| _2 War Machines |
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| _2xx Macchine da guerra |
| 201 ~
Multi-cannon gunship
~ Codex
Atlanticus, f. 1ar (1503-1505) |
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201_ca1r_01
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The design on the upper page is a multi-cannon
gunship (viewed from above) with 16 barrels and a complex central mechanism,
probably for moving and turning the “armored gunship” on
the water. The other lower design marks suggest the possible project
of a multi-cannon station on a mobile tower.
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| 202 ~ Mortar for fragmentation bombs ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 33r (1504) |
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202_ca1r_01
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202_ca1r_02
202_ca1r_03 |
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The drawing shows the effects of two different
kinds of charge: the mortar at the front fires bombs that - on impact
or when close to the target - explode into a cloud of metal shrapnel,
while the other mortar is loaded with stones or small-caliber iron balls
which are fired at the enemy like grape-shot.
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| 203 ~ Assault Bridge ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 1074r (1500) |
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203_ca1074r_01
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203_ca1074r_02
203_ca1074r_03 |
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Tthere are two versions of a military assault bridge in the manuscript. Designed to be dragged or pushed across to the opposite bank of a river, the shield at the front and the wooden roof give protection to the soldiers. In the second version, the prow can be opened from inside and the bridge is steered by a helm at the back.
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| 204 ~ Machine Gun ~ Manuscript B, f. 82v (1503,1505) |
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204_mB82v_01
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204_mB82v_01
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Questa particolare imbarcazione che sembra dotata di una serie di bombarde a ripetizione, è in realtà un'ipotesi, una sorta di esperimento mentale per neutralizzare gli effetti del contraccolpo. Diversamente a quanto lascia credere il disegno, Leonardo annota che lo sparo deve avvenire simultaneamente in due bombarde contrapposte.
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| 205 ~
Armored Car ~ London,
British Museum, single folio (1487) |
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205_BB1030_01
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205_BB1030_02
205_BB1030_03 |
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The armored car in the drawing is powered by all
four wheels using a system of levers. It can fire in all directions. |
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| 206 ~ Scythed Chariots ~ Turin, Biblioteca Reale, f. 15583r (1485) |
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206_BB1030_01
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206_BB1030_02
206_BB1030_03 |
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The scythed chariot was a lethal weapon used in
filed combat. Leonardo's version has rotating horizontal blades operated
by an axle-driven transmission system. |
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| 207 ~ Cannon Barrel ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 154br
(1478-1485) |
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207_ca154r_01
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207_ca154r_02
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These two pages show various ways of lifting a
cannon from the ground. On left of the bottom page the cannon barrel is
raised step by step to a cart using six vertical and two horizontal beams.
At the center the cannon barrel is transported on a 4 wheel cart alternatively
using lever and wedge. |
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| 208 ~ Spingarde ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 32r (1482) |
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208_ca32r_
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Here are two ideas for a spingarde. The first is
mounted on a horse tripod and has an adjustment for range-elevation using
pegs. The second has wheels and a cover to protect the artilleryman. There
are also some sketches of shells and a cart with a container for the explosive
charge. There is an interesting dart with retractable lateral wings. Also
noted are a number of formulae for making gunpowder. |
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| 209 ~ Giant Crossbow ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 149r (1500) |
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209_ca149r_01
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209_ca149r _02 |
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On the top sheet there are various designs for
cutting weapons, crossbows and cannons. The crossbows are wound up by screws.
At top left, there is a seven-bladed wheel and a quick-loading system for
cannons. At top right, there is a mortar mounted on a boat with a shield.
The second sheet shows a giant crossbow with a width of 42 arms’ lengths
(82 ft - 25 m). There are also two different methods shown for releasing
the cord in traction, using a hammer or a lever. |
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| 210 ~ Steam Cannon ~ Manuscript B, f. 33v (1488) |
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007_ca33v_ 01
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007_ca33v_02
007_ca33v_03
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Questo cannone che fu realmente costruito duecento anni dopo che Leonardo ne aveva fermata l'idea sulla carta (durante la guerra di secessione americana), funziona utilizzando come propulsione l'espansione del vapore. Quando la culatta del cannone è incandescente, attraverso una valvola, vi si immette dell'acqua che, trasformandosi immediatamente in vapore, si espande generando la forza necessaria al lancio del proiettile. |
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| 211 ~ Catapult ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 140abr (1485-1490) |
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211_ca140r_01
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211_ca140r_02 |
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There are many plans for catapults. This particular design uses a double leaf spring to produce an enormous amount of energy for propelling stone projectiles or incendiary materials, over great distances. The loading of the two large leaf springs was accomplished using a hand crank on the side of the catapult. |
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| 212 ~ Multi-barrelled Machine Gun ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 157r (1482) |
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212_ca157r_01
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212_ca157r_02
212_ca157r_03 |
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This machine gun had considerable firepower. Once the cannons were loaded and ready to be fired, a broad range of fire was ensured. Because the gun carriage was easily moveable, it could be aimed at different objectives as necessary. The altitude of the cannon fire could be adjusted using a hand crank on the rear of the carriage. |
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| 213 ~ Fortress ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 117r (1507-1510) |
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213_ca117r_01
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213_ca117r_02
213_ca117r_03 |
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This is a design for a “modern” fortress.
