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A comment on Why wasn't the steam engine invented earlier? Part II. Parent comment

Re:Why wasn't the steam engine invented earlier? Part II by morelisp on Friday July 15, 2022 @06:42AM (#32106750)
> Truly remarkable that gliding firebombs and the like were never invented for warfare.

What? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kite#Military_applications

Steering is important though, you need to a) go up, b) go the right place, not back at you, c) come down, again not where you are.

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Re:Why wasn't the steam engine invented earlier? Part II by pbhjpbhj on Friday July 15, 2022 @09:10AM (#32107781)
I wonder how much people tried to develop ballistae projectiles, perhaps once they had bolts/darts they were good enough and longer range just wasn't necessary?
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Re:Why wasn't the steam engine invented earlier? Part II by morelisp on Friday July 15, 2022 @12:23PM (#32109782)
In most cases if your goal is just to get some explosives over a tall wall, a trebuchet or siege tower is probably sufficient. On the other hand, if you have a lot of gunpowder, a cannon is also pretty fine on its own without any need to go up-and-over.
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