Chinese Ming Huo You

By Crusader1307

Translated into “”Fierce Oil Fire”, this device was possibly one of the first flame throwing devices in history. The device was designed to shoot liquid oil at a target, after which archers would fire fire arrows (thus igniting the substance). In addition to petroleum, animal fat could be deployed as well. The device (a wooden wheeled box) would produce compressed air (via bellows). A tube or hollowed directional arm would serve as the “nozzle”. Seen in The Liao Dynasty (9th to 11th Centuries), The “Fire Box” was comparable to Greek Fire.