Catapults are siege engines using an arm to hurl a projectile a great distance. Any machine that hurls an object can be considered a catapult, but the term is generally understood to mean medieval siege weapons. The name is derived from the Greek κατα (against) and παλλειγ(to hurl (a missile)). Originally, "catapult" referred to a dart-thrower, while "ballista" referred to a stone-thrower, but over ...

Including:

• Catapult - Types
• Catapult - History
• Catapult - Chinese siege warfare

Read more here: » Catapult: Encyclopedia - Catapult

See also:

Catapult, Catapult - Types, Catapult - History, Catapult - Chinese siege warfare

Read more here: » Catapult: Encyclopedia II - Catapult - History

Catapults can be classified according to the physical concept used to store and release the energy required to propel the projectile. The first catapult distinct from hand-held launchers (bows, crossbows, slings etc.) was the greek gastrophetes, a crossbow so large it was braced against the abdomen rather than being held in the hand, hence the nickname belly-bow. The next step from this was a larger form a crossbow mounted on a stand, including early versions of the oxybeles (Greek for bolt shooter) and the ballista (the Roman version ...

See also:

Catapult, Catapult - Types, Catapult - History, Catapult - Chinese siege warfare

Read more here: » Catapult: Encyclopedia II - Catapult - Types

An aircraft carrier is a warship whose main role is to deploy and recover aircraft—in effect acting as a sea-going airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power great distances without having to depend on local bases for land-based aircraft. Modern navies, who operate such ships, treat aircraft carriers as the centerpiece of the fleet, a role previously played by the battleship. The change, part of the growth of air power as a significant part of warfare, took place during World War II. Unescorted carriers ...

Including:

• Aircraft carrier - Flight deck configuration
• Aircraft carrier - Common types
• Aircraft carrier - Initial designs and inter-war developments
• Aircraft carrier - World War II developments
• Aircraft carrier - Post-war developments
• Aircraft carrier - History and milestones
• Aircraft carrier - Genesis
• Aircraft carrier - The inter-war years
• Aircraft carrier - The Second World War
• Aircraft carrier - Wartime innovations
• Aircraft carrier - Light Aircraft Carriers
• Aircraft carrier - Escort Carriers and Merchant Aircraft Carriers
• Aircraft carrier - Catapult Aircraft Merchantmen
• Aircraft carrier - The Angled Deck
• Aircraft carrier - Post-War Developments
• Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers today
• Aircraft carrier - Modern carriers
• Aircraft carrier - Future aircraft carriers
• Aircraft carrier - French Marine Nationale
• Aircraft carrier - Indian Navy
• Aircraft carrier - Italian Marina Militare
• Aircraft carrier - People's Republic of China
• Aircraft carrier - Royal Navy
• Aircraft carrier - Russian Federation
• Aircraft carrier - Spanish Armada Española
• Aircraft carrier - US Navy
• Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers in fiction

Read more here: » Aircraft carrier: Encyclopedia - Aircraft carrier

Age of Empires, abbreviated to AoE, is a history-based real-time strategy computer game developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft, released in 1997. The game allows the user to play as the "spirit guide," god, or immortal leading a historical tribe or civilization. The game became immensely popular and led to several sequels and expansion packs. The name Age of Empires thus started to refer to the Age of Empires series as a whole, which includes the "original" Age of Empires, also A ...

Including:

• Age of Empires - Overview
• Age of Empires - Technology
• Age of Empires - Units
• Age of Empires - Archers
• Age of Empires - Infantry
• Age of Empires - Cavalry
• Age of Empires - Siege Weapons
• Age of Empires - Other units
• Age of Empires - Buildings
• Age of Empires - Technology
• Age of Empires - Non Technology
• Age of Empires - Trade Workshops
• Age of Empires - Expansions
• Age of Empires - Sequels

Read more here: » Age of Empires: Encyclopedia - Age of Empires

This is a List of Ancient Rome-related topics, that aims to include aspects of both the Ancient Roman Republic and Roman Empire. For an overview of the subject, see Ancient Rome. For other articles not listed below, see Category:Ancient Rome and its subcategories. An index of important figures in Ancient Rome can be found in List of ancient Romans. The topics in this list cover the culture, society and history of the ancient Roman Republic and the ...

