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Song Paddle-Wheel Warships

Type Object Region China Time c. 1129–1279

Paddle-wheel warships, among the main Song naval vessels, could sail against wind and current and played key roles in Southern Song-Mongol riverine w…

Timeline

  1. 1251Naval garrisons at Ezhou and Hanyang · Jinghu CircuitDuring Möngke Khan's southern campaign, the Southern Song assembled large paddle-wheel fleets on the middle Yangtze, driven by rotating blades unbound by wind, resisting the Mongol navy with fire weapons and striking poles to defend strategic points like Ezhou.
  2. c. 1256Lin'an Naval Supervisorate · Southern SongLarge paddle-wheel ships could exceed a thousand liao, with eight to twelve water wheels on each side, carrying ballistae, striking poles, and fire weapons; crews treaded wheels swiftly to ram or outflank enemy ships, forming the core equipment of Southern Song riverine sea control.

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