First appeared in the Bronze Age, Chinese Louchuan- tower ship was a strange vessel. Its primary feature is the multi-storey fighting platform built atop the ship's deck, which gives it its titular name. From the vantage point that the platform provide, mariners could rain down projectiles on shorter vessels, and commanders could survey the entire battlefield. More often than not, catapults and ballista were installed on the top deck to assist in sieges on coastal towns. But due to its high center of mass, if all of a sudden a violent wind is encountered, such ships are likely to get out of human control, so they were judged inconvenient in front line combat. They are best suited as floating fortress and observation post and signalling beacon.