Storm pot
Stormpot (also Sturmhafen or Sturmhaferl ) refers to a weapon that was used from the late Middle Ages to modern times for the defense of fixed installations (castles and fortresses) as well as for attack (storm, hence the name).
construction
The first storm pots very likely consisted of already existing clay or ceramic vessels, which in the event of a siege were quickly converted into appropriate "improvised" ordnance by the crew of the besieged castle or fortress. Jugs of all kinds and shapes were particularly suitable for this. Either they were already available on site or they could be produced relatively inexpensively and with simple means.
These containers were filled with a flammable mixture (either solid or liquid) or directly with black powder and sealed tightly. This was done by tying with a linen cloth, which was sealed with pitch or other impregnating agents. Also parchment and rawhide was used. Some contemporary authors of Fireworks and war books also recommended a thick layer of tallow (suet) or lard on the incendiary.
After the incendiary or explosive mixture had been filled in and the opening had been sealed, fuses ( fuses ) were then tied to the outside of the handles.
commitment
For the operation only the fuses had to be lit and the storm pot then hurled at the attacker. Upon impact, the outer shell broke and the now released contents were set on fire by means of the externally attached fuse.
In the beginning, household and utility ceramics were used for the construction of these weapons, but over time a real industry developed, which mass-produced storm pots in factories. These were then increasingly adapted to the needs of the client. For example, they became more manageable and got more handles for tying up several fuses in order to guarantee an even safer ignition.
variants
In addition to the incendiary or explosive mixture introduced, hand grenades and / or small self- shot elements (so-called blows or murder blows ) could also be placed in the storm pot. These were then ignited and thrown out by the sentence contained during the impact, but then often only ignited with a time delay in the area and thus caused additional damage.
Two related weapons are the blind pot and the stink pot .
In the case of the blinding pot, the original versions have been preserved that contain unslaked lime instead of the incendiary or explosive filling . This could also be offset with tails (so-called crow's feet). Upon impact, the outer shell of the blind shattered and released the unslaked lime in the form of a cloud of dust. If an attacker came into such a cloud, the lime could burn the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and throat and make him "blind". Blinded in this way, there was a very high probability of stepping into one of the traps contained, which in turn led to injuries as they were often barbed.
The stink pot contained a mixture that released a foul-smelling or even poisonous smoke when burned to affect the opponent in this way.
The surviving inventory lists of numerous arsenals and armories show storm pots of various types and numbers. Originals can still be found today e.g. B. in the holdings of the art collections of the Veste Coburg .
literature
- Alfred Geibig: Storm Vessels / Lime and Fire Pots . In: The power of fire - serious fireworks of the 15th - 17th centuries in the mirror of its neuter tradition . Art collections of the Veste Coburg, Coburg 2012, ISBN 978-3-87472-089-2 , p. 31-46 .
- Vannoccio Biringuccio : De la Pirotechnika . Venice 1540.
- Hans Georg Schirvatt: Art and artillery book . Southern Germany 1622, p. 43r ( online [accessed on February 6, 2016] Bayerische StaatsBibiliothek Munich, BSB-Hss Cod.icon. 232. Illustration of a storm pot).
Web links
- Andreas Franzkoiwak: storm pots. In: www.bummsbrigade.de. Retrieved February 2, 2016 .