Including:

• List of Ancient Rome-related topics - Ancient city of Rome
• List of Ancient Rome-related topics - Byzantine Empire
• List of Ancient Rome-related topics - Culture
• List of Ancient Rome-related topics - Economy and transportation
• List of Ancient Rome-related topics - History
• List of Ancient Rome-related topics - Regional History
• List of Ancient Rome-related topics - Language
• List of Ancient Rome-related topics - Lists
• List of Ancient Rome-related topics - Military
• List of Ancient Rome-related topics - Places
• List of Ancient Rome-related topics - Politics
• List of Ancient Rome-related topics - Religion
• List of Ancient Rome-related topics - Miscellaneous

Read more here: » List of Ancient Rome-related topics: Encyclopedia - List of Ancient Rome-related topics

Black powder is a type of gunpowder invented in the 9th century and was practically the only known propellant and explosive until the middle of the 19th century. It has been superseded by more efficient explosives such as smokeless powders and TNT. It is still manufactured today but primarily for use in fireworks, model rocket engines, and reproductions of muzzleloading weapons. Black powder - Description. Black powder consists of the granular ingredients sulphur (S), charcoal (provides carbon to the reacti ...

Including:

• Black powder - Description
• Black powder - History
• Black powder - Reference

Read more here: » Black powder: Encyclopedia - Black powder

The Chaos Computer Club (CCC) is one of the biggest and most influental hacker organisations. The CCC is based in Germany and other German-speaking countries and currently has about 1,500 members. The CCC poetically describes itself as "a galactic community of life's beings, independent of age, sex, race or societal orientation, which strives across borders for freedom of information…." In general, the CCC struggles for more transparency in governments, freedom of information and a human right to communication. Supporting the ...

Including:

• Chaos Computer Club - History
• Chaos Computer Club - Events
• Chaos Computer Club - Publications
• Chaos Computer Club - Members

Read more here: » Chaos Computer Club: Encyclopedia - Chaos Computer Club

Aircraft carrier - Genesis. As heavier-than-air aircraft developed in the early 20th century various navies began to take an interest in their potential use as scouts for their big gun warships. A number of experimental flights were made to test the concept. Eugene Ely was the first pilot to launch from a stationary ship in November 1910. He took off from a structure fixed over the forecastle of the US armoured cruiser USS Birmingham at Hampton Roads, Virginia and landed nearby on Willoughby Spit after som ...

See also:

Aircraft carrier, Aircraft carrier - Flight deck configuration, Aircraft carrier - Common types, Aircraft carrier - Initial designs and inter-war developments, Aircraft carrier - World War II developments, Aircraft carrier - Post-war developments, Aircraft carrier - History and milestones, Aircraft carrier - Genesis, Aircraft carrier - The inter-war years, Aircraft carrier - The Second World War, Aircraft carrier - Wartime innovations, Aircraft carrier - Light Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Escort Carriers and Merchant Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Catapult Aircraft Merchantmen, Aircraft carrier - The Angled Deck, Aircraft carrier - Post-War Developments, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers today, Aircraft carrier - Modern carriers, Aircraft carrier - Future aircraft carriers, Aircraft carrier - French Marine Nationale, Aircraft carrier - Indian Navy, Aircraft carrier - Italian Marina Militare, Aircraft carrier - People's Republic of China, Aircraft carrier - Royal Navy, Aircraft carrier - Russian Federation, Aircraft carrier - Spanish Armada Española, Aircraft carrier - US Navy, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers in fiction

Read more here: » Aircraft carrier: Encyclopedia II - Aircraft carrier - History and milestones

Sling weapon - Europe. By the middle ages the shepherd's sling was militarily extinct. The Staff sling continued to be used in sieges and the sling was used as a part of large siege engines. The sling continued in use for the hunting of game. Sling weapon - The Americas. The sling was known throughout the Americas. [7] In the ancient Andean civilizations such as Inca Empire slings were made from the wool of the Llama. These slings typically have a cradle that is l ...

See also:

Sling weapon, Sling weapon - The sling in antiquity, Sling weapon - Origins, Sling weapon - Archaeology, Sling weapon - Ancient representations, Sling weapon - Written history, Sling weapon - Combat, Sling weapon - Construction, Sling weapon - Ammunition, Sling weapon - The sling in medieval period, Sling weapon - Europe, Sling weapon - The Americas, Sling weapon - Variants, Sling weapon - Staff sling, Sling weapon - Kestrosphendone, Sling weapon - Catapults, Sling weapon - Slings today, Sling weapon - Slings of tomorrow, Sling weapon - How to sling

Read more here: » Sling weapon: Encyclopedia II - Sling weapon - The sling in medieval period

Sling weapon - Staff sling. The staff sling, also known as the stave sling, consists of a stave (a length of wood) with a short sling at one end. One cord of the sling is firmly attached to the stave and the other end has a loop can slide off and release the projectile. Staff slings are extremely powerful because the stave can be made as long as two meters, creating a powerful lever. Ancient art shows slingers holding staff slings by one end, with the pocket behind them, and using both hands to t ...

