[Ansteorra-archery] Couple things
Mike
meggiddo at netzero.net
Sun Feb 15 08:32:59 PST 2009
Heilsa,
Sir Morgan - the real issue will be distance on all fronts. The distance
of the archers to the opposing shields, while on the same distance
concerns will also apply to the same side the archers are on. If the
archers massed too far away, so that their heavy fighters are not fully
aware of their intent, then the opportunity will be missed as has happen
in past, result - too few could take advantage.
To support a group of fighters is what you are proposing, which is what
I have been doing since the beginning in the SCA. My commander started
asking what he could do with each individual that composed the unit he
was commanding. When he got to me, he asked the following:
"What use is an archer? And how I can take advantage of his skills?"
The answer - put as many arrows down range as possible - regardless
whether any of them actually got hit anyone. The purpose was to keep
opposing side from being doing anything other than cover-up. So the
training begin - found out that 20 to 30 behind the unit of shields was
the best option. Allow coverage for both flanks against polearms, will
providing support fire in front of the unit. Targets - those are left to
the archer - primarily, the greatest threat to the unit at that time,
spears, and polearms. And NOT someone standing 50 to 100 feet away from
the archer. Support the unit to the fullest and the objective will be
reach and accomplish.
You correct in that it will take training with both the heavy fighters
and the archers to make something like to work...
There are only a couple of areas or scenarios that it would apply and
even come close to accomplishing what you vision.
1st scenario - could work in the open field - massing fire in the
opening seconds as the opposing side closes and not at distance from the
side closing. The arrow fire must happen with 30 or 40 feet before the
two sides clash.
In this scenario that any mass group of archers will be an extremely
tempting target for a mass charge, so the archers in this group will
need to realize this and accept it. In other words - archers will "died"
easily here. This could be another scenario - place this group of
archers out as bait and if the opposing side does take it, then had
better a group of heavy fighters there to ambush the opposing force and
more importantly actually accomplish the ambush. It an work in the open
field, after all, the idea is give the opposing side something that they
should see while not actually seeing the real set-up.
In an open field - if I get more than 3 to 4 arrows shot into the
opposing side, then that side has screwed up. An open SCA battle,
archers died rather quickly! So this type of scenario could work and if
it does, then after a few times, the opposing side might not always be
that quick to charge, which would give archers even better a shieldwall
in the long run.
2nd scenario - fixed lines. Not necessary a bridge battle here.
Both types require training on both sides and not just one or two
sessions just before Gulf Wars and/or other wars. It would be disaster
otherwise.
The training would require training over a course of months - otherwise.
Both sides would have to come together.
Michael Kettering
Sir Morgan Buchanan wrote:
> First of all...holy cow, can some of you learn to crop a message? You
> don't need to quote an entire digest to send a 1 line reply. Please?
>
> Second... Volley fire. Volley fire doesn't need to be like some
> braveheart/agincourt high arching thing. I'll add the caveat that I
> don't KNOW if it will work, but hey, I haven't seen it tried, and I
> have a few ideas of what MIGHT happen.
<snip>
>
> It takes coordination. It takes timing. It takes skill. We posess
> all the tools. But we'd have to put them together. Of course, I
> could be wrong. :)
>
> Kind regards,
> Morgan
> _______________________________________________
> Ansteorra-archery mailing list
> Ansteorra-archery at lists.ansteorra.org
> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ansteorra-archery-ansteorra.org
>
>
>
____________________________________________________________
Are you overpaying for motorcycle insurance? Get a quote today.
http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/PnY6rx9K1tsPCEwQF916UTksI5ciZ5axnFU6z99r1Do8YaLiLuhfT/
More information about the Ansteorra-archery
mailing list