Hwacha: Difference between revisions

The '''''hwacha''''' or '''''hwach'a''''' ({{lang-koKorean|hangul=화차}}; [[Hanja]]: {{lang|ko|hanja=火車}}; literally "|lit=fire cart"}}<ref name="Branch_" />) was a [[multiple rocket launcher]] and an [[organ gun]] of similar design which were developed in fifteenth century [[Korea]]. The former variant fired one or two hundred rocket-powered arrows<ref name="Kim Jaffe 2010" /><ref name="Haskew_" /> while the latter fired several dozen iron-headed arrows or bolts out of gun barrels. The term was used to refer to other [[War Wagon|war wagons]] or other cart-based artillery in later periods, such as that developed by Byeon Yijung in the 1590s.

Today, hwachasHwachas appear in Korean museums, national parks, and popular culture today.

[[File:Hwacha-1500s-painting2.jpg|thumb|Plans for Hwacha assembly and disassembly. Left mid and below are the front and rear of Singijeon rocket launcher modules, things at right are the front and rear of the munjong organ gun modules (Gukjo-orye-seorye, 1474)]]

Firearms were recognized by [[Goryeo]] military leaders as beingnecessary of utmost importance infor national defense. Constituting a particular threat werewas [[Wokou|Japanese raiders]], who frequently plundered coastal towns in increasing numbers from 1350 onward.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hazard|first=Benjamin H.|date=August 1973|title=The Creation of the Korean Navy During the Koryŏ Period|url=http://www.raskb.com/transactions/VOL48/KORS0749D_VOL48.pdf|journal=Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch|volume=XLVIII|pages=14|via=Royal Asiatic Society-Korea Branch|access-date=2019-09-03|archive-date=2016-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829155333/http://www.raskb.com/transactions/VOL48/KORS0749D_VOL48.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Gunpowder and firearms explicitly for combating them on the sea were imported from China in 1374<ref>{{Cite book|title=Science and Civilization in China, Volume 5: Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Part 7: Military Technology and the Gunpowder Epic|last=Needham|first=Joseph|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1986|isbn=0-521-30358-3|location=New York and Melbourne|pages=307}}</ref> but the necessary expertise for production was still restricted by Chinese government policy.

Local production did not begin until [[ChoeCh'oe Mu-seonsŏn]], having acquired the methods for purifying [[potassium nitrate]] from visiting Chinese merchants, accomplished it between 1374–13761374 and 1376.<ref name="Seoul National University" /> A government office for the development ofdeveloping gunpowder and firearms was established in 1377, with ChoeCh'oe appointed its head.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Science and Civilization in China, Volume 5: Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Part 7: Military Technology and the Gunpowder Epic|last=Needham|first=Joseph|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1986|isbn=0-521-30358-3|location=New York and Melbourne|pages=309–310}}</ref> A number ofSeveral weapons were developed here, based on Chinese designs, including [[hand-cannon]] and a series of rockets, in particular the ''juhwa''.<ref name="Korean Broadcasting System" />

The hwacha was a further developmentdeveloped from the juhwa and the [[singijeon]]. The first hwacha was developedcreated in Korea in 1409 during the [[Joseon Dynasty]] by several Korean scientists, including Yi DoTo ({{Korean|hangul=이도|labels=no}}, not to be mistaken for [[Sejong the Great]], evendue thoughto theirthe namessimilarity soundin similartheir names) and Choi[[Ch'oe Hae-san (최해산]], son of [[ChoeCh'oe MuseonMu-sŏn]]).<ref name="hwacha1" /><ref name="Annals Of the Joseon Dynasty-Taejong" />

Stronger and more effective hwachas were made in 1451 under the decree of King [[Munjong of Joseon|Munjong]], by the king himself and his younger brother Pe. ImYungIm-Yung (Yi Gu, {{Korean|hangul=임영대군 이구|labels=no}}). ThisThe "''Munjong Hwacha"'' is a well-known type that nowadays could fire 100 rocket arrows or could be used as a [[Volley gun]] type weapon capable of firing 200 smalldarts with 50 [[Chongtong]] bullets at one time with changeable modules. At the time, 50 units were deployed in [[Hanseong]] (present-day Seoul), and another 80 on the northern border. By the end of 1451, hundreds of hwachas were deployed throughout the peninsula.<ref name="hwacha1" /><ref name="Annals Of the Joseon Dynasty-Munjong" /> Another variant was the ''Mangam Hwacha''. A boxed cart with large faces of a ''[[dokkaebi]]'' painted on all three sides. Armed with forty ''seungja-chongtongs'' with fourteen in the front and thirteen on the left and right sides, it required two soldiers to operate, one firing and the other reloading. This weapon was capable of firing 600 bullets, with each barrel holding 15 shots.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jnilbo.com/view/media/view?code=2020052813470937591|title=백옥연의 문향, 가다가 멈추는 곳〉장성 봉암서원_망암 변이중|website=전남일보}}</ref>