See also:

Sling weapon, Sling weapon - The sling in antiquity, Sling weapon - Origins, Sling weapon - Archaeology, Sling weapon - Ancient representations, Sling weapon - Written history, Sling weapon - Combat, Sling weapon - Construction, Sling weapon - Ammunition, Sling weapon - The sling in medieval period, Sling weapon - Europe, Sling weapon - The Americas, Sling weapon - Variants, Sling weapon - Staff sling, Sling weapon - Kestrosphendone, Sling weapon - Catapults, Sling weapon - Slings today, Sling weapon - Slings of tomorrow, Sling weapon - How to sling

Read more here: » Sling weapon: Encyclopedia II - Sling weapon - Variants

The sling is used today as a weapon primarily by violent protestors, launching either stones or incendiary devices, such as Molotov cocktails. The Finns made use of sling launched Molotov cocktails in the Winter War against Soviet tanks. The sling is of interest to athletes interested in, for example, breaking distance records. The best modern material is a polyester twine (trade name Dacron). Dacron is stron ...

See also:

Sling weapon, Sling weapon - The sling in antiquity, Sling weapon - Origins, Sling weapon - Archaeology, Sling weapon - Ancient representations, Sling weapon - Written history, Sling weapon - Combat, Sling weapon - Construction, Sling weapon - Ammunition, Sling weapon - The sling in medieval period, Sling weapon - Europe, Sling weapon - The Americas, Sling weapon - Variants, Sling weapon - Staff sling, Sling weapon - Kestrosphendone, Sling weapon - Catapults, Sling weapon - Slings today, Sling weapon - Slings of tomorrow, Sling weapon - How to sling

Read more here: » Sling weapon: Encyclopedia II - Sling weapon - Slings today

For a conventional throw, one does not make multiple rotations of the sling, a proper slinging action requires just one rapid rotation. The more times you swing it, the less likely you'll hit anything. (Some slingers will rotate the sling slowly once or twice to seat the projectile in the cradle.) One makes an overhand throw, using the sling to extend one's arm. The motion is similar to bowling a cricket ball. This is relatively accurate, instinctive and quite powerful. One faces 60 degrees away from the target, with one ...

See also:

Sling weapon, Sling weapon - The sling in antiquity, Sling weapon - Origins, Sling weapon - Archaeology, Sling weapon - Ancient representations, Sling weapon - Written history, Sling weapon - Combat, Sling weapon - Construction, Sling weapon - Ammunition, Sling weapon - The sling in medieval period, Sling weapon - Europe, Sling weapon - The Americas, Sling weapon - Variants, Sling weapon - Staff sling, Sling weapon - Kestrosphendone, Sling weapon - Catapults, Sling weapon - Slings today, Sling weapon - Slings of tomorrow, Sling weapon - How to sling

Read more here: » Sling weapon: Encyclopedia II - Sling weapon - How to sling

Modern aircraft carriers have a flat-top deck, the flight deck that serves as a take-off and landing area for aircraft. Aircraft take off to the front, into the wind, and land from the rear. Carriers steam at speed, for example up to 35 knots (65 km/h), into the wind during take-off in order to increase the apparent wind speed, thereby reducing the speed of the aircraft relative to the ship. On some ships, a steam-powered catapult is used to propel the aircraft forward assisting the power of its engines and allowing it to take off in a short ...

See also:

Aircraft carrier, Aircraft carrier - Flight deck configuration, Aircraft carrier - Common types, Aircraft carrier - Initial designs and inter-war developments, Aircraft carrier - World War II developments, Aircraft carrier - Post-war developments, Aircraft carrier - History and milestones, Aircraft carrier - Genesis, Aircraft carrier - The inter-war years, Aircraft carrier - The Second World War, Aircraft carrier - Wartime innovations, Aircraft carrier - Light Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Escort Carriers and Merchant Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Catapult Aircraft Merchantmen, Aircraft carrier - The Angled Deck, Aircraft carrier - Post-War Developments, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers today, Aircraft carrier - Modern carriers, Aircraft carrier - Future aircraft carriers, Aircraft carrier - French Marine Nationale, Aircraft carrier - Indian Navy, Aircraft carrier - Italian Marina Militare, Aircraft carrier - People's Republic of China, Aircraft carrier - Royal Navy, Aircraft carrier - Russian Federation, Aircraft carrier - Spanish Armada Española, Aircraft carrier - US Navy, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers in fiction

Read more here: » Aircraft carrier: Encyclopedia II - Aircraft carrier - Flight deck configuration

Sling weapon - Staff sling. The staff sling, also known as the stave sling, consists of a stave (a length of wood) with a short sling at one end. One cord of the sling is firmly attached to the stave and the other end has a loop that can slide off and release the projectile. Staff slings are extremely powerful because the stave can be made as long as two meters, creating a powerful lever. Ancient art shows slingers holding staff slings by one end, with the pocket behind them, and using both hands to t ...

