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Hot air balloons as primitive bombers


Weaponising Local Air PressureAir robots for law enforcement trial periodPlausibility of deadly air riflesCombat in “age of sail” air shipCharged Particle Beam propagation in airCan electronic warfare be used to bring space combat into visual range and protect fighters/bombers?How to prevent allies from acting in an organized manner?Plausible weapon or other cause for a space-stage civilization to shatter and revert to primitive societiesHow to realistically implement magic-users in medieval warfare?High pressure canisters of air as gun-less projectiles













6












$begingroup$


Imagine a medieval-style city, besieged by enemy army. It might be big and have wide river preventing besiegers from direct attack on the walls and launching projectiles significantly far into the city. Besiegers want to use hot air baloons to drop burning projectiles and biological weapons in form of infected meat etc. as well as drop some attackers during nighttime to open the gates of the city. Is it possible for hot air baloons to perform such missions?










share|improve this question











$endgroup$











  • $begingroup$
    Firstly, they're not exactly stealth craft, and secondly they're pretty easy to bring down if your enemy sees them coming. The other thing to bear in mind is that they travel with the wind, so the infected meat smell might be a giveaway as well. I'm suggesting a no...
    $endgroup$
    – Tim B II
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    You have to ask yourself:Have the people in the besieged city seen balloon bombers before?
    $endgroup$
    – Spencer
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    They are not stealth in daytime, that's right. As for bringing them down, can projectiles from bows, crossbows, and ballistas reliably reach a few hundred meters with good accuracy?
    $endgroup$
    – Mranderson
    2 hours ago











  • $begingroup$
    "as well as drop some attackers" - Silk parachute might e quite expensive. Think small city expensive. Actually, balloon would be extremely expensive too.
    $endgroup$
    – Mołot
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Spencer hm, let's say they have seen balloons before
    $endgroup$
    – Mranderson
    2 hours ago















6












$begingroup$


Imagine a medieval-style city, besieged by enemy army. It might be big and have wide river preventing besiegers from direct attack on the walls and launching projectiles significantly far into the city. Besiegers want to use hot air baloons to drop burning projectiles and biological weapons in form of infected meat etc. as well as drop some attackers during nighttime to open the gates of the city. Is it possible for hot air baloons to perform such missions?










share|improve this question











$endgroup$











  • $begingroup$
    Firstly, they're not exactly stealth craft, and secondly they're pretty easy to bring down if your enemy sees them coming. The other thing to bear in mind is that they travel with the wind, so the infected meat smell might be a giveaway as well. I'm suggesting a no...
    $endgroup$
    – Tim B II
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    You have to ask yourself:Have the people in the besieged city seen balloon bombers before?
    $endgroup$
    – Spencer
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    They are not stealth in daytime, that's right. As for bringing them down, can projectiles from bows, crossbows, and ballistas reliably reach a few hundred meters with good accuracy?
    $endgroup$
    – Mranderson
    2 hours ago











  • $begingroup$
    "as well as drop some attackers" - Silk parachute might e quite expensive. Think small city expensive. Actually, balloon would be extremely expensive too.
    $endgroup$
    – Mołot
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Spencer hm, let's say they have seen balloons before
    $endgroup$
    – Mranderson
    2 hours ago













6












6








6





$begingroup$


Imagine a medieval-style city, besieged by enemy army. It might be big and have wide river preventing besiegers from direct attack on the walls and launching projectiles significantly far into the city. Besiegers want to use hot air baloons to drop burning projectiles and biological weapons in form of infected meat etc. as well as drop some attackers during nighttime to open the gates of the city. Is it possible for hot air baloons to perform such missions?










share|improve this question











$endgroup$




Imagine a medieval-style city, besieged by enemy army. It might be big and have wide river preventing besiegers from direct attack on the walls and launching projectiles significantly far into the city. Besiegers want to use hot air baloons to drop burning projectiles and biological weapons in form of infected meat etc. as well as drop some attackers during nighttime to open the gates of the city. Is it possible for hot air baloons to perform such missions?







