Which problem complicated the logistics of Roman army ballistae during long campaigns far from supply lines?

💡 Explanation

When ballistae were deployed in damp climates, the torsion springs made of tightly wound animal (typically ox) tendon would loosen and degrade due to humidity and microbial action, making them lose tension reducing the range and power. Therefore tendon degradation in humidity resulted, rather than frame cracking, bolt corrosion, or projectile shattering which were either less likely or easier to mitigate.

• Which consequence occurs during periods of high winds on historical Viking longships relying on plant-fiber ropes?
• Which maneuver by Viking longships increases during headwind sailing?
• Which structural weakness results when a wooden ship experiences differential swelling?
• Al-Khwarizmi's 'restoration' algebraic step balances equations; which risk increases in complex distributed calculations involving many linked equations?
• Which optical outcome arose in Alhazen's pinhole experiments when the aperture size increased beyond the diffraction limit?
• Within Mughal garden water systems, which outcome arose under fluctuating hydrostatic pressure?