History of Weapons

Ranged weapons guaranty the warriors’ best chance of survival. International experts demonstrate in s experiments the most important ranged weapons in history. The quite clever design of the Roman spear promptly disables the enemy in battle. Thanks to the long bow, England becomes one of the most feared superpowers of the medieval. And with the emergence of the minié ball, battles become even bloodie. The futuristic ‘Railgun’ is extremely precise at a distance of several hundred kilometers.

Warfare enters a new dimension with the attack from above. Spectacular experiments reveal the secret of weapons that became keys to transport war up in the air. Early on, archers besiege with devastating incendiary arrows. Long before airplanes were invented, smart medieval army commanders design rockets. And since WW I, bomb attacks became part of the significant, but also most vicious war tactics. A.I. grows better and ever more independent. Will war drones soon autonomously decide when to strike?

Melee is probably the most original type of combat. Throughout history, armies develop ever more effective close combat weapons. In surprising experiments, weapons experts test the physical and psychological impact of the three most important melee developments of our time. The Roman short sword and the medieval war hammer aim most severe damages. But bayonets rely on the deterrent effect. An Exoskeleton gives superpowers to the soldier of the future. The future soldier – half man, half machine?

Weapons designed for everyone are a decisive advantage at war. International experts test the three most important weapons that can be learned very quickly. The crossbow transforms peasants into warriors that suddenly become a threat to the knight. Learning to use a pike is easy, but requires bravery. The Kalashnikov is, due to its rare simplicity, considered the world’s deadliest weapon ever existed. If 3D printed guns go into mass production, it will have a large impact on the future peace.

Throughout history, speed becomes a decisive feature of warfare. In spectacular experiments a team of international experts presents the most significant weapons of history where speed made a difference. The chariot brings mobility to the battles of the ancient world. Small handguns as Samuel Colt’s revolver launch a new era of war. And the weapon considered as the one symbol for asymmetric warfare is the sling. Will the Future laser cannon change warfare with the speed of light?

New weapons with devastating force shape the wars of the 20th century. International experts test the catastrophic effects of the most destructive weapons. Machine guns kill entire units within seconds. The hand grenade has such enormous power and can easily be carried in a backpack. And the most powerful war machine ever invented is the tank. Military scientists seek ever more demolition with least effort. Does the Russian ‘Father of all bombs’ finally reach all limits of conventional destruction?

War at sea – a new form of warfare with exceptional challenges. Weapons expert Stephen Bull tests the most significant three weapons of the sea. The Byzantines guarded the Greek fire as the secret super weapon that kept Constantinople save over 800 years. Experts build an original replica for an experiment that will demonstrate the thunderous force of a ship cannon. One of the most devastating missiles ever invented is the torpedo. And a subsonic torpedo might be ruling sea battles in the future.

Attacking the enemy in an ambush is a devastating advantage at war. Weapons that stayed undetected until their very strike revolutionized warfare. The caltrop brought down the cavalry when it made entire battlefields impassible. Being able to load and fire a rifle from a lying position made a huge difference in the course of warfare. The insidious land mine weakens every left over moral of the enemy’s Army. What if, in the future, the soldiers’ cover becomes invisibility?

Wars become even bloodier as new technologies keep evolving. An international team of experts tests the deadliest weapons upgrades in the history of warfare. Designed to penetrate solid armor, the Scorpio makes use of the power of torsion. With the long sword Europe knights slaughter their opponents on the medieval battlefield. And Henry’s rifle changed future wars with a revolutionary design – the lever action. A futuristic image of a combat robot army can be the next generation of infantry.

Mostly, civilians are the ones suffering from waging a war. Experts track down three weapons that were used to recklessly attack civilian populations. With no regard for civilian casualties, the trebuchet hurls heavy stones against solid castle walls. Deploying Biological weapons is a chance to conquer a fortress without destroying it. Designed to put an end to World War II, the atomic bomb embodies fear and terror to this day. A cyber war can be most devastating – it will affect our all reality.