"Roman Legions equipped as skirmishers?" Topic
4 Posts
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wolfgangbrooks | 23 Dec 2014 2:06 p.m. PST |
I was reading up on Caeser's Wars era legions, and the book mentioned that a cohort from a legion would occasionally be equipped as skirmishers. Unfortunately I haven't found much more information than that single sentence. I figured I might be able to convert some from Wargames Factory Numidian bodies and Legion heads, weapons, and shields. But again, I don't know much about it, so if there's advice to be had I'd appreciate it. |
Jamesonsafari | 23 Dec 2014 4:05 p.m. PST |
yes if bodies were needed for skirmishy, patrolling, foraging sort of work, then a cohort would go out in 'light order'; presumably with no armour and javelins or slings instead of the pila. It would make sense if they carried a lighter shield too, the big scutum doesn't seem terribly useful for skirmishing to me. But when we get to the main event and clash of main forces, they'd put their armour on and join the battle line. |
Griefbringer | 24 Dec 2014 3:06 a.m. PST |
One of the recent WG sets of Caesarian Romans comes with slings as alternative weapons. |
BigRedBat | 24 Dec 2014 3:44 a.m. PST |
Sometimes a cohort would be sent out as an advanced guard or on a special mission in light order, which might just mean without packs. Also sometimes in battle, a force could be sent out to seize a terrain feature. This didn't appear to be whole cohorts, but proportion of troops from each cohort. The term for these was Antesignani; "those who fought in front of the standards". We don't know how these were equipped. They might have been more lightly equipped, or just fitter and trained to fight in open order. Legionaries and auxiliaries sometimes used slings in sieges. |
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