Sassanid Empire Siege Artillery

Sassanid Large Onager

One of the simplest forms of one-armed catapult, the onager relied on twisted skeins of animal sinew which provided the power to hurl either rocks or shot. Inaccurate but powerful, it was an effective siege machine against buildings and fortifications, but was of far less use on the battlefield unless firing into massed infantry ranks. First mentioned by Philon of Byzantium in his treatise on ‘Mechanics’, the onager made use of a sling-like cradle attached to a firing arm. This arm was inserted, twisted, and propelled rocks or shot through torsion. As the firing arm was released, the sling-like cradle would unhook, firing the projectile. A padded beam was incorporated into the housing frame to restrain the arm. Larger machines could require as many as eight or ten crewmen, and the incredible recoil meant that they could not be easily or safely mounted on walls or towers. Quickly constructed wherever wood was readily available, onagers soon became a staple of ancient siege warfare.

Unit Name Sassanid Large Onager

Main Unit Key att_est_sassanid_onager_large

Land Unit Key att_est_sassanid_onager_large

Naval Unit Key att_lon_light_tra_ger

Soldiers 40

Category Siege Engine

Class Siege Artillery

Custom Battle Cost 1350

Recruitment Cost 1350

Upkeep Cost 825

Missile Damage 400

├ Engine att_onager_large

├ Missile Weapon att_onager_large

├ Projectile att_rock_normal_large

├ Missile Damage 200

├ Missile Ap Damage 200

└ Base Reload Time 34

Accuracy 0

Range 500

Reload 25

Rate of Fire 2

Ammunition 11

Melee Attack 12

Melee Damage 6

├ Melee Weapon att_dagger

├ Melee Base Damage 5

├ Armour-piercing Damage 1

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 0

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 7

Melee Defence 7

├ Base Defence 7

├ Shield att_none

└ Shield Defence 0

Armour 3

├ Armour att_cloth

├ Armour Defence 3

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 84

├ Man Entity att_infantry_very_light

├ Man Health 75

└ Bonus Hit Points 9

Morale 27

Abilities

• Barrage
  Loose projectiles more frequently for an extended period of time.

Attributes

• Cannot Run
  This unit cannot run and will only move at walking pace.

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses

Recuitment Requirement
Required Technology Cost 338 Upgrade From

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Sassanid Empire Sassanid Separatists