weapons medieval






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 3 hours ago







Mranderson

















asked 3 hours ago









Mranderson Mranderson

454212




454212











  • $begingroup$
    Firstly, they're not exactly stealth craft, and secondly they're pretty easy to bring down if your enemy sees them coming. The other thing to bear in mind is that they travel with the wind, so the infected meat smell might be a giveaway as well. I'm suggesting a no...
    $endgroup$
    – Tim B II
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    You have to ask yourself:Have the people in the besieged city seen balloon bombers before?
    $endgroup$
    – Spencer
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    They are not stealth in daytime, that's right. As for bringing them down, can projectiles from bows, crossbows, and ballistas reliably reach a few hundred meters with good accuracy?
    $endgroup$
    – Mranderson
    2 hours ago











  • $begingroup$
    "as well as drop some attackers" - Silk parachute might e quite expensive. Think small city expensive. Actually, balloon would be extremely expensive too.
    $endgroup$
    – Mołot
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Spencer hm, let's say they have seen balloons before
    $endgroup$
    – Mranderson
    2 hours ago
















  • $begingroup$
    Firstly, they're not exactly stealth craft, and secondly they're pretty easy to bring down if your enemy sees them coming. The other thing to bear in mind is that they travel with the wind, so the infected meat smell might be a giveaway as well. I'm suggesting a no...
    $endgroup$
    – Tim B II
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    You have to ask yourself:Have the people in the besieged city seen balloon bombers before?
    $endgroup$
    – Spencer
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    They are not stealth in daytime, that's right. As for bringing them down, can projectiles from bows, crossbows, and ballistas reliably reach a few hundred meters with good accuracy?
    $endgroup$
    – Mranderson
    2 hours ago











  • $begingroup$
    "as well as drop some attackers" - Silk parachute might e quite expensive. Think small city expensive. Actually, balloon would be extremely expensive too.
    $endgroup$
    – Mołot
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Spencer hm, let's say they have seen balloons before
    $endgroup$
    – Mranderson
    2 hours ago















$begingroup$
Firstly, they're not exactly stealth craft, and secondly they're pretty easy to bring down if your enemy sees them coming. The other thing to bear in mind is that they travel with the wind, so the infected meat smell might be a giveaway as well. I'm suggesting a no...
$endgroup$
– Tim B II
3 hours ago




$begingroup$
Firstly, they're not exactly stealth craft, and secondly they're pretty easy to bring down if your enemy sees them coming. The other thing to bear in mind is that they travel with the wind, so the infected meat smell might be a giveaway as well. I'm suggesting a no...
$endgroup$
– Tim B II
3 hours ago












$begingroup$
You have to ask yourself:Have the people in the besieged city seen balloon bombers before?
$endgroup$
– Spencer
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
You have to ask yourself:Have the people in the besieged city seen balloon bombers before?
$endgroup$
– Spencer
2 hours ago












$begingroup$
They are not stealth in daytime, that's right. As for bringing them down, can projectiles from bows, crossbows, and ballistas reliably reach a few hundred meters with good accuracy?
$endgroup$
– Mranderson
2 hours ago





$begingroup$
They are not stealth in daytime, that's right. As for bringing them down, can projectiles from bows, crossbows, and ballistas reliably reach a few hundred meters with good accuracy?
$endgroup$
– Mranderson
2 hours ago













$begingroup$
"as well as drop some attackers" - Silk parachute might e quite expensive. Think small city expensive. Actually, balloon would be extremely expensive too.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
"as well as drop some attackers" - Silk parachute might e quite expensive. Think small city expensive. Actually, balloon would be extremely expensive too.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
2 hours ago












$begingroup$
@Spencer hm, let's say they have seen balloons before
$endgroup$
– Mranderson
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
@Spencer hm, let's say they have seen balloons before
$endgroup$
– Mranderson
2 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















5












$begingroup$

Better for defense.



