Mangonel can refer to:
- Mangonel (Stronghold Crusader)
- Mangonel (Stronghold 2)
- Mangonel (Stronghold Crusader 2)
Description
The mangonel is a defence engine that is mounted in a tower with a stable foundation. It operates similarly to the catapult, but instead of big rocks, it hurls a handful of smaller rocks with great inaccuracy that are capable of dealing fatal damage to friend and foe alike. Mangonels are operated by engineers and are destroyed when their host tower crumbles.
Background
A mangonel with a sling
Mangonels are mechanic engines that operate the same way as catapults. They were capable of catapulting smaller-sized ammunition, mostly smaller rocks, pots and optionally carcasses from their pots (instead of a sling that catapults did use). It is also easier to reload and fire this way. Due to this setup, the mangonel is more of an anti-personnel weapon than an actual demolisher engine and actually found utility in defenses' big towers. Tower mangonels were effective at inflicting unwanted casualties when a charge was led against the castle walls.