Jaegoor
|
Hi Leuts,
the answer to the question if slingers wore a shield in combat or not may depend on how they were used. A few possibilities:
1. Slingers are standing behind friendly lines and open fire from the cover. With a special sling - with a "splitted letter" - they can shoot half-ballistically so their shots fall almost vertically from the sky. At the moment when the enemy shields are lifted for protection, archers start shooting at them from the flanks. Only now the infantry and the cavalry start their attack.
2. Slingers are being used as skirmishers. This means they keep enemy forces pinned and occupied. It is mostly done as a protection of the flanks or in front of the actual line. In these cases, a shield would be recommended. Mostly, skirmishers like these carry a short sword to fight hand to hand, if necessary; they are, however, usually vanquished in cases like this. Their strength lies in swift hit-and-run-tactics.
3. Slingers are used as “sniper teams”. They act in small groups which specifically aim at enemy officers and other leaders. They usually act surprisingly, shoot at their targets and disappear as fast as possible. In case of a pursuit by the enemy, they get cover from friendly archers (which may be mounted). The use of light cavalry would also be possible. The teams serve the purpose of macerating the enemy front line. The adversary is supposed to get weakened by and by.
4. Slingers are being used specifically against archers and javeliners. This is done in a loose formation so enemy strafing with arrows cannot unfold its full effect. In a case like this, slingers would also need a shield as protection. Slingers have great advantages in comparison with archers. They can use all kinds of ammunition, from lead shot to incendiaries to quick lime, combined with caltrops. Soon as the enemy archers are pinned by them, the own infantry or cavalry can advance more easily as they are not (or less likely) being hit by adversary projectiles.
|