I pondered this scenario in 2009 and posted the same idea.



https://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Siegebreaker_20balloon#1249939283



The excellent comment by Bunsen Honeydew points out that the tethered balloon scheme has more advantages when carried out by the defenders within the city as opposed to those outside laying siege.




Consider: the besieged are at the center, and the besieging are at
the circumference of a(n idealised) circle. The balloon is anchored in
the city, and the anchor point is surrounded by all the infrastructure
to support it - furnaces with hot air/gas hoses, ammunition supplies,
bucket brigades, pipework, extra fuel, spare parts, winches,
windlasses, mules, encamped technicians, support staff for the support
staff, ancilliary cooks, batmen and wenches, and so forth. Should the
balloon need to replenish itself of any vital supplies, it can be
winched back in to the center.



Now consider a change in the winds: the balloon changes tack, but is still (given a few moments of belaying or withdrawing the
tether) hovered above the enemy.



In the inverse case, where the circumferential siege-layers are attacking the central hold-fasts, a change of wind immediately places
the weapons platform off-target. In order to reaquire the target, the
anchor point - and all the associated infrastructure - must be moved a
great distance across the landscape around the circumference, or one
must wait until the wind is once more in one's favour.



Insert a river, a forest or other obstacle anywhere about the city and the case for the attacking forces becomes particularly dire.



I hold, then, sir/madam or other, that this system is inherently defensive, rather than offensive, in the siege situation.



— BunsenHoneydew, Aug 04 2009







share|improve this answer









$endgroup$




















    3












    $begingroup$

    My initial thoughts are that hot air balloons would be very vulnerable to projectile weapons like cannons and arrows. As these balloons would be primitive, I am not sure how high they could fly or how well they could be maneuver over the target. Another issue is payload capacity. Most of the balloon's floor would be used to burn something in order to create hot gas, that will lift the balloon into the air. Some more space will be occupied by the pilot and perhaps the bombardier. There is a good chance that anything that was on fire and dropped from a great height, would extinguish itself before it stuck the target on the ground. That is assuming that objects could be reliably targeted to begin with. These biological agents would probably have just as much chance to infect the pilots as the targets on the ground. In order to drop of troops, said balloon would have to either land or fly super close to the ground. The light generated by the fire would give away the balloons presence. I think a trebuchet could accomplish most of want you want to do, with out having to actually leave the ground.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$












    • $begingroup$
      Balloon mounted artillerymen have the advantage of being able to see over the city walls and thus target better. A trebuchet just flings objects in a general direction and you kind of hope it hits something interesting. Perhaps the airmen could pour Greek fire on the besieged? That stuff probably won't go out.
      $endgroup$
      – elemtilas
      2 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      Perhaps spotters in balloons, could help better direct the trebuchet projectiles as they could see where they are landing?
      $endgroup$
      – SciFiGuy
      2 hours ago










    Your Answer





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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    5












    $begingroup$

    Better for defense.



    I pondered this scenario in 2009 and posted the same idea.



    https://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Siegebreaker_20balloon#1249939283



    The excellent comment by Bunsen Honeydew points out that the tethered balloon scheme has more advantages when carried out by the defenders within the city as opposed to those outside laying siege.




    Consider: the besieged are at the center, and the besieging are at
    the circumference of a(n idealised) circle. The balloon is anchored in
    the city, and the anchor point is surrounded by all the infrastructure
    to support it - furnaces with hot air/gas hoses, ammunition supplies,
    bucket brigades, pipework, extra fuel, spare parts, winches,
    windlasses, mules, encamped technicians, support staff for the support
    staff, ancilliary cooks, batmen and wenches, and so forth. Should the
    balloon need to replenish itself of any vital supplies, it can be
    winched back in to the center.



    Now consider a change in the winds: the balloon changes tack, but is still (given a few moments of belaying or withdrawing the
    tether) hovered above the enemy.



