Mongol Rocket Arrows and Fire Arrows

Timeline

1. 1200–1241From the Mongolian Plateau to the Eastern European Steppe · Steppe ZoneThe Mongol army continued the steppe tribes' incendiary practices, wrapping arrowheads or binding them to shafts with grease and hemp cloth to make fire arrows for burning enemy camps, pasture, and wooden fortifications. During the western campaign into Eastern Europe, simple rockets with gunpowder tubes attached were already used for psychological intimidation and arson.
2. 1251From Karakorum to Persia · PersiaAfter Möngke Khan's accession, imperial armaments from all fronts were consolidated; when Hulegu campaigned west into Persia, his army carried fire arrows, rockets, and Greek fire for reducing the Assassins' fortresses and burning city defenses. Kublai's forces against the Song also obtained gunpowder-arrow technology from surrendered Jin and Song artisans, making incendiary warfare an auxiliary means of siege and open battle.
3. 1256–1260Assassins' mountain fortresses · IranThe Mongol army deployed fire arrows, rockets, huihui pao trebuchets, and Greek-fire siphons in combination: first using rockets to set fires and disrupt the defenders, then heavy trebuchets to breach the walls. Artisans from the Central Plains and Western Regions supplied gunpowder formulas and launching devices, making incendiary weapons a component of the empire's combined-arms warfare.