arm with a type of leather bag on one extremity , where put the projectiles, while on other extremity stayed the counterweight, which was raised. Blocked the mechanism and when been released, the counterweight down in speed, raising the other extremity making the launch.

The counterweight was initially locked on lever arm, but with improvement of system realized a gain of efficiency if the counterweight stayed in drop box, that revolved free in shoot time. With this improvement, stayed finish the famous catapult Trebuchet.