Mounted arquebusiers, spring crossbows and cavalry battle order
Scorpion, viper spring-bow, paper cartridges and formations m n r t a b c d
This sheet joins missile weapons to battlefield tactics. Leonardo names a scorpion and a special crossbow, then a spring-driven launcher he calls the viper (vipera), whose two iron springs each catch an iron ring at their upper end, marked 1 and 2. He praises mounted arquebusiers armed with paper cartridges of powder and shot as a most useful invention, urging that they fight in squadrons like crossbowmen and that horses be accustomed to the noise. Dot diagrams down the margins set out the marching order of mounted crossbowmen (files m n r t a b c d) and of arquebusiers in the open field.
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Mounted arquebusiers with paper cartridges
Leonardo calls the mounted arquebusier a most useful invention. Each should carry a pouch of paper 'tails' filled with powder, and they should stand in squadrons like crossbowmen so that while one part fires the other loads. First the horses must be trained to the noise, or their ears stopped.
Viper spring-bow with paired springs 1 and 2
This crossbow has two iron springs; one takes at its upper end an iron ring on one side and the other on the opposite side, as shown at 1 and 2.
Battle order of mounted crossbowmen (m n r t a b c d)
In an order of eight lines for the open field, all wheeling left, files m n draw back to reload while r t advance with loaded crossbows; a b return unloaded to reload and c d meet the enemy. Spent shooters pass through the middle so that the loaded crossbows on the outside frighten any surrounding enemy.
Specifications for the crossbow bow
The bow of a crossbow should not exceed 7 pounds, and when spanned to the nut should not travel more than a third of its length. It should be broad and thin, made of steel welded between two plates of soft iron.