Camel guns in use by Indian cavalry at some time after 1850
Zamburaks were one of the royal guard units in the Qajar Army. A Persian zamburak regiment was accompanied by musicians with huge camel-mounted drums, to further intimidate the enemy. Zamburaks were also used during the First Anglo-Afghan War and the First and Second Anglo-Sikh Wars.[citation needed]
By the eighteenth century, usage of Zamburak became popular in the Indian subcontinent as well. In 1761, the Durrani conqueror, Ahmed Shah Durrani (also Ahmed Shah Abdali) used around 2000 camel guns in a battle against the Marathas, which proved to be a decisive factor in routing the Maratha forces near Panipat.[1]
A zamburak consisted of a soldier on a camel with a mounted swivel gun (a small falconet) hinged on a metal fork-rest protruding from the camel's saddle. To fire it, the camel was put on its knees. The name is derived from the Persian word for wasp zambur (زنبور), possibly in reference to the sound earlier camel-mounted crossbows made. The camel's mobility combined with the swivel gun's flexibility and heavy firepower made an intimidating military unit, although the cannon's accuracy and range were rather low. The light cannon was also not particularly useful against heavy fortifications.
The Dzungar Khanate used camel-mounted miniature cannons in battle.[2]: 89 Gunpowder weapons like guns and cannons were used by both sides during the Dzungar–Qing Wars.[2]: 95
After their invention in 1861, Gatling guns were mounted on camels as well.
References
^Iqtidar Alam Khan (2004). Gunpowder and Firearms: Warfare in Medieval India. Oxford University Press. p. 109. ISBN978-0-19-566526-0. At the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), Ahmed Shah Abdali had 2000 shaturnals which indicates that the popularity of these particular type of firearm was growing in the subcontinent down to the middle of the eighteenth century
^ abMillward, James A (2007). Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang. Columbia University Press. ISBN978-0-231-13924-3.
External links
Biblomania: Free Online Literature and Study Guides
Hobson-Jobson
digital.library.upenn.edu/women/sheil/persia/185.jpeg an image
zamburak, persian, زمبورک, literally, meaning, wasp, specialized, form, self, propelled, artillery, from, early, modern, period, featuring, small, swivel, guns, mounted, fired, from, camels, operators, known, zamburakchi, used, gunpowder, empires, especially, . Zamburak Persian زمبورک literally meaning wasp was a specialized form of self propelled artillery from the early modern period featuring small swivel guns mounted on and fired from camels Its operators was known as a zamburakchi It was used by the gunpowder empires especially the Iranian empires of the Safavid dynasty Timurid Empire and Afsharid dynasty due to the ruggedness of the Iranian Plateau which made typical transportation of heavy cannons difficult Zamburak South Asia 17th century Persian artilleryman operating a ZamburakActiveAfter 1499CountryGreater Middle East East AsiaBranchCavalryEquipmentArquebus musket rifle artillery The zamburak became a popular mode of warfare in the 18th century in Indian subcontinent The Pashtuns used it in the Battle of Gulnabad routing a numerically superior imperial Safavid army It was also used successfully in Nader s Campaigns when the shah and military genius Nader Shah utilized a zamburak corps in conjunction with a regular corps of conventional cannon to devastating effect in numerous battles such as at the Battle of Damghan 1729 the Battle of Yeghevard and the Battle of Karnal A large number of zamburaks were also successfully employed by Ahmed Shah Durrani during his raid in north Indian plain in defeating the Maratha forces near Panipat Use Edit Camel guns in use by Indian cavalry at some time after 1850 Zamburaks were one of the royal guard units in the Qajar Army A Persian zamburak regiment was accompanied by musicians with huge camel mounted drums to further intimidate the enemy Zamburaks were also used during the First Anglo Afghan War and the First and Second Anglo Sikh Wars citation needed By the eighteenth century usage of Zamburak became popular in the Indian subcontinent as well In 1761 the Durrani conqueror Ahmed Shah Durrani also Ahmed Shah Abdali used around 2000 camel guns in a battle against the Marathas which proved to be a decisive factor in routing the Maratha forces near Panipat 1 A zamburak consisted of a soldier on a camel with a mounted swivel gun a small falconet hinged on a metal fork rest protruding from the camel s saddle To fire it the camel was put on its knees The name is derived from the Persian word for wasp zambur زنبور possibly in reference to the sound earlier camel mounted crossbows made The camel s mobility combined with the swivel gun s flexibility and heavy firepower made an intimidating military unit although the cannon s accuracy and range were rather low The light cannon was also not particularly useful against heavy fortifications The Dzungar Khanate used camel mounted miniature cannons in battle 2 89 Gunpowder weapons like guns and cannons were used by both sides during the Dzungar Qing Wars 2 95 After their invention in 1861 Gatling guns were mounted on camels as well References Edit Iqtidar Alam Khan 2004 Gunpowder and Firearms Warfare in Medieval India Oxford University Press p 109 ISBN 978 0 19 566526 0 At the Third Battle of Panipat 1761 Ahmed Shah Abdali had 2000 shaturnals which indicates that the popularity of these particular type of firearm was growing in the subcontinent down to the middle of the eighteenth century a b Millward James A 2007 Eurasian Crossroads A History of Xinjiang Columbia University Press ISBN 978 0 231 13924 3 External links EditBiblomania Free Online Literature and Study Guides Hobson Jobson digital library upenn edu women sheil persia 185 jpeg an image Answers com entry citing 1913 Webster s Dictionary Thefreedictionary com entry Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zamburak amp oldid 1127523146, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
