English Mounted Archers???

[Carpathian Wolf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcpHB-flwJQ&feature=grec

I don't think it was a regular occurrence but this is interesting.

[Their Law]

Generally it assumed that the horses were used to move to and from the battlefields rather than any sort of mounted warfare itself. This would be especially important around the hundred years era due to the chevauchee tactic that the English used against the French countryside. But mounted archers were rare in western Europe for obvious reasons.

[konny]

For strategical reasons most of the Late MA European soldiers were mounted, sometimes even the entire army.

It is obvious that you cannot use all weapons from horseback, for example loading a crossbow would be close to impossible (even though there had been much smaller crossbows design in particular to be loaded by horsemen developed in the 15th Century). That way the majority of missile troops usually fought on foot.

In general western Europe never developed a tradition of horse archery, despite "mounted archers" are recorded for all periods of the Middle Ages. But these would have rather fought as dragoons.

Concerning the mounted longbowmen, I was told that it is impossible to properly draw a longbow from horseback. So while you might be able to release your shots when riding, you would be seriously outclassed by any longbowmen on foot; what would make the entire usage of longbowmen pointless.

Mounted bowmen shooting from horseback might always have happened in skirmishers but would not be a sight to see in aranged battles between European armies.

[hellheaven1987]

Concerning the mounted longbowmen, I was told that it is impossible to properly draw a longbow from horseback. So while you might be able to release your shots when riding, you would be seriously outclassed by any longbowmen on foot; what would make the entire usage of longbowmen pointless.

But Japanese was able to do that on horse back...

[konny]

The Japanese bow was a different design, made specifically to be shot from horseback.

[HIC SVNT LEONES]

The Japanese were not the end all be all of European Late Middle Ages Combat. lol.

[Mangalore]

The Japanese were not the end all be all of European Late Middle Ages Combat. lol.

None said that. The point is that most mounted archers used more compact bows (which is why composite designs became necessary to achieve greater power despite smaller size) so they could be handled on horseback and that the Japanese who used a bow of longbow dimensions on horseback made a specific asymmetrical design to make it work.

=> Normally mounted archers wouldn't use big bows but something better suited to be handled on horseback.

[konny]

This is a longbow of the design were are talking about:



and this is the Japanese desing in question:


While the Japanese bow was particulary designed for mounted use, the European bow would rather be useless from horseback.

[Katsumoto]

Yeah the yumi (bow) would've been made specifically for use from horseback, with the grip being 1/3 of the way up in its length so it can be easily switched from one side of the horse to the other. Horse archery actually has a very long history in Japan, or 'The Way of the Horse and Bow' as they called it, and it was the weapon of choice for the early samurai, who would've competed against each other in archery duels, much like later samurai duelled with the katana. The bow was also laminated with bamboo to ensure it produced enough power whilst still being steady on horseback, and it would've been fired held high and slowly brought down as to clear the horse. The bowmen would've practised endlessly to ensure they could hit their targets accurately whilst still moving quickly.

[Carpathian Wolf]

Well you can watch the video yourself and see people draw a longbow on horse back and shoot. And about a bow being less effective in power, range and accuracy on a horse...well no duh. That happens to any bow. Even a Mongol or Turkish bow if you shoot it dismounted it will be better aside from the mobility.

[konny]

Well you can watch the video yourself and see people draw a longbow on horse back and shoot.

Well I watched the video and I see a guy drawing the bow not even to his nose. That's not what I call drawing the longbow properly; was is to be done beyond the ear.

[CiviC]

Mounted archers are less accurate but they can get closer to targets and are obviously more mobile moving faster where they are needed and also they are less vulnerable as they can run from danger. Just pointed some obvious advantages of horse archers

[Ojf]

Lol, I love Mike Loades