See also:

Sling weapon, Sling weapon - The sling in antiquity, Sling weapon - Origins, Sling weapon - Archaeology, Sling weapon - Ancient representations, Sling weapon - Written history, Sling weapon - Combat, Sling weapon - Construction, Sling weapon - Ammunition, Sling weapon - The sling in medieval period, Sling weapon - Europe, Sling weapon - The Americas, Sling weapon - Variants, Sling weapon - Staff sling, Sling weapon - Kestrosphendone, Sling weapon - Catapults, Sling weapon - Slings today, Sling weapon - Slings of tomorrow, Sling weapon - How to sling

Read more here: » Sling weapon: Encyclopedia II - Sling weapon - Variants

Over the course of the last century there have been several types of aircraft carrier, some of which are now obsolete. They can be generally categorised as follows: Aircraft carrier - Initial designs and inter-war developments. Seaplane tenders, such as HMS Engadine, out of frontline use after the 1920s when carriers capable of handling conventional airplanes came into fleets and the superiority of landplanes over seaplanes in naval operations became firmly established. Standard carri ...

See also:

Aircraft carrier, Aircraft carrier - Flight deck configuration, Aircraft carrier - Common types, Aircraft carrier - Initial designs and inter-war developments, Aircraft carrier - World War II developments, Aircraft carrier - Post-war developments, Aircraft carrier - History and milestones, Aircraft carrier - Genesis, Aircraft carrier - The inter-war years, Aircraft carrier - The Second World War, Aircraft carrier - Wartime innovations, Aircraft carrier - Light Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Escort Carriers and Merchant Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Catapult Aircraft Merchantmen, Aircraft carrier - The Angled Deck, Aircraft carrier - Post-War Developments, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers today, Aircraft carrier - Modern carriers, Aircraft carrier - Future aircraft carriers, Aircraft carrier - French Marine Nationale, Aircraft carrier - Indian Navy, Aircraft carrier - Italian Marina Militare, Aircraft carrier - People's Republic of China, Aircraft carrier - Royal Navy, Aircraft carrier - Russian Federation, Aircraft carrier - Spanish Armada Española, Aircraft carrier - US Navy, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers in fiction

Read more here: » Aircraft carrier: Encyclopedia II - Aircraft carrier - Common types

Combat experience proved that the British invention of the sealed "hurricane bow" which protected against storms was superior to any other use for the very front of the ship, be it machine-guns or a second flight deck. This became standard for British and American carriers. The Japanese carrier Taiho was the first of their ships to incorporate it. Starting late in the war with the Midway class, American carriers had grown so large that it was no longer practical to continue the concept of designing the hangar deck to be the strength deck, and all subsequent American carriers have the flight deck as the s ...

See also:

Aircraft carrier, Aircraft carrier - Flight deck configuration, Aircraft carrier - Common types, Aircraft carrier - Initial designs and inter-war developments, Aircraft carrier - World War II developments, Aircraft carrier - Post-war developments, Aircraft carrier - History and milestones, Aircraft carrier - Genesis, Aircraft carrier - The inter-war years, Aircraft carrier - The Second World War, Aircraft carrier - Wartime innovations, Aircraft carrier - Light Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Escort Carriers and Merchant Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Catapult Aircraft Merchantmen, Aircraft carrier - The Angled Deck, Aircraft carrier - Post-War Developments, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers today, Aircraft carrier - Modern carriers, Aircraft carrier - Future aircraft carriers, Aircraft carrier - French Marine Nationale, Aircraft carrier - Indian Navy, Aircraft carrier - Italian Marina Militare, Aircraft carrier - People's Republic of China, Aircraft carrier - Royal Navy, Aircraft carrier - Russian Federation, Aircraft carrier - Spanish Armada Española, Aircraft carrier - US Navy, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers in fiction

Read more here: » Aircraft carrier: Encyclopedia II - Aircraft carrier - Wartime innovations

Aircraft carriers are generally the largest ships operated by navies; a Nimitz-class carrier powered by two nuclear reactors and four steam turbines is 1092 ft (333 m) long and costs about $5 billion. The United States has the majority of aircraft carriers with a dozen in service, and its aircraft carriers are a cornerstone of American power projection capability. Nine countries maintain aircraft carriers: United States, United Kingdom, France, India, Russia, Spain, Brazil, Italy and Thailand. In addition the People's Republic ...

