Harpag [1] ( Greek αρπαξ [2] ; Lat. Harpax ; also kreagr , kreagra ) - a boarding device, which was a log bound in iron. It is believed that this invention was first applied in the 2nd half of the 1st century BC. e. Roman commander Marc Vipsanius Agrippa , associate of the emperor Octavian Augustus . This bar was about three meters long and had thick metal rings at both ends. The ring closest to the carrier ship was attached to the throwing machine using strong ropes, and the opposite had a sharp iron hook. The harpoon fired a device from the attacking ship into the enemy, where it either clung a hook to the near side, deeply digging into the skin - then the ship was pulled to itself and boarded, or clung to the long side - in this case, the attacking ship with the powerful efforts of the rowers “backed up” "And turned the enemy over. Due to the long length of the harpoon, it was difficult for defending sailors to reach the ropes and cut them. Enemy sailors tried to do this with blades mounted on long poles.
See also
- Boarding raven
- Boarding cat
- Taran (sea)
- Marines
- Dolphin (weapon)
- Chinese anti-boarding hook [3] - a weapon similar to the ancient Roman harpoag, however, designed to keep the enemy ship at a distance with the aim of firing from crossbows, without going to boarding [3]
Notes
- ↑ in the book by S. A. Hvorostukhina as creagra , and crescent knives are called harpoons
- ↑ Agrippa // The Real Dictionary of Classical Antiquities / ed. F. Lubker ; Edited by members of the Society of Classical Philology and Pedagogy F. Gelbke , L. Georgievsky , F. Zelinsky , V. Kansky , M. Kutorgi and P. Nikitin . - SPb. , 1885.
- ↑ 1 2 Warships of ancient China 200 BC -1413 AD
Literature
- William M. Murray, Philip de Souza, HT Wallinga. Ancient Navies // The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History / ed. John B. Hattendorf. - Oxford University Press , 2007.
- S. A. Hvorostukhina. Sea battles. - M .: Veche, 2003.
- Vladimir Shcherbakov. Aboard! // Around the world . - 2011. - No. 8. - P. 112.