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A ranged weapon^{[dubious – discuss]} is any weapon that can engage targets beyond hand-to-hand distance, i.e. at distances greater than the physical reach of the user holding the weapon itself. The act of using such a weapon is also known as shooting. It is sometimes also called projectile weapon or missile weapon because it typically works by launching solid projectiles ("missiles"), though technically a fluid-projector (which throws out pressurized streams of liquid or even gas) and a directed-energy weapon (which does not involve any tangible projectile) are also ranged weapons. In contrast, a weapon intended to be used in hand-to-hand combat is called a melee weapon.

Ranged weapons give the attacker an advantage (especially when performing an ambush) because the target is often getting hit from beyond immediate visual range, therefore making it more difficult for the defenders to react and hit back effectively.^[1] It also puts distance between the attacker and the opponent, which is a safer combat option since the close physical contact during melee fights often puts the attacker within the immediate striking range of enemy counterattacks and thus at an equal risk of getting hurt or killed.

The line between ranged and melee weapons is not entirely definite; for instance, spears, axes, daggers, and knives can be used for both throwing and hand-to-hand combat, depending on purpose and situation, and a ranged weapon can also be used as a melee weapon in close encounters, such as the buttstock of a rifle used for butt-stroking, a rifle with a bayonet fixed to the front end used as an improvised spear, a handgun used for pistol-whipping, and even an arrow being used as a hand pick in desperate situations.

Early ranged weapons often included specifically designed hand-thrown weapons such as darts, javelins, slings, as well as elastic weapons such as slingshots, bows and crossbows; and more complex siege engines like stone throwers, catapults, ballistas and trebuchets. These ranged weapons were extremely effective in ancient and early medieval warfare, especially when used en masse, as they gave the wielder an opportunity to launch multiple rounds of attack before an enemy armed with melee weapons or shorter-ranged missile weapons could even get close enough to pose a threat. After the invention of gunpowder and the development of firearms, gun-type pneumatic ranged weapons became the dominant weapon of choice in armed conflicts, even in close combat. In modern warfare, ranged weaponry is also used both tactically and strategically in the form of long-range artilleries, rockets, guided missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (aka drones). The maximum effective range of a weapon is the greatest distance from which the weapon can be fired while still consistently inflicting casualties or damage. When a modern missile can be launched from beyond the effective range of counterattack, it is termed a standoff missile.

List of ranged weapons

Prehistoric, ancient, and medieval period

Hand-thrown
- Barehanded
  - Bolas
  - Dart
  - Plumbata
  - Spear
  - Swiss arrow
  - Throwing axe
    - Francisca
    - Hunga Munga
    - Hurlbat
    - Mbanja
    - Nzappa zap
    - Tomahawk
  - Throwing knife
  - Throwing stick
    - Boomerang
    - Knobkierrie
    - Rungu
    - Valari
- Leverage-enhanced
  - Amentum
  - Atlatl (spear-thrower)
  - Kestros
  - Sling
  - Woomera
Elastic propulsion
Pneumatic
- Blowgun
Explosive propulsion
- Fire lance
  - Hand cannon (e.g. Heilongjiang hand cannon, Xanadu Gun)
  - Cetbang
  - Arquebus
  - Tanegashima
- Swivel gun
Rocket propulsion
- Fire arrow
- Huolongchushui
Siege weapon
- Via mechanical leverage
  - Trebuchet / couillard
    - Mangonel
- Via elasticity
  - Catapult
    - Onager
    - Ballista
      - Scorpion
      - Polybolos
  - Bed crossbow
- Via Explosive propulsion
  - Cannon (e.g. Wuwei Bronze Cannon)
  - Bombard (e.g. Faule Grete, Faule Mette, Pumhart von Steyr, Grose Bochse)
  - Mortar

Early modern period

Pneumatic-propelled
- Airgun (e.g. Girandoni air rifle)
Explosive-propelled
- Musket
- Wheellock
- Snaplock / snaphance / miquelet lock
- Doglock
- Flintlock
- Che Dian Chong
- Pistol
- Blunderbuss
- Musketoon
- Wall gun
- Field gun
- Culverin / demi-culverin
- Hongyipao
- Hand mortar
- Coehorn
- Zamburak
- Hwacha
- Breech-loading swivel gun
- Siege cannon (e.g. Abus Gun, Dardanelles Gun, and Tsar Cannon)

Late modern and contemporary period

Most modern projectile weapons fall into the broader category of either direct fire or indirect fire, with the former often being regarded as guns and the latter as artillery. While some are small and light enough to be operated by individuals (i.e. small arms and grenade launchers), most require a team of individuals to service, maneuver and operate.

