Mongolian ''Fire'' Arrow

By Crusader1307

Although developed by their Chinese “cousins”, Mongolian Forces were known to use explosive mounted at the end of specially designed arrows. Around 15 to 20 inches long, a small bamboo or wooden cylinder would be strapped (or similarly mounted), to the upper ¾ of the end of the arrow (just behind the base of the arrowhead. The weight and size were specifically designed to lower resistance (drag), when fired. Using a slow fuse (lit before being shot), the Fire Arrow was normally fire at a moderate to high trajectory level. At maximum point, gravity woud take effect. Depending on the timing of the fuse, The Fire Arrow could explode in the air or on target. They were effective for besieging villages from a distance (for cavalry to later exploit).