Did The Longbow Dominate Medieval Warfare?

Published on November 18, 2023
Duration: 32:19

This video explores the effectiveness of the English Warbow in medieval warfare, demonstrating its penetration capabilities against plate armor and chainmail. It highlights the immense physical demands on archers and contrasts the longbow's training requirements with early firearms. The content features practical tests and historical context, positioning the longbow as a significant, albeit eventually superseded, military technology.

Quick Summary

The 165 lb English Warbow demonstrated significant penetration power, successfully piercing plate armor and 10mm riveted chainmail at close range. This effectiveness, combined with the extreme physical demands and lifetime training required for archers, eventually led to its replacement by firearms.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: Longbow Lethality
  2. 01:08English Warbow History & Role
  3. 02:15Bow Specs: 100-165 lbs Draw Weight
  4. 04:11Armor Penetration Testing
  5. 06:16Heavy Bow vs. Plate Armor Results
  6. 09:15Chainmail Effectiveness Test
  7. 11:19Archer Physique & Deformations
  8. 13:13Mad Jack Churchill: WWII Longbow Kill
  9. 16:37Longbow vs. Early Firearms

Frequently Asked Questions

Could the English longbow penetrate medieval plate armor?

Yes, the video demonstrates that a 165 lb English Warbow could successfully punch through plate armor at close range. While high-quality armor might deflect some shots, average armor was shown to be vulnerable to these powerful bows.

How effective was the longbow against chainmail?

Testing showed that heavy arrows (1500 grains) from a 165 lb warbow could penetrate 10mm riveted flat chainmail. The chainmail offered resistance, but penetration was achieved, especially when considering the impact on the wearer.

Why did firearms eventually replace the longbow in warfare?

Firearms like the Arquebus and Musket replaced the longbow primarily because they required significantly less training. Mastering the longbow demanded a lifetime of practice and immense physical conditioning, whereas firearms could be operated effectively with much shorter training periods.

What physical effects did using a warbow have on archers?

The extreme draw weights (100-165 lbs) of warbows placed immense physical stress on archers, often causing permanent skeletal deformations. These changes were significant enough that medieval archers could sometimes be identified by their bones.

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