fire lance
Gunpowder tube weapon
A fire lance was an early gunpowder weapon developed in China, consisting of a tube attached to a spear that shot flames and sometimes projectiles at close range.
It represented a transitional technology between flamethrowers and true firearms, used primarily from the 10th through 13th centuries.
The fire lance is considered the ancestor of all gun-type weapons, marking the first military application of gunpowder as a propellant rather than merely an incendiary.
Combustible propellant mixture
- black powderOriginal firearm propellant
- saltpeterPotassium nitrate compound
- sulfurYellow combustible element
- charcoalBurned wood residue
ignition · propellant · bamboo · fuse · touchhole · blast · flash · smoke
Encirclement forcing surrender
- battlefieldCombat engagement area
- infantryGround combat troops
- cavalryMounted military force
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
close combat · naval battle · flamethrower · incendiary · psychological warfare · defensive weapon · city wall · rampart
Pole with sharp point
- halberdAxe-headed infantry pike
- pikeLong battlefield spear
- polearmLong-shafted combat weapon
- shaftNarrow vertical passage
spearhead · thrusting · melee · two-handed · mounted combat · socket · ferrule
Chinese imperial house, 1368-1644
- Mongol invasionsMedieval Asian military campaigns
- hand cannonEarly handheld firearm
Small compressed spheres
- iron filingsSmall metallic particles
- ceramic shardsBroken pieces of pottery
- lead shotAmmunition pellets of lead
- arrowsShafted projectiles for bows
darts · caltrops · shrapnel · wadding · debris · fragmentation
gunpowder
Combustible propellant mixture
- black powderOriginal firearm propellant
- saltpeterPotassium nitrate compound
- sulfurYellow combustible element
charcoal · ignition · propellant · bamboo · fuse · touchhole · blast · flash · smoke · sparks
siege
Encirclement forcing surrender
- battlefieldCombat engagement area
- infantryGround combat troops
- cavalryMounted military force
fortification · close combat · naval battle · flamethrower · incendiary · psychological warfare · defensive weapon · city wall · rampart · garrison
spear
Pole with sharp point
shaft · spearhead · thrusting · melee · two-handed · mounted combat · socket · ferrule
Ming Dynasty
Chinese imperial house, 1368-1644
- Mongol invasionsMedieval Asian military campaigns
- hand cannonEarly handheld firearm
pellets
Small compressed spheres
- iron filingsSmall metallic particles
- ceramic shardsBroken pieces of pottery
- lead shotAmmunition pellets of lead
arrows · darts · caltrops · shrapnel · wadding · debris · fragmentation
fire lanceassault rifle
Automatic infantry combat weapon
machine gun · semi-automatic pistol · sniper rifle · guided missile · automatic weapon
fire lancesword
Hilted fighting blade
shield · bare hands · unarmed combat · melee weapon · club
fire, lance, fires, fired, firing, fiery, fireman, firearm, firework