Hwachas saw action most extensively against the Japanese during their invasions of Korea. The hwachas were mostlyprimarily placed in fortresses or citadels,<ref name="Ki-Baik Schultz 2005" /> and used defensively. They proved to be powerfuldecisive in many battles, and were most prominent in the [[Battle of Haengju]], in which 3,400 Koreans repelled 30,000 Japanese with the help of 40 hwachas. The Japanese [[samurai]] infantry, especially in the [[Battle of Haengju]], typically advanced in dense formations, presenting ideal targets for the hwacha.<ref name="Ki-Baik Schultz 2005" />

The ammunition, similar to the [[History of science and technology in China|ancient Chinese]] [[fire arrow]]s, consisted of a {{convert|1.1&nbsp;|m|abbr=on}} long arrow with the addition of a gunpowder-filled paper tube attached to the shaft just below the head. Approximately 100 projectiles were loaded and launched in one volley,<ref name="hwacha1" /> and had a range of up to 2000&nbsp;{{convert|2,000|m|abbr=on}}.

The back side of the hwacha featured two parallel arms that allowed the operator to push and pull the machine, and a vertical strip designed for in-line attacks or stand ground-sentry positions.<ref name="Rees 2001" /> [[File: Demonstration of the Mangam Hwacha.jpg|thumb|Mangam Hwacha firing its gun barrels at the Jangseong Army Artillery School demonstration.]]

TheWood wagon-likepivots wheelsand wereiron axles usually fastened bythe woodwagon-like pivots and iron axleswheels. In order toTo reduce friction between the wheels and the axles, [[tar]] oil was used.<ref name="Reynolds 2001" />

Hwachas were usually made of [[pinus koraiensis|pine]] wood, although there are some versionswere made of oak. The ropes used were usuallytypically made of [[hemp]].

The Korean army included siege engineers and blacksmiths in order to make repairs torepair the hwacha in case of damage due to poor road conditions, bad weather, or battle.<ref name="Rees 2001" />

The [[trajectory]] of the ''so'' projectiles was fairlyrelatively flat and – like other spinning projectiles – affected by the [[Magnus effect]]. Operators used to fire the weapon at an elevation of nearly 45° to maximisemaximize range. Adverse weather conditions (wind, humidity, rain) during a battle generally limited their striking distance to about {{convert|100&nbsp;|m|abbr=on}}.

Hwachas' range could be extended if the siege weapon was situated on a hill or other elevated place. Singijeon arrows from that position had a range of about {{convert|500 yards (≈450 meters)|yd|abbr=on}}.<ref name="usg1" />

A 15th-century account from the [[Annals of Joseon Dynasty]] tells of an experiment in which the singijeon fired from a hwacha completely pierced a scarecrow armed with a suit of armourarmor and shield, at the range of 80 paces (about {{convert|100&nbsp;|m|abbr=on}}).{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Hwachas were usually carried to battle and highly escorted. Once athe hwachaarmy washad setsettled updown in trenches or forbase combatcamps, the operators would useassemble the gunpowdersiege storedweapon inby aunpacking boot-likethe baglaunching tiedarray onand eachplacing igniterit toon betop usedof forthe eachwooden holeframe onof the machinecart. AfterIn this thatregard, the operatorsHwacha wereis ablesimilar to load the hwachaEuropean with[[trebuchet]], arrowswhich oralso ironwas spikestransported andin be readyparts to shoot.be Toassembled do so, they stepped back, covered their ears, and pulledon the ropebattlefield forbefore each igniteruse.<ref name="Reynolds 2001" usg1/>

AtOnce sea,a manoeuvreshwacha werewas slightlyset differentup andfor more complex becausecombat, the operatoroperators would needuse tothe findgunpowder stored in a proper[[boot]]-like andbag stabletied placeon toeach fire.igniter Someto Hwachabe operatorsused preferredfor toeach behole on the rowers'machine. deckAfterward, wherethe theyoperators werecould ableload tothe shoothwacha fromwith thearrows windows,or whileiron othersspikes preferred toand be onready theto mainshoot. deckTo do so, they couldstepped shootback, atcovered thetheir sailsears, and ofpulled the enemyrope ships.for Theseeach kind of manoeuvres were particularly seen on Korean [[Panokseon]] [[warship]]signiter.<ref name="Reynolds 2001" />

* [[RibauldequinHuo Che]]

| title = The newNew Korea: an inside look at South Korea's economic rise

| publisher = [[Korean Broadcasting System]]

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