Paging military nerds for guidance on usage (m)

Posted on September 25, 2026 at 02:24:53 PM by YpsiTerrier (edited September 25, 2026 at 02:26:14 PM)

I'm translating a text from German into English involving the Punic Wars, and the passage goes:

"There they came, from Cartagena, the new port on the southern coast, ninety thousand Iberian and North African infantrymen, Spezialtruppen von Schleuderern [in English, literally: "special troops of catapultists"] from the Balearic Islands, twelve thousand Numidian riders and the gray swaying mass of elephants, and under bright standards, ringed by the flashing lances of his bodyguard, rode Hannibal."

The German phrase is "special troops of catapultists" but that doesn't sound right to me. We don't talk about a "special troop of mortar-men" or "special troop of cannon operators."

What is the correct way to describe a small team of specialized military personnel who are responsible for servicing, aiming, firing, etc. a long-range weapon? Teams of catapultists? Corps? Units?

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Paging military nerds for guidance on usage (m) - By YpsiTerrier September 25, 2026 at 02:24:53 PM
- related, what do they call the giant spear shooting thing in Game of Thrones (and House of the Dragon)...can't remember* - By ajs September 25, 2026 at 04:22:26 PM
- I don't actually think that refers to catapults at all. The Balearic troops used slings to fling rocks. * - By Kevin September 25, 2026 at 02:55:49 PM
  - Tremendous info — very interesting. So maybe "troops specialized in slinging rocks"?* - By YpsiTerrier September 25, 2026 at 06:04:37 PM
  - I believe this is correct.* - By Gaius Octavius September 25, 2026 at 04:16:22 PM
  - That could be true - By Alpo September 25, 2026 at 04:16:06 PM
- Maybe something like Artillerymen with catapults. * - By Mark II September 25, 2026 at 02:39:11 PM
- for an individual catapult, I’d think you refer to the soldiers operating it as a crew. - By Mark September 25, 2026 at 02:30:06 PM
  - That's great: "special crews of catapultists"?* - By YpsiTerrier September 25, 2026 at 02:30:46 PM
    - specialist crews of catapultists? ** - By Mark September 25, 2026 at 02:35:46 PM

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Paging military nerds for guidance on usage (m)