A ranged weapon[dubious – discuss] is any weapon that can engage targets beyond hand-to-hand distance, i.e. at distances greater than the physical reach of the user holding the weapon itself. The act of using such a weapon is also known as shooting. It is sometimes also called projectile weapon or missile weapon because it typically works by launching solid projectiles ("missiles"), though technically a fluid-projector (which throws out pressurized streams of liquid or even gas) and a directed-energy weapon (which does not involve any tangible projectile) are also ranged weapons. In contrast, a weapon intended to be used in hand-to-hand combat is called a melee weapon.
A period illustration of the Battle of Crécy. English longbowmen figure prominently in the foreground at right where they drive away the French crossbowmen.
Ranged weapons give the attacker an advantage (especially when performing an ambush) because the target is often getting hit from beyond immediate visual range, therefore making it more difficult for the defenders to react and hit back effectively.[1] It also puts distance between the attacker and the opponent, which is a safer combat option since the close physical contact during melee fights often puts the attacker within the immediate striking range of enemy counterattacks and thus at an equal risk of getting hurt or killed.
The line between ranged and melee weapons is not entirely definite; for instance, spears, axes, daggers, and knives can be used for both throwing and hand-to-hand combat, depending on purpose and situation, and a ranged weapon can also be used as a melee weapon in close encounters, such as the buttstock of a rifle used for butt-stroking, a rifle with a bayonet fixed to the front end used as an improvised spear, a handgun used for pistol-whipping, and even an arrow being used as a hand pick in desperate situations.
Early ranged weapons often included specifically designed hand-thrown weapons such as darts, javelins, slings, as well as elastic weapons such as slingshots, bows and crossbows; and more complex siege engines like stone throwers, catapults, ballistas and trebuchets. These ranged weapons were extremely effective in ancient and earlymedieval warfare, especially when used en masse, as they gave the wielder an opportunity to launch multiple rounds of attack before an enemy armed with melee weapons or shorter-ranged missile weapons could even get close enough to pose a threat. After the invention of gunpowder and the development of firearms, gun-type pneumatic ranged weapons became the dominant weapon of choice in armed conflicts, even in close combat. In modern warfare, ranged weaponry is also used both tactically and strategically in the form of long-range artilleries, rockets, guided missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (aka drones). The maximum effective range of a weapon is the greatest distance from which the weapon can be fired while still consistently inflicting casualties or damage. When a modern missile can be launched from beyond the effective range of counterattack, it is termed a standoff missile.
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Ranged weapon news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message A ranged weapon dubious discuss is any weapon that can engage targets beyond hand to hand distance i e at distances greater than the physical reach of the user holding the weapon itself The act of using such a weapon is also known as shooting It is sometimes also called projectile weapon or missile weapon because it typically works by launching solid projectiles missiles though technically a fluid projector which throws out pressurized streams of liquid or even gas and a directed energy weapon which does not involve any tangible projectile are also ranged weapons In contrast a weapon intended to be used in hand to hand combat is called a melee weapon A period illustration of the Battle of Crecy English longbowmen figure prominently in the foreground at right where they drive away the French crossbowmen Ranged weapons give the attacker an advantage especially when performing an ambush because the target is often getting hit from beyond immediate visual range therefore making it more difficult for the defenders to react and hit back effectively 1 It also puts distance between the attacker and the opponent which is a safer combat option since the close physical contact during melee fights often puts the attacker within the immediate striking range of enemy counterattacks and thus at an equal risk of getting hurt or killed The line between ranged and melee weapons is not entirely definite for instance spears axes daggers and knives can be used for both throwing and hand to hand combat depending on purpose and situation and a ranged weapon can also be used as a melee weapon in close encounters such as the buttstock of a rifle used for butt stroking a rifle with a bayonet fixed to the front end used as an improvised spear a handgun used for pistol whipping and even an arrow being used as a hand pick in desperate situations Early ranged weapons often included specifically designed hand thrown weapons such as darts javelins slings as well as elastic weapons such as slingshots bows and crossbows and more complex siege engines like stone throwers catapults ballistas and trebuchets These ranged weapons were extremely effective in ancient and early medieval warfare especially when used en masse as they gave the wielder an opportunity to launch multiple rounds of attack before an enemy armed with melee weapons or shorter ranged missile weapons could even get close enough to pose a threat After the invention of gunpowder and the development of firearms gun type pneumatic ranged