    In the inverse case, where the circumferential siege-layers are attacking the central hold-fasts, a change of wind immediately places
    the weapons platform off-target. In order to reaquire the target, the
    anchor point - and all the associated infrastructure - must be moved a
    great distance across the landscape around the circumference, or one
    must wait until the wind is once more in one's favour.



    Insert a river, a forest or other obstacle anywhere about the city and the case for the attacking forces becomes particularly dire.



    I hold, then, sir/madam or other, that this system is inherently defensive, rather than offensive, in the siege situation.



    — BunsenHoneydew, Aug 04 2009







    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$

















      5












      $begingroup$

      Better for defense.



      I pondered this scenario in 2009 and posted the same idea.



      https://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Siegebreaker_20balloon#1249939283



      The excellent comment by Bunsen Honeydew points out that the tethered balloon scheme has more advantages when carried out by the defenders within the city as opposed to those outside laying siege.




      Consider: the besieged are at the center, and the besieging are at
      the circumference of a(n idealised) circle. The balloon is anchored in
      the city, and the anchor point is surrounded by all the infrastructure
      to support it - furnaces with hot air/gas hoses, ammunition supplies,
      bucket brigades, pipework, extra fuel, spare parts, winches,
      windlasses, mules, encamped technicians, support staff for the support
      staff, ancilliary cooks, batmen and wenches, and so forth. Should the
      balloon need to replenish itself of any vital supplies, it can be
      winched back in to the center.



      Now consider a change in the winds: the balloon changes tack, but is still (given a few moments of belaying or withdrawing the
      tether) hovered above the enemy.



      In the inverse case, where the circumferential siege-layers are attacking the central hold-fasts, a change of wind immediately places
      the weapons platform off-target. In order to reaquire the target, the
      anchor point - and all the associated infrastructure - must be moved a
      great distance across the landscape around the circumference, or one
      must wait until the wind is once more in one's favour.



      Insert a river, a forest or other obstacle anywhere about the city and the case for the attacking forces becomes particularly dire.



      I hold, then, sir/madam or other, that this system is inherently defensive, rather than offensive, in the siege situation.



      — BunsenHoneydew, Aug 04 2009







      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$















        5












        5








        5





        $begingroup$

        Better for defense.



        I pondered this scenario in 2009 and posted the same idea.



        https://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Siegebreaker_20balloon#1249939283



        The excellent comment by Bunsen Honeydew points out that the tethered balloon scheme has more advantages when carried out by the defenders within the city as opposed to those outside laying siege.




        Consider: the besieged are at the center, and the besieging are at
        the circumference of a(n idealised) circle. The balloon is anchored in
        the city, and the anchor point is surrounded by all the infrastructure
        to support it - furnaces with hot air/gas hoses, ammunition supplies,
        bucket brigades, pipework, extra fuel, spare parts, winches,
        windlasses, mules, encamped technicians, support staff for the support
        staff, ancilliary cooks, batmen and wenches, and so forth. Should the
        balloon need to replenish itself of any vital supplies, it can be
        winched back in to the center.



        Now consider a change in the winds: the balloon changes tack, but is still (given a few moments of belaying or withdrawing the
        tether) hovered above the enemy.



        In the inverse case, where the circumferential siege-layers are attacking the central hold-fasts, a change of wind immediately places
        the weapons platform off-target. In order to reaquire the target, the
        anchor point - and all the associated infrastructure - must be moved a
        great distance across the landscape around the circumference, or one
        must wait until the wind is once more in one's favour.



        Insert a river, a forest or other obstacle anywhere about the city and the case for the attacking forces becomes particularly dire.



        I hold, then, sir/madam or other, that this system is inherently defensive, rather than offensive, in the siege situation.



        — BunsenHoneydew, Aug 04 2009







        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        Better for defense.



        I pondered this scenario in 2009 and posted the same idea.



        https://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Siegebreaker_20balloon#1249939283



        The excellent comment by Bunsen Honeydew points out that the tethered balloon scheme has more advantages when carried out by the defenders within the city as opposed to those outside laying siege.




