20mikemike
Airman
- 10
- Feb 11, 2009
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
I have to dispute the opinion of some that French Knights at the Battle of Crecy were immobilised by the sudden death of their horses. Mortality from arrow wounds is almost never sudden, and an arrow wound is not particularly likely to terrorize a horse and make it unmanageable. Sharp arrows cause a minimum of pain, and an injured horse tends to try to stay with the herd (running with the charge in this case, just as wounded horses did at Balaclava) rather than running off on its own. There are accounts of horses running off out of control, but I believe that this was an exception, noted by chroniclers, but not an overwhelming factor.
Even if a French knight had been unhorsed violently, his armor would protect him and he would be on his feet just as quickly as a modern rodeo contestant getting out of the way of a bull. The ground at Crecy was wet as well, which also makes for a softer landing. We have to look elsewhere to determine why the English archers were so successful at Crecy.
I have to dispute the opinion of some that French Knights at the Battle of Crecy were immobilised by the sudden death of their horses. Mortality from arrow wounds is almost never sudden, and an arrow wound is not particularly likely to terrorize a horse and make it unmanageable. Sharp arrows cause a minimum of pain, and an injured horse tends to try to stay with the herd (running with the charge in this case, just as wounded horses did at Balaclava) rather than running off on its own. There are accounts of horses running off out of control, but I believe that this was an exception, noted by chroniclers, but not an overwhelming factor.
Even if a French knight had been unhorsed violently, his armor would protect him and he would be on his feet just as quickly as a modern rodeo contestant getting out of the way of a bull. The ground at Crecy was wet as well, which also makes for a softer landing. We have to look elsewhere to determine why the English archers were so successful at Crecy.
A 100 lb ELB at range 30m is going to have the same penetrating power on entry as a 303 bullet. It will IMO penetrate about 4-6 inches of an unarmoured Horse.