Hwacha vs. Ballista — What's the Difference?

The hwacha or hwach'a (Korean: 화차; Hanja: 火車; literally "fire cart") was a multiple rocket launcher and an organ gun of similar design which were developed in fifteenth century Korea. The former variant fired one or two hundred rocket-powered arrows while the latter fired several dozen iron-headed arrows or bolts out of gun barrels.

The ballista (Latin, from Greek βαλλίστρα ballistra and that from βάλλω ballō, "throw"), plural ballistae, sometimes called bolt thrower, was an ancient missile weapon that launched either bolts or stones at a distant target. Developed from earlier Greek weapons, it relied upon different mechanics, using two levers with torsion springs instead of a tension prod (the bow part of a modern crossbow).

(historical) A mid-16th-century Korean weapon that launched a barrage of rockets or arrows at enemies using gunpowder.

An ancient and medieval engine of warfare, usually having a design similar to a crossbow, used to hurl heavy projectiles.

An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.

An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.

Medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles