Increasingly from the 11th century AD, East Asian armies used exploding missiles and siege cannon to reduce the fortifications of their enemies. These ranged from heavy siege cannon such as those used during the sige of P'yongyang during the Japanese invasion of the late 16th century, a weapon that would have been similar to those used in contemporary Europe, to Korean hwach'a, carts mounting over a hundred rockets wihich were used to batter the Japanese at Haengiu in 1593. This is a level of technology that would not become available in Europe until the 19th century in its infancy, and the Second World War before it was practical on the battlefield. This book details the design and use of the wide range of weaponry available.

Author Biography

Stephen Turnbull is the world's leading English language authority on medieval Japan and the samurai. He has travelled extensively in the far east, particularly in Japan and Korea and is the author of The Samurai - A Military History, as well as numerous books for Osprey. Wayne Reynolds was born in Leeds, UK, where he also attended art college. He has had a life-long passion for illustration, and since 1991 has worked as a professional artist. Wayne has provided illustrations and source material for many gaming companies, creating figures, landscapes and interiors, as well as providing core characterisation. He is perhaps best known though for his work on titles such as 2000AD, Slaine, and Judge Dredd. A recent arrival to the Osprey stable, Wayne is also a keen modeller and historical re-enactor.