See also:

Aircraft carrier, Aircraft carrier - Flight deck configuration, Aircraft carrier - Common types, Aircraft carrier - Initial designs and inter-war developments, Aircraft carrier - World War II developments, Aircraft carrier - Post-war developments, Aircraft carrier - History and milestones, Aircraft carrier - Genesis, Aircraft carrier - The inter-war years, Aircraft carrier - The Second World War, Aircraft carrier - Wartime innovations, Aircraft carrier - Light Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Escort Carriers and Merchant Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Catapult Aircraft Merchantmen, Aircraft carrier - The Angled Deck, Aircraft carrier - Post-War Developments, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers today, Aircraft carrier - Modern carriers, Aircraft carrier - Future aircraft carriers, Aircraft carrier - French Marine Nationale, Aircraft carrier - Indian Navy, Aircraft carrier - Italian Marina Militare, Aircraft carrier - People's Republic of China, Aircraft carrier - Royal Navy, Aircraft carrier - Russian Federation, Aircraft carrier - Spanish Armada Española, Aircraft carrier - US Navy, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers in fiction

Read more here: » Aircraft carrier: Encyclopedia II - Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers today

Several nations which currently possess aircraft carriers are in the process of planning new classes, to replace current ones. Aircraft carrier - French Marine Nationale. The French Navy has set in motion plans for a second aircraft carrier, to supplement Charles de Gaulle. The design is to be much larger, in the range of 50–60,000 tonnes, and will not be nuclear-powered like Charles de Gaulle. There are plans to work with the Royal Navy to develop a joint design, by BAE Systems and Thales, around the Royal Navy CVF programme. ...

See also:

Aircraft carrier, Aircraft carrier - Flight deck configuration, Aircraft carrier - Common types, Aircraft carrier - Initial designs and inter-war developments, Aircraft carrier - World War II developments, Aircraft carrier - Post-war developments, Aircraft carrier - History and milestones, Aircraft carrier - Genesis, Aircraft carrier - The inter-war years, Aircraft carrier - The Second World War, Aircraft carrier - Wartime innovations, Aircraft carrier - Light Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Escort Carriers and Merchant Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Catapult Aircraft Merchantmen, Aircraft carrier - The Angled Deck, Aircraft carrier - Post-War Developments, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers today, Aircraft carrier - Modern carriers, Aircraft carrier - Future aircraft carriers, Aircraft carrier - French Marine Nationale, Aircraft carrier - Indian Navy, Aircraft carrier - Italian Marina Militare, Aircraft carrier - People's Republic of China, Aircraft carrier - Royal Navy, Aircraft carrier - Russian Federation, Aircraft carrier - Spanish Armada Española, Aircraft carrier - US Navy, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers in fiction

Read more here: » Aircraft carrier: Encyclopedia II - Aircraft carrier - Future aircraft carriers

Aircraft carriers are generally the largest ships operated by navies; a Nimitz-class carrier powered by two nuclear reactors and four steam turbines is 1092 ft (333 m) long and costs about $5 billion. The United States has the majority of aircraft carriers with a dozen in service, and its aircraft carriers are a cornerstone of American power projection capability. Ten countries maintain aircraft carriers: United States, United Kingdom, France, India, Russia, Spain, Brazil, Italy and Thailand. In addition the People's Republic o ...

See also:

Aircraft carrier, Aircraft carrier - Flight deck configuration, Aircraft carrier - Common types, Aircraft carrier - Initial designs and inter-war developments, Aircraft carrier - World War II developments, Aircraft carrier - Post-war developments, Aircraft carrier - History and milestones, Aircraft carrier - Genesis, Aircraft carrier - The inter-war years, Aircraft carrier - The Second World War, Aircraft carrier - Wartime innovations, Aircraft carrier - Light Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Escort Carriers and Merchant Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft carrier - Catapult Aircraft Merchantmen, Aircraft carrier - The Angled Deck, Aircraft carrier - Post-War Developments, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers today, Aircraft carrier - Modern carriers, Aircraft carrier - Future aircraft carriers, Aircraft carrier - French Marine Nationale, Aircraft carrier - Indian Navy, Aircraft carrier - Italian Marina Militare, Aircraft carrier - People's Republic of China, Aircraft carrier - Royal Navy, Aircraft carrier - Russian Federation, Aircraft carrier - Spanish Armada Española, Aircraft carrier - US Navy, Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers in fiction

Read more here: » Aircraft carrier: Encyclopedia II - Aircraft carrier - Aircraft carriers today