3 barreled machine gun
A machine gun with three barrels; it is similar to the model with 8 barrels, but it is heavier. The model includes the innovative, ogival bullets with fins to stabilize the trajectory.
We can suppose it was effectively used in the conflict between Venice and the Turks both on the mainland and at sea: a machine gun that could be towed or placed on a war galley.
The circumlightning machine gun
A rotating platform is lodged in a war ship; on this platform there are 12 cannons and thus a broad range of fire is ensured in the attack phase.
The structure is rotating: underneath there is a sort of toothed wheel moved by a sprocket; the whole, with adjustable sight.
In Leonardo’s opinion the juxtaposed cannons had to shoot contemporarily so that to neutralize the recoil and ensure the stability of the hull.
Catapult a crossbow
In his early period and when he was at the Court of Ludovico il Moro, Leonardo reconsiders the war weapons from ancient Greek-Roman times such as the crossbow , the catapult, the scorpio, the mangonel, the aggression ladder, the ramming ship and the trebuchet (the only new machine in the Middle Ages).
He “makes them more modern” in order to improve their efficiency and potentialities. This particular design uses a double leaf spring (in yew, elm, ash) to produce an enormous amount of energy for propelling stone projectiles materials, over great distances.
The loading of the two large leaf springs was accomplished using a hand crank on the side of the catapult.
8 barreled machine gun
In Leonardo’s time fire artillery is of great relevance in military conflicts: from the medieval assault to the castle “soldiery” becomes field battle and in lands farther and farther away. The realization of firearms is the craftsmen’s responsibility; the urgent problem to solve is the cooling of the barrels after the shooting.
Leonardo proposes various projects among which there is the machine gun: the increase of barrels (up to 33) enables their cooling and, therefore, a greater shooting intensity. In the model, the spingard is equipped with wheels to move it and a device to adjust the trajectory.