weapons became the dominant weapon of choice in armed conflicts even in close combat In modern warfare ranged weaponry is also used both tactically and strategically in the form of long range artilleries rockets guided missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles aka drones The maximum effective range of a weapon is the greatest distance from which the weapon can be fired while still consistently inflicting casualties or damage When a modern missile can be launched from beyond the effective range of counterattack it is termed a standoff missile Contents 1 List of ranged weapons 1 1 Prehistoric ancient and medieval period 1 2 Early modern period 1 3 Late modern and contemporary period 1 4 Future and conceptual weapon period 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksList of ranged weapons editPrehistoric ancient and medieval period edit nbsp Reconstruction of a post Marian pilumHand thrown Barehanded Bolas Dart Plumbata Spear Swiss arrow Throwing axe Francisca Hunga Munga Hurlbat Mbanja Nzappa zap Tomahawk Throwing knife Throwing stick Boomerang Knobkierrie Rungu Valari Leverage enhanced Amentum Atlatl spear thrower Kestros Sling Woomera Elastic propulsion Bow Crossbow Repeating crossbow Cheiroballistra Slingshot Pneumatic Blowgun Explosive propulsion Fire lance Hand cannon e g Heilongjiang hand cannon Xanadu Gun Cetbang Arquebus Tanegashima Swivel gun Rocket propulsion Fire arrow Huolongchushui Siege weapon Via mechanical leverage Mangonel Trebuchet couillard Via elasticity Catapult Bed crossbow Onager Ballista Scorpion Polybolos Via Explosive propulsion Cannon e g Wuwei Bronze Cannon Bombard e g Faule Grete Faule Mette Pumhart von Steyr Grose Bochse Mortar nbsp Trebuchet at Chateau des Baux France Early modern period edit Pneumatic propelled Airgun e g Girandoni air rifle Explosive propelled Musket Wheellock Snaplock snaphance miquelet lock Doglock Flintlock Che Dian Chong Pistol Blunderbuss Musketoon Wall gun Field gun Culverin demi culverin Hongyipao Hand mortar Coehorn Zamburak Hwacha Breech loading swivel gun Siege cannon e g Abus Gun Dardanelles Gun and Tsar Cannon Late modern and contemporary period edit nbsp 155 mm M198 howitzer nbsp Exocet missile in flightMost modern projectile weapons fall into the broader category of either direct fire or indirect fire with the former often being regarded as guns and the latter as artillery While some are small and light enough to be operated by individuals i e small arms and grenade launchers most require a team of individuals to service maneuver and operate Small arms and light weapons Handgun Derringer Harmonica gun Revolver Semi automatic pistol Machine pistol Long gun Rifled musket Shotgun Rifle Single shot rifle Repeating rifle e g revolving rifle carbine battle rifle assault rifle DMR sniper rifle etc Submachine gun personal defense weapon Squad automatic weapon light machine gun Grenade launcher Crew served weapon Medium machine gun general purpose machine gun Anti material rifle anti tank rifle Recoilless rifle Heavy weapon and vehicle mounted weapon systems Heavy machine gun Autocannon Volley gun Multiple barrel firearm Gatling gun Minigun Microgun Rotary cannon Close in weapon system Artillery Mortar Artillery battery Anti aircraft gun flak cannon Coastal artillery Field artillery Howitzer gun howitzer Mountain gun Anti tank gun Self propelled artillery Tank gun Assault gun Naval artillery Aircraft artillery Rocket weaponry Rocket launcher Rocket propelled grenade shoulder fired missile Rocket artillery Rocket pod Multiple rocket launcher Guided missile Air to air missile Air to surface missile Anti submarine missile Surface to air missile Man portable air defense system Anti ballistic missile Anti satellite weapon Surface to surface missile Anti tank guided missile Anti ship missile Ballistic missile Tactical ballistic missile Theater ballistic missile short range ballistic missile medium range ballistic missile Intermediate range ballistic missile long range ballistic missile Intercontinental ballistic missile Anti ship ballistic missile Submarine launched ballistic missile Cruise missile Submarine launched cruise missile Torpedo Flamethrower Water cannon waterjet disruptor Aerial weapon Loitering munition expendable warhead as UCAV Future and conceptual weapon period edit High acceleration linear motor Railgun Coilgun Helical railgun Kinetic energy weaponDirected energy weapon Laser weapon Electrolaser Pulsed energy projectile Dazzler Particle beam weapon Microwave weapon Sonic weaponSee also editTrajectory of a projectile Siege engine List of artillery List of missiles List of missiles by nationReferences edit McDonald James Medieval Weapons Medieval Weapons amp Armour Retrieved 22 May 2015 Further reading editGray David 2002 Bows of the World The Lyons Press ISBN 1 58574 478 6 1992 The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 1 The Lyons Press ISBN 1 58574 085 3 1992 The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 2 The Lyons Press ISBN 1 58574 086 1 1994 The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 3 The Lyons Press ISBN 1 58574 087 X The ballistics of the sling Thom Richardson Royal Armouries Yearbook Volume 3 1998 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Projectile weapons nbsp Look up ranged weapon in Wiktionary the free dictionary Short Bows and Long Bows Scaling effects in archery Sling Weapons Their evolution The Sling Ancient Weapon Secrets of Lost Empires Medieval Siege building of and history of trebuchets from the NOVA website Modern and Civil War Era Cannon Information Wayback Machine copy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ranged weapon amp oldid 1212105188, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