        Consider: the besieged are at the center, and the besieging are at
        the circumference of a(n idealised) circle. The balloon is anchored in
        the city, and the anchor point is surrounded by all the infrastructure
        to support it - furnaces with hot air/gas hoses, ammunition supplies,
        bucket brigades, pipework, extra fuel, spare parts, winches,
        windlasses, mules, encamped technicians, support staff for the support
        staff, ancilliary cooks, batmen and wenches, and so forth. Should the
        balloon need to replenish itself of any vital supplies, it can be
        winched back in to the center.



        Now consider a change in the winds: the balloon changes tack, but is still (given a few moments of belaying or withdrawing the
        tether) hovered above the enemy.



        In the inverse case, where the circumferential siege-layers are attacking the central hold-fasts, a change of wind immediately places
        the weapons platform off-target. In order to reaquire the target, the
        anchor point - and all the associated infrastructure - must be moved a
        great distance across the landscape around the circumference, or one
        must wait until the wind is once more in one's favour.



        Insert a river, a forest or other obstacle anywhere about the city and the case for the attacking forces becomes particularly dire.



        I hold, then, sir/madam or other, that this system is inherently defensive, rather than offensive, in the siege situation.



        — BunsenHoneydew, Aug 04 2009








        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 2 hours ago









        WillkWillk

        113k27211474




        113k27211474





















            3












            $begingroup$

            My initial thoughts are that hot air balloons would be very vulnerable to projectile weapons like cannons and arrows. As these balloons would be primitive, I am not sure how high they could fly or how well they could be maneuver over the target. Another issue is payload capacity. Most of the balloon's floor would be used to burn something in order to create hot gas, that will lift the balloon into the air. Some more space will be occupied by the pilot and perhaps the bombardier. There is a good chance that anything that was on fire and dropped from a great height, would extinguish itself before it stuck the target on the ground. That is assuming that objects could be reliably targeted to begin with. These biological agents would probably have just as much chance to infect the pilots as the targets on the ground. In order to drop of troops, said balloon would have to either land or fly super close to the ground. The light generated by the fire would give away the balloons presence. I think a trebuchet could accomplish most of want you want to do, with out having to actually leave the ground.






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$












            • $begingroup$
              Balloon mounted artillerymen have the advantage of being able to see over the city walls and thus target better. A trebuchet just flings objects in a general direction and you kind of hope it hits something interesting. Perhaps the airmen could pour Greek fire on the besieged? That stuff probably won't go out.
              $endgroup$
              – elemtilas
              2 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              Perhaps spotters in balloons, could help better direct the trebuchet projectiles as they could see where they are landing?
              $endgroup$
              – SciFiGuy
              2 hours ago















            3












            $begingroup$

            My initial thoughts are that hot air balloons would be very vulnerable to projectile weapons like cannons and arrows. As these balloons would be primitive, I am not sure how high they could fly or how well they could be maneuver over the target. Another issue is payload capacity. Most of the balloon's floor would be used to burn something in order to create hot gas, that will lift the balloon into the air. Some more space will be occupied by the pilot and perhaps the bombardier. There is a good chance that anything that was on fire and dropped from a great height, would extinguish itself before it stuck the target on the ground. That is assuming that objects could be reliably targeted to begin with. These biological agents would probably have just as much chance to infect the pilots as the targets on the ground. In order to drop of troops, said balloon would have to either land or fly super close to the ground. The light generated by the fire would give away the balloons presence. I think a trebuchet could accomplish most of want you want to do, with out having to actually leave the ground.






