Leonardo Da Vinci
Weapons of war.
Leonardo's life’s work was a search for
the meaning of creation itself and his many varied studies are a
testament to his enquiring mind. His work on war machines seems to
contradict his respect for the natural world. However Leonardo was
aware of the dangers presented by science and the impact that the
exploitation of natural resources may have on the earth.
He was a man of his time and the need
for military engineers provided him with employment, travel
opportunities, and the chance to continue his scientific work
unhindered.
Renaissance Italy was a collection of
independent city states who became engaged in incessant warfare with
each other. This provided a market for the technically advanced weapons
needed to gain military advantage over the enemy.
In short:- a
renaissance arms war!
Leonardo had studied and absorbed both
classical and contemporary works on military engineering. In his famous
letter to Ludovico il Moro Sforza, Duke of Milan, he listed nine
categories of military engineering among the many skills that he was
proficient in. His items included; new weaponry, bridging, bombarding
machines and trench draining.
Da Vinci's design for an armoured
vehicle made from wood and operated by eight men was made in 1487. The
'tank' was operated by turning the cranks.
Armoured
vehicle (the tank) and Scythed chariot. (s)
Da Vinci's scythed chariot was perhaps a
throwback inspired by antique machines. Leonardo suggested raising the
scythes when travelling through the ranks of men, so that no one on
your side will be injured!
Firearms in renaissance times were
inaccurate and suffered from a slow rate of fire. Leonardo, in his
design for a multi-barrelled cannon of 1481, sought to overcome the
slow rate of fire.
The three racks of barrels allowed the
re-loading of one rack while another was being fired and could
maintained continuous fire power. The 'fan type' gun with it's array of
horizontal barrels allowed for a wide scattering of shot.
These breech loading, water-cooled guns
were years ahead of their time and its interesting to note that steam
cannons were used in World War II.
Guns
with array of horizontal barrels and gun with three racks of barrels.
c1481. (s)
Leonardo designed a huge crossbow,(his
ballista), and it was truly huge (86 feet long). The weapon boasted a
worm and gear mechanism to draw the bowstring and was mounted on canted
wheels providing a stable base on rough ground. Two alternate firing
mechanisms allowed the bow to release by a hammer blow or by lever
action.
He also made drawings for a repeating
'machine gun’ operated by a man-powered
treadmill.
Giant
Crossbow (ballista) (s).
Treadwheel
'machine-gun' (s)
Leonardo had also considered the
possibility of an enemy using flying machines in battles, and designed
weapons that would shoot them down! 
Leonardo's
'flying machine' (w)
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