Weapons have appeared since early in human history. Along with the development of human civilization and global conflicts, weapons have gradually become diverse, modern and dangerous.
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| Byzantine Empire sailors spray Greek fire at enemy ships. (Source: Heritage Images) |
From rocks to missiles, weapons of war have changed over time. Among the myriad of lethal weapons, some have emerged as revolutionary tools, changing the face of war and affecting the lives of millions.
Here are some of the weapons that the world's oldest encyclopedia, Britannica , considers to be the most deadly in history:
Greek Fire – Mysterious Weapon of the Middle Ages
Greek Fire is a famous chemical weapon, used by the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire) since the 7th century. This is a flammable mixture, capable of flaming strongly and is especially dangerous when spread over water.
Thanks to this power, Greek fire became a terror to enemies, especially in naval battles with the Arab fleet.
The exact formula for Greek fire remains a mystery. Theories suggest that the mixture consisted of petroleum, sulfur, and quicklime. When the quicklime came into contact with water, it created an exothermic reaction, causing the mixture to burn fiercely instead of going out. This property gave the Byzantines a distinct advantage in naval warfare.
Greek fire was sprayed from special tubes or contained in hand-thrown containers, similar to modern Molotov cocktails. Its terrifying power lay not only in its ability to destroy ships, but also in the psychological terror it caused, causing enemy troops to panic when faced with a fire that could not be extinguished with water.
Today, Greek fire remains a symbol of timeless military technology. A modern version of it is napalm, which was first used in World War II, causing massive damage in the air raids on Dresden and Tokyo in 1945.
Maxim Machine Gun – Symbol of Transformation
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German infantrymen using machine guns during World War I. (Source: Imperial War Museum) |
The 19th century marked a major turning point in weapons technology, with the birth of the Maxim machine gun in 1884. This was the world's first automatic gun, invented by American engineer Hiram Maxim. The gun operated by the recoil from each shot to reload and fire continuously, significantly increasing firepower without manual operation.
The Maxim typically fires 7.62mm or 8mm rounds, with a rate of fire of 500-600 rounds per minute. To prevent overheating, the gun is water-cooled through a water jacket surrounding the barrel. The ammunition feed system uses a long magazine, allowing hundreds of rounds to be fired without needing to be reloaded immediately.
However, the disadvantages of this weapon are its large weight and bulky design, making it difficult to move and deploy. In addition, its dependence on water for cooling means that the gun needs a constant water source to maintain its operation. However, with its high reliability and ability to fire continuously, the Maxim is still a formidable weapon.
The Maxim machine gun played an important role in many major wars such as the Boer Wars in South Africa (1880-1881 and 1899-1902), the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) and especially World War I (1914-1918). In particular, in trench warfare, the powerful firepower of the Maxim helped the army gain the upper hand.
The appearance of the Maxim machine gun completely changed military tactics, opening the era of modern warfare with the advantage belonging to armies possessing strong firepower. The Maxim was not only a weapon, but also a symbol of the transition from classical warfare to industrialized warfare.
Rifle: The main weapon of infantry
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A soldier of the Vietnam People's Army stands next to an AK-47, February 1973. (Source: US Department of Defense) |
A rifle is a long-barreled personal weapon designed to fire accurately at greater distances than pistols and other hand-held weapons. It has been the mainstay of infantry since the 19th century, with many significant improvements over time.
Modern rifles come in many variations, from assault rifles like the M16 and AK-47 to specialized sniper rifles like the Barrett M82. These rifles are often equipped with optical sights, silencers, and other accessories to increase combat effectiveness.
The AK-47 assault rifle is perhaps the iconic military weapon of the 20th century. Countless guerrilla, resistance, and revolutionary movements have used it. It is estimated that as many as 100 million AK-47s were in circulation by the early 21st century.
The role of the rifle is not only in attack, but also in tactical support, defense and area control. With its accuracy, long range and powerful firepower, the rifle remains an indispensable weapon in military forces around the world.
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