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$












            • $begingroup$
              Balloon mounted artillerymen have the advantage of being able to see over the city walls and thus target better. A trebuchet just flings objects in a general direction and you kind of hope it hits something interesting. Perhaps the airmen could pour Greek fire on the besieged? That stuff probably won't go out.
              $endgroup$
              – elemtilas
              2 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              Perhaps spotters in balloons, could help better direct the trebuchet projectiles as they could see where they are landing?
              $endgroup$
              – SciFiGuy
              2 hours ago













            3












            3








            3





            $begingroup$

            My initial thoughts are that hot air balloons would be very vulnerable to projectile weapons like cannons and arrows. As these balloons would be primitive, I am not sure how high they could fly or how well they could be maneuver over the target. Another issue is payload capacity. Most of the balloon's floor would be used to burn something in order to create hot gas, that will lift the balloon into the air. Some more space will be occupied by the pilot and perhaps the bombardier. There is a good chance that anything that was on fire and dropped from a great height, would extinguish itself before it stuck the target on the ground. That is assuming that objects could be reliably targeted to begin with. These biological agents would probably have just as much chance to infect the pilots as the targets on the ground. In order to drop of troops, said balloon would have to either land or fly super close to the ground. The light generated by the fire would give away the balloons presence. I think a trebuchet could accomplish most of want you want to do, with out having to actually leave the ground.






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$



            My initial thoughts are that hot air balloons would be very vulnerable to projectile weapons like cannons and arrows. As these balloons would be primitive, I am not sure how high they could fly or how well they could be maneuver over the target. Another issue is payload capacity. Most of the balloon's floor would be used to burn something in order to create hot gas, that will lift the balloon into the air. Some more space will be occupied by the pilot and perhaps the bombardier. There is a good chance that anything that was on fire and dropped from a great height, would extinguish itself before it stuck the target on the ground. That is assuming that objects could be reliably targeted to begin with. These biological agents would probably have just as much chance to infect the pilots as the targets on the ground. In order to drop of troops, said balloon would have to either land or fly super close to the ground. The light generated by the fire would give away the balloons presence. I think a trebuchet could accomplish most of want you want to do, with out having to actually leave the ground.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 3 hours ago









            SciFiGuySciFiGuy

            1,28010




            1,28010











            • $begingroup$
              Balloon mounted artillerymen have the advantage of being able to see over the city walls and thus target better. A trebuchet just flings objects in a general direction and you kind of hope it hits something interesting. Perhaps the airmen could pour Greek fire on the besieged? That stuff probably won't go out.
              $endgroup$
              – elemtilas
              2 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              Perhaps spotters in balloons, could help better direct the trebuchet projectiles as they could see where they are landing?
              $endgroup$
              – SciFiGuy
              2 hours ago
















            • $begingroup$
              Balloon mounted artillerymen have the advantage of being able to see over the city walls and thus target better. A trebuchet just flings objects in a general direction and you kind of hope it hits something interesting. Perhaps the airmen could pour Greek fire on the besieged? That stuff probably won't go out.
              $endgroup$
              – elemtilas
              2 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              Perhaps spotters in balloons, could help better direct the trebuchet projectiles as they could see where they are landing?
              $endgroup$
              – SciFiGuy
              2 hours ago















            $begingroup$
            Balloon mounted artillerymen have the advantage of being able to see over the city walls and thus target better. A trebuchet just flings objects in a general direction and you kind of hope it hits something interesting. Perhaps the airmen could pour Greek fire on the besieged? That stuff probably won't go out.
            $endgroup$
            – elemtilas
            2 hours ago




            $begingroup$
            Balloon mounted artillerymen have the advantage of being able to see over the city walls and thus target better. A trebuchet just flings objects in a general direction and you kind of hope it hits something interesting. Perhaps the airmen could pour Greek fire on the besieged? That stuff probably won't go out.
            $endgroup$
            – elemtilas
            2 hours ago












            $begingroup$
            Perhaps spotters in balloons, could help better direct the trebuchet projectiles as they could see where they are landing?
            $endgroup$
            – SciFiGuy
            2 hours ago




            $begingroup$
            Perhaps spotters in balloons, could help better direct the trebuchet projectiles as they could see where they are landing?
            $endgroup$
            – SciFiGuy
            2 hours ago

















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