Fire Arrows & Incendiaries | The scourge of medieval ships

Welcome to another Q&A session about history. Today’s question has come from JOSH IN KENT, and he asked if fire arrows and incendiaries were used on medieval ships and if they had grenades. Well in this video Kevin Hicks answers this and shares his thoughts and experience on fire arrows, oil and incendiaries used at sea, in the medieval times.

#FireArrow #IncendiaryArrow #MedievalShips #SeaBattle

[PSDuck]

Well presented! There is no average presentations, they are all excellent, where you’re concerned.
Back on the day, a department manager asked me what the best, most fearsome home defense weapon was. Aside from a determined, armed and confident citizen, I told him “a flamethrower, but your wife wouldn’t want her new curtains scorched!” He knew I was kidding, and after a good laugh, we
got down to brass tacks and what worked for him and his wife. I told him the reason for my cheeky answer is that fear of fire (and heights) is hardwired into us.
It gives pause to think that in this day and age, criminals (and the average person) fear knives more than guns. And in the past, blades and bludgeon weapons were de rigueur. (Followed by quack doctors... giving certitude to the patient’s expiration. But that’s another story.)
Again, an outstanding addition to your channel.
Cheers!

[NoQuestionssked]

I dont think the main virtue of creating an oil fire is how quick it lights, because most oils light poorly unlike gasoline which isn't an oil at all. However, once that oil does light it would be extremely difficult to put out, especially in the medieval period. Oil contains so much energy, and when it gets hot and vaporizes, the airborne particles begin to light easier and burn even hotter. There's nothing you can do at a point with oil fires, even today with modern fire fighting equipment. Your best bet is to contain it and let it burn itself out once it reaches a certain size. On board a medieval ship, attempts to pour water on the oil fire would likely serve to emulsify and surfact the burning oil spreading it over a much greater surface area. Your best bet would be to cover it with extra sail and blankets but you can only do that so long.

[sirwiiam]

Very interesting. Never really given medieval naval warfare the time of day, may read up on it more.

[jayrey]

Thanks as always Kev! I loved doing an impression of a Welsh bowman back when I was able - I love how you present; it makes me remember what it was like to camp in a castle and hear and tell these kinds of stories x

[marcoengelbracht]

Many thanks, Sir, for this interesting video and the short flashback into your own experiences. I think fire is still some of the most grueful weapons ever used against opponents. Not only the fear of getting burned but the sheer horror of hearing your mates screaming while they burn- a nightmare!
And that on a wooden ship, maybe carrying gunpowder? Some barrels maybe on deck for instant use...OMG

[tylerschoen]

I absolutely love your channel. As a self taught history enthusiast it’s amazing having access to another student of history who spent their life learning. I love all your videos and I appreciate your willingness to share.

[kennbiggs]

Sir Kevin Hicks. I’ve only know of your channel for a few weeks but you make my disability more bearable. I hope you’re enjoying Canada.

Godspeed Sir Long Bowman!

[garysmith]

As a fellow longbow archer this information is so interesting. Thank you sir. Love your videos.

[WadeWeigle]

Those Belfast riots were no joke.

Fire is terrifying when you’re at sea. I suppose it’s a bad deal no matter where you are in the world aside from the Artic or Greenland.

Thanks for sharing.

[rikijett]

They did a great portrayal of setting ships on fire in the series Vikings.

[consumerofstuff]

As someone who isn't a brilliant swimmer the thought of being on fire on a boat that is on fire, with enemy troops boarding is pretty intense. I'd never thought of the use of incendiaries against wooden ships too much other than old stories like Archimedes mirrors. The thought of cannon balls and shrapnel was always enough, now there's raging infernos to add. Thank you again. Love the content.

[joshboyst]

Wow thanks for the shout out Kev, great video as always, very interesting indeed regarding the fire arrows and clay bottles of oil. Terrible stuff. All the best and thank you for your service. 👍

[Nana-vird]

My grandfather use to make scale models of the old sailing ships. Not from it kit either. He would have my grandmother write to a museum or whoever would have the blue prints for the ship. Scale them down and then purchase the lumber, string and cloth crave out the wood. Making every little detail of the ship. He use to also make ships in small bottles, like those little whisky bottles. Of course he would purchase the clear white ones or some would be lightly tinted blue or green. He told me how he did them. It was one of the ways he made extra money during the depression to support his family. I have a photo from the 70's of the last ship he made. Wish I could send a copy. They were truly beautiful. He made one of the Cutty Sark and sold it for 2500 USDs, this was back in the 50's when that was a lot of money too.

[Ecthaelyon]

Wonderful, as always Kevin. Thank you.

[bobbypugh]

You're so welcome buddy!! I guess we all have the desire to be students and then teachers of what we have learned. I love passing it on to my children and sharing your videos with them. The world needs more of you, teaching with passion and humor. Cheers

[pbtkh]

Kevin Hicks survived a petrol bomb!! Amazing stuff.

[cabletie]

nice personal experience. Thank you for your work.

[johngolombek]

Cheers sir from the states outstanding as always.

[ryanschofield]

The world will develop bigger and more destructive weapons as it always does but there's a certain primal fear involved with fire that to me, makes it the most terrifying of all.

[nor]

Fascinating stuff as always. Looking at the model you can see where naval terms such as Forecastle came from.
Thanks for posting!