Small arms and light weapons
- Handgun
- Long gun
  - Rifled musket
  - Shotgun
  - Rifle
    - Single-shot rifle
    - Repeating rifle (e.g. revolving rifle, carbine, battle rifle, assault rifle, DMR/sniper rifle, etc)
  - Submachine gun / personal defense weapon
  - Squad automatic weapon / light machine gun
- Grenade launcher
Crew-served weapon
Heavy weapon and vehicle-mounted weapon systems
Artillery
Rocket weaponry
- Rocket launcher
  - Rocket-propelled grenade / shoulder-fired missile
  - Rocket artillery
    - Rocket pod
    - Multiple rocket launcher
- Guided missile
Torpedo
Flamethrower
Water cannon / waterjet disruptor
Aerial weapon
- Loitering munition (expendable warhead as UCAV)

Future and conceptual weapon period

High-acceleration linear motor

Directed energy weapon

References

^ McDonald, James. "Medieval Weapons". Medieval Weapons & Armour. Retrieved 22 May 2015.

External links

Short Bows and Long Bows: Scaling effects in archery
Sling Weapons—Their evolution
The Sling – Ancient Weapon
"Secrets of Lost Empires: Medieval Siege" (building of and history of trebuchets), from the NOVA website
Modern and Civil War Era Cannon Information (Wayback Machine copy)

[1] McDonald, James. "Medieval Weapons". Medieval Weapons & Armour. Retrieved 22 May 2015.