To avoid the walls from becoming “head-on” targets for cannon
fire Leonardo suggests making them rounded, with no corners. The lower
walls do not have narrow slits and or any direct connection with the outside.
The foundations must be robust to prevent the enemy digging tunnels or
placing mines. In the center of the sketch, in the shaded area there is
a small bridge and the word “sotterranei” (vaults). |
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| 214 ~ Defense for Castle Walls ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 139r (1482-1510) |
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214_ca139r_01
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214_ca139r_02
214_ca139r_03 |
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This drawing, made long before the sketch in folio
133, shows defense systems for Medieval castles built with straight walls.
Traction devices inside the castle are worked by ropes or handles that
lever up a huge “rake” that pushes a horizontal beam out from
the walls. Assailants scaling the walls with long ladders are pushed back
away from the wall. At the bottom of the page there are details of how
the device is anchored to the walls. |
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| 215 ~ Ship’s Cannon with Protective Shield ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 172r (1487-1489) |
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215_ca172r_01
215_ca172r_04
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215_ca172r_02
215_ca172r_03
215_ca172r_05
215_ca172r_06 |
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This sheet, which has a red background, shows a
number of ideas for a ship with a cannon and moveable protective shield.
At the top, there are a number of winches and naval supports. At the bottom,
there are two drawings of the ship. There is a detailed study of the metal
point of the prow, especially in regard to the system for anchoring and
opening the shields. The two open and closed shields have different shapes
because of the difficulty of finding the correct geometrical format. The
shields are opened and closed by means of a winch set on the prow. |
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| 216 ~
Cart with foure drive wheels ~ Biblioteca
Reale,
f. 1030 (1485) |
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216_BB1030_01
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Progetto del Piano per la movimentazione del carroarmato
a trazione umana dotato di ruote chiodate per una migliore presa sul terreno. |
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| 217 ~ Spingarde - field artillery gun ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 32r |
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217_ca32r_01
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217_ca32r_02
217_ca32r_03 |
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Here are two ideas for a spingarde. The first is
mounted on a horse tripod and has an adjustment for range-elevation using
pegs. The second has wheels and a cover to protect the artilleryman. There
are also some sketches of shells and a cart with a container for the explosive
charge. There is an interesting dart with retractable lateral wings. Also
noted are a number of formulae for making gunpowder. |
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| 218 ~
Carro da guerra con pallo di piombo ~ Windsor,
Royal Library, f. 12653r (1485) |
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218_BB1030_01
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Variante del carro falciate, arma da combattimento campestre di tradizione antica. Questo modello di Leonardo monta dei micidiali palli di piombo. |
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| 219 ~ Carro da guerra con mazze ~ Windsor, Royal Library, f. 12653r (1485) |
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219_BB1030_01
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Variante del carro falciante, arma da combattimento campestre di tradizione antica. Questo modello di Leonardo monta delle micidiali mazze. |
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| 220 ~ Accendi cannone ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 158r |
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220_ca158r_01
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Meccanismo per aprire il cartoccio e, nello stesso tempo, dar fuoco alla carica. La miccia è stretta dalle ganasce del "serpente" e viene accesa quando si tira il grilletto. |
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| 221 ~
Weapons and armours ~ Manuscript
B |
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221_B_01
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221_B_02
221_B_03 |
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| 222 ~
Cannon-holder ~ Codex
Atlanticus, f. 3r |
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222_ca0003r
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The design for this cannon-holder is simple yet
functional. The entire structure is made of just the wheels and the two
axles of a cart that are connected to each other by the cannon itself,
which is inserted into two large metal rings and secured by a screw system
moved by a winch for each of the axles. Once it reaches its destination,
the cart is blocked with a stop for each of the wheels, also in metal,
thus blocking the whole structure during the explosion of a shot. The simplicity
of the structure would allow for easy replacement of a cannon directly
on the field. In fact, instead of having to lift the cannon to load and
transport it, it could be comfortably joined first to one axle of the cart
and then to the other . |
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| 223 ~
Strange crossbow ~ Manoscritto
B, f. 46v |
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223_B_46v
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| 224 ~
Ballista ~ Manoscritto
B, f. 7r |
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224_B_7r
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| 225 ~
Fire arrow ~ Manoscritto
B, f. 50v |
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225_B_50v
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| 226 ~
Double castle ~ Manoscritto
B, f. 12r |
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226_B_12r
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| 227 ~
Fire ball ~ Manoscritto
B, f. 4r |
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227_B_4r
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| 228 ~
Cannons test ~ Manoscritto
B, f. 32r |
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228_B_32r
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