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How Did Armies Keep Archers Supplied With Arrows While Fighting?
Slate ^ | July 27, 2015 | By Stephen Tempest

Posted on 07/30/2015 11:19:03 AM PDT by Brad from Tennessee

During the Hundred Years' War, England had a centralized, state-controlled organization for manufacturing arrows in bulk. These were then issued as required to the soldiers on campaign.

In June 1413, for example, Henry V appointed Nicholas Mynot to be “keeper of the king's arrows,” based in the Tower of London. Mynot was responsible for making arrows, but the royal fletchers alone could not supply the total need, so additional orders were placed with outside suppliers. In August 1413, for example, London-based fletcher Stephen Seler was paid for 12,000 arrows.

We have some total figures available. In 1418, Henry V's government purchased 150,000 arrows; in 1421, it acquired nearly 500,000. Several years' supply would be stockpiled for a major campaign. Half a century earlier in 1360, Edward III's accounts reveal that 566,400 arrows (and 11,000 bows) were stored in the Tower of London alone.

It's possible some archers brought their own arrows. People who were foresters or hunters (or bandits) in civilian life would be accustomed to supplying their own needs and might prefer arrows whose length and weight was better suited to the draw weight of their bow than the standard government-issue arrows. . .

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: a2; archery; arms; arrow; arrows; bowandarrow; godsgravesglyphs; henryv; hundredyearswar; longbow; longbowmen; middleages; militaryhistory; nicholasmynot; recycling; renaissance
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To: Brad from Tennessee
Tracer rounds.


21 posted on 07/30/2015 11:34:45 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

Wouldn’t the Roman Empire had need of these, and many other things, on a scale that would dwarf anything in Europe at that time?


22 posted on 07/30/2015 11:37:47 AM PDT by RedStateRocker (Nuke Mecca, deport all illegal aliens, abolish the IRS, DEA and ATF.)
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To: Red Badger

And where did they get the rubber tomahawks?


23 posted on 07/30/2015 11:39:45 AM PDT by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason and rule of law. Prepare!)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

Bass Pro Shop?


24 posted on 07/30/2015 11:39:58 AM PDT by BigCinBigD (...Was that okay?)
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To: TigersEye

Tweetsie Railroad


25 posted on 07/30/2015 11:43:13 AM PDT by AppyPappy
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To: RedStateRocker
Strangely, the Romans were not much into archery or bows - missile troops tended to be drawn from auxilliaries from conquered provinces, client states or even mercenary formations. The Romans were, however, into heavier weapons like the ballista, as well as thrown darts and the famous pilum.

However, digs at several long-term legionary forts in Germany and the UK have found the remnants of facilities for mass producing pila and ballista darts, and it would not be terribly surprising if they could also crank out large numbers of arrows for the auxilliaries.

26 posted on 07/30/2015 11:43:15 AM PDT by AzSteven ("War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." Jean Dutourd)
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To: Genoa

the enemy would find that offensive


27 posted on 07/30/2015 11:44:28 AM PDT by InvisibleChurch (http://thegatwickview.tumblr.com/ http://thepurginglutheran.tumblr.com/)
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To: vladimir998
"We simply don’t understand how good ancient archers were. We are now relearning their secrets. This Dane is making it happen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zGnxeSbb3g He’s the best “real combat” archer in the world."

That was awesome. Thanks for posting.

28 posted on 07/30/2015 11:46:58 AM PDT by wtd
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To: rfreedom4u

History channel did a show on the weapons used at Agincourt. How longbows were made, what wood they were