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{short description|Any weapon that can engage targets beyond hand-to-hand distance}}
 {{Refimprove|date=January 2017}}
-[[Image:Battle of crecy froissart.jpg|thumb|300px|A period illustration of the [[Battle of Crécy]].  English longbowmen figure prominently in the
+[[Image:Battle of crecy froissart.jpg|thumb|300px|A period illustration of the [[Battle of Crécy]]. English longbowmen figure prominently in the
 foreground at right where they drive away the French [[crossbow]]men.]]
-A '''ranged weapon'''{{Dubious|1=Real term?|reason=Seems to be a term in gaming, not in real life.|date=July 2022}} is any [[weapon]] that can engage targets beyond hand-to-hand distance, i.e. at distances greater than the physical reach of the user holding the weapon itself.  The act of using such a weapon is also known as [[shooting]].  It is sometimes also called '''projectile weapon''' or '''missile weapon''' because it typically works by launching solid [[projectile]]s ("missiles"), though technically a [[fluid]]-projector (which throws out [[jet (fluid)|pressurized stream]]s of [[liquid]] or even [[gas]]) and a [[directed-energy weapon]] (which does not involve any tangible projectile) are also ranged weapons.  In contrast, a weapon intended to be used in [[hand-to-hand combat]] is called a [[melee weapon]].
+A '''ranged weapon'''{{Dubious|1=Real term?|reason=Seems to be a term in gaming, not in real life.|date=July 2022}} is any [[weapon]] that can engage targets beyond hand-to-hand distance, i.e. at distances greater than the physical reach of the user holding the weapon itself. The act of using such a weapon is also known as [[shooting]]. It is sometimes also called '''projectile weapon''' or '''missile weapon''' because it typically works by launching solid [[projectile]]s ("missiles"), though technically a [[fluid]]-projector (which throws out [[jet (fluid)|pressurized stream]]s of [[liquid]] or even [[gas]]) and a [[directed-energy weapon]] (which does not involve any tangible projectile) are also ranged weapons. In contrast, a weapon intended to be used in [[hand-to-hand combat]] is called a melee weapon.
-Ranged weapons give the attacker an advantage, since the target is often getting hit from beyond immediate visual range, therefore making it more difficult for the defenders to react and hitting back effectively.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McDonald|first1=James|title=Medieval Weapons|url=http://www.medievalwarfare.info/weapons.htm#ranged|website=Medieval Weapons & Armour|access-date=22 May 2015}}</ref>  It also puts distance between the attacker and the opponent, which is a safer combat option since the close physical contact during melee fights often puts the attacker within the immediate striking range of enemy counterattacks and thus at an equal risk of getting hurt or killed.
+Ranged weapons give the attacker an advantage (especially when performing an [[ambush]]) because the target is often getting hit from beyond immediate visual range, therefore making it more difficult for the defenders to react and hit back effectively.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McDonald|first1=James|title=Medieval Weapons|url=http://www.medievalwarfare.info/weapons.htm#ranged|website=Medieval Weapons & Armour|access-date=22 May 2015}}</ref> It also puts distance between the attacker and the opponent, which is a safer combat option since the close physical contact during melee fights often puts the attacker within the immediate striking range of enemy counterattacks and thus at an equal risk of getting hurt or killed.
-The line between ranged and melee weapons is not entirely definite; for instance, [[spear]]s, [[axe]]s, [[dagger]]s, and [[Knife|knives]] can be used for both throwing and [[strike (attack)|striking]], depending on purpose and situation, and a ranged weapon can also be used as a melee weapon in [[close quarter combat|close encounters]], such as the [[buttstock]] of a [[rifle]] used for [[butt-stroking]] with a fixed [[bayonet]], a [[handgun]] used for [[pistol-whipping]], and even an [[arrow]] being used as a hand weapon in desperate situations.
+The line between ranged and melee weapons is not entirely definite; for instance, [[spear]]s, [[axe]]s, [[dagger]]s, and [[Knife|knives]] can be used for both [[throwing]] and hand-to-hand combat, depending on purpose and situation, and a ranged weapon can also be used as a melee weapon in [[close quarter combat|close encounters]], such as the [[buttstock]] of a [[rifle]] used for [[butt-stroking]], a rifle with a [[bayonet]] fixed to the front end used as an improvised spear, a [[handgun]] used for [[pistol-whipping]], and even an [[arrow]] being used as a [[ice pick#Use as weapon|hand pick]] in desperate situations.
