Thanks, Lusi!
Actually, the starting point for my question was a read I've recently had on the 15th century AD black powder (gun) revolution. It's said there that it was the first time in history when the attackers could bring down the walls with missiles. Even this change occured only after the first 100-150 years of using gunpowder. Before, in 14th. and well into 15th century, the way to use the guns was just to hurl missiles over the walls to make damage to the city and menace the population. Exactly how it was throughout previous centuries (or millenia?).
Diodor of Sicily does mention bringing down walls of Tyre by Alexander the Great. However, in this Osprey book it's commented as unprobable since the artillery at that time could not bring down the walls. Well, Diodor also says the Tyre's walls were more than 50 meters tall - it also looks fishy to me.
This fragment of Cartwright hasn't convinced me either. Yes, 80 kg could theoreticaly carve a chunk of the walls, but was it used in such a role? In his description of a siege he doesn't mentions bringing down the walls.
Yes, I'm proud believer in the
Byg's Grim Reality reality.
The thread looks a good place to discuss the use of artillery in the EBII - why to have more catapult variants if their use is not historical?