As I get back to my table I have been completing a few more pieces from my project drawers, a unit I commenced before going on holidays in April was a unit of Triarii for my Italian Allies for my Republican period Roman’s. I have a few Italian allied units to do (10 plus) that can be used as Allies or enemies of Rome for our upcoming campaign at the club.
This unit represents triarii Italian spearmen based for impetus, hand painted shields, figure manufacturer Agema minuatures
As I have long suspected from my reading that the myth of the high poundage longbow piercing quality armour covered with a quilted gambeson has been busted........
Reading the historical documents from the late Hundred Years’ War it was not the piercing but the kinetic energy and the morale that done the damage to any charge, multiple hits like hail stones would of been most disconcerting to advancing French, English or Scots, Italians et al under the hail of the longbow fire. Yes exposed parts would of been pierced, but in the majority a well armoured knight needed to put up with the hail of shots that would of caused blunt force trauma rather than actual piercing of the armour. Morale was the big factor and effected the charge more than I think we can possibly imagine.
I was surprised that Toby Capewell had not done this type of experiment before, especially when it came to the quilted gambesons effectiveness in reducing kinetic energy. I have used one over my armour for 10 years or more, the reduction of a blow from a two handed weapon is worth the extra heat.
Off the desk before Cancon so it could be sold with my Bolt action Italians a company B model that went together easily. I decided it was not smart to start another scale for ww2, and I am not that impresssed with the Bolt action rules so selling off all of my purchases in the coming weeks.
Off the table some time ago, the Bersaglieri are one of my favourite ww2 units, I have painted them in a mixed tropical and temperate uniform, I like it!