-Early ranged weapons often included specifically designed hand-thrown weapons such as [[dart (missile)|darts]], [[javelin (weapon)|javelins]], [[sling (weapon)|slings]], as well as more complex elastic weapons such as [[bow and arrow|bows]] and [[crossbows]]; and [[siege engine]]s like [[stone throwers]], [[catapult]]s, [[ballista]]s and [[trebuchet]]s.  These ranged weapons were extremely effective in [[ancient warfare|ancient]] and [[early medieval|early]] [[medieval warfare]], especially when used ''en masse'', as they gave the wielder an opportunity to launch multiple rounds of attack before an enemy armed with melee weapons or shorter-ranged missile weapons could even get close enough to pose a threat.
+Early ranged weapons often included specifically designed hand-thrown weapons such as [[dart (missile)|dart]]s, [[javelin (weapon)|javelin]]s, [[sling (weapon)|sling]]s, as well as elastic weapons such as [[slingshot]]s, [[bow and arrow|bow]]s and [[crossbow]]s; and more complex [[siege engine]]s like [[lithobolos|stone throwers]], [[catapult]]s, [[ballista]]s and [[trebuchet]]s. These ranged weapons were extremely effective in [[ancient warfare|ancient]] and [[early medieval|early]] [[medieval warfare]], especially when used ''en masse'', as they gave the wielder an opportunity to launch multiple rounds of attack before an enemy armed with melee weapons or shorter-ranged missile weapons could even get close enough to pose a threat. After the invention of [[gunpowder]] and the development of [[firearm]]s, [[gun]]-type pneumatic ranged weapons became the dominant weapon of choice in [[armed conflict]]s, even in [[close combat]]. In [[modern warfare]], ranged weaponry is also used both [[military tactics|tactically]] and [[military strategy|strategically]] in the form of long-range [[artillery|artilleries]], [[rocket (weapon)|rockets]], [[guided missile]]s, and [[unmanned aerial vehicle|unmanned aerial vehicles (aka drones)]]. The maximum effective range of a weapon is the greatest distance from which the weapon can be fired while still consistently inflicting casualties or damage. When a modern missile can be launched from beyond the effective range of counterattack, it is termed a [[standoff missile]].
-After the invention of [[gunpowder]] and the development of [[firearm]]s, [[gun]]-type pneumatic ranged weapons became the dominant weapon of choice in [[armed conflict]]s, even in [[close combat]].  In [[modern warfare]], ranged weaponry is also used both [[military tactics|tactically]] and [[military strategy|strategically]] in the form of long-range [[artillery|artilleries]], [[Rocket (weapon)|rockets]] and [[guided missile]]s. The maximum effective range of a weapon is the greatest distance from which the weapon can be fired while still consistently inflicting casualties or damage.
 == List of ranged weapons ==
@@ Line 18: / Line 16: @@
 [[Image:Pilum lg.jpg|thumb|right| [[Anastylosis|Reconstruction]] of a [[Marian reforms|post-Marian]] [[pilum]]]]
 {{div col|colwidth=30em}}
-<!--
-- Shouldn't stones/rocks also be on this list both as the oldest known ranged and melee weapons?
-  ** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_throwing
-- Should mines, (terrestrial and aquatic), also be in the list of ranged weapons?
--->
 * [[Hand-thrown]]
 ** [[Barehanded]]
-*** [[Shuriken]]
-*** [[Kunai]]
 *** [[Bolas]]
-*** [[Chakram]]
 *** [[Dart (missile)|Dart]]
-*** [[Javelin (weapon)|Javelin]] / ''[[pilum]]''
 *** [[Plumbata]]
 *** [[Spear]]
@@ Line 75: / Line 62: @@
 * [[Siege weapon]]
 ** Via [[leverage (mechanics)|mechanical leverage]]
-*** [[Mangonel]]
 *** [[Trebuchet]] / [[couillard]]
+****[[Mangonel]]
 ** Via [[elastic energy|elasticity]]
 *** [[Catapult]]
+**** [[Onager (weapon)|Onager]]
+**** [[Ballista]]
+***** [[Scorpio (weapon)|Scorpion]]
+***** [[Polybolos]]
 *** [[Chinese siege weapons#Bed crossbow|Bed crossbow]]
-*** [[Onager (weapon)|Onager]]
-*** [[Ballista]]
-**** [[Scorpio (weapon)|Scorpion]]
-**** [[Polybolos]]
 ** Via [[Explosive]] [[propulsion]]
 *** [[Cannon]] (e.g. [[Wuwei Bronze Cannon]])
@@ Line 195: / Line 182: @@
 **** [[Cruise missile]]
 ***** [[Submarine-launched cruise missile]]
-*** [[Torpedo]]
+* [[Torpedo]]
-*** [[Flamethrower]]
+* [[Flamethrower]]
-*** [[Water cannon]] / [[Pigstick|waterjet disruptor]]
+* [[Water cannon]] / [[Pigstick|waterjet disruptor]]
 * Aerial weapon
 ** [[Loitering munition]] (expendable warhead as [[UCAV]])
@@ Line 207: / Line 194: @@
 ** [[Coilgun]]
 ** [[Helical railgun]]
+** [[Kinetic energy weapon]]
 {{div col|colwidth=30em}}
@@ Line 244: / Line 232: @@
 * [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/trebuchet/ "Secrets of Lost Empires: Medieval Siege" (building of and history of trebuchets)], from the ''[[Nova (American TV series)|NOVA]]'' website
 * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071021234122/http://www.cannoninfo.com/ Modern and Civil War Era Cannon Information] ([[Wayback Machine]] copy)
 {{Weapons}}
 {{Martial arts}}
+{{Military and war}}
 {{Authority control}}