Hey guys.
I wanted to start with the blog, and perhaps offer a first structural format to the project.
War, although is s bit of a narrow topic when compared to the whole civilization, is still quite broad. Perhaps we could start by either dividing war into sub-categories and describe them briefly while we advance in time along history.
A couple of these sub-categories could be:
a.) weapons by user: What person, or military unit uses the weapon.
b.) weapons by function: The construction of the weapon ans principle of operation.
c.) weapons by target: Type of target the weapon is designed to attack.
Now, these categories are not mutually exclusive, we should probably pick one and stick to it, or the will overlap (no problem with that, but it bothers my sense of organization..lol).
I would propose to go with the ''by function'' category, and here is why: If you check Wikipedia (which is where these categories are from) you will see that for example the ''by user'' category is still quite broad in itself. For example ''vehicle weapons'' the list of vehicle weapons is quite large and there are probably sub-sub-sub categories inside it; It seems to me that we will be doing meaningless listing and we don't have enough time for that.
The category "by target" is more specific, but as you can check by yourselves, it spans very modern times (Aircraft, submarine, satellite, tanks...etc) and we would have empty hand for older periods...its not evenly distributed along the time axis ;)
On the other hand, the "by function'' (or purpose) category is perfect for us. It spans all the historical eras and since its based on the functionality of the weapon, we wouldn't be doing meaningless listing, but instead, we would describe why they are good for that purpose from the material-science point of view.
If you have a better structure, post it, and we could discuss it.
Cheers,
Luis
PS: Here is the classification of weapons by functions:
- Antimatter weapons (theoretical) would combine matter and antimatter to cause a powerful explosion.
- Archery weapons operate by using a tensioned string and bent solid to launch a projectile.
- Artillery are firearms capable of launching heavy projectiles over long distances, which can explode on impact.
- Biological weapons spread biological agents, causing disease or infection.
- Chemical weapons, poisoning and causing reactions.
- Energy weapons rely on concentrating forms of energy to attack, such as lasers or sonic attack.
- Explosive weapons use a physical explosion to create blast concussion or spread shrapnel.
- Firearms use a chemical charge to launch projectiles.
- Improvised weapons are common objects, reused as weapons, such as crowbars and kitchen knives.
- Incendiary weapons cause damage by fire.
- Non-lethal weapons are designed to subdue without killing.
- Magnetic weapons use magnetic fields to propel projectiles, or to focus particle beams.
- Mêlée weapons operate as physical extensions of the user's body and directly impact their target.
- Missiles are rockets which are guided to their target after launch. (Also a general term for projectile weapons).
- Nuclear weapons use radioactive materials to create nuclear fission and/or nuclear fusion detonations.
- Primitive weapons make little or no use of technological or industrial elements.
- Ranged weapons (unlike Mêlée weapons), target a distant object or person.
- Rockets use chemical propellant to accelerate a projectile
- Suicide weapons exploit the willingness of their operator to not survive the attack.
- Trojan weapons appear on face value to be gifts, though the intent is to in some way harm the recipient.
