06-25-2015, 07:44 AM
The harpax is described as being 5 cubits in length and resilient to attack from opponents that do not know about and thus cannot have the foresight to bring polearms to hack at the rope. Some questions I have despite this, if anyone can be kind enough to help me out with answers/sources to any of them:
1) What was stopping the hook from being physically removed from its target? How could those deploying it rely on it not only striking the target but also embedding itself such that it could not be removed in time? Finally, what if a sailor seized the harpax and used his arms to climb to where he could hack at the rope?
2) Was the purpose more to prevent the enemy ship from moving or could the enemy ship actually be moved significantly? Could it even be reeled in?
3) At what range would it be deployed?
4) How reliable would aim be?
5) How large was the engine in question?
6) How strong would the rope have been, and what would be the limitations to its strength?
7) Would the same engine potentially be used to hurl other projectiles?
1) What was stopping the hook from being physically removed from its target? How could those deploying it rely on it not only striking the target but also embedding itself such that it could not be removed in time? Finally, what if a sailor seized the harpax and used his arms to climb to where he could hack at the rope?
2) Was the purpose more to prevent the enemy ship from moving or could the enemy ship actually be moved significantly? Could it even be reeled in?
3) At what range would it be deployed?
4) How reliable would aim be?
5) How large was the engine in question?
6) How strong would the rope have been, and what would be the limitations to its strength?
7) Would the same engine potentially be used to hurl other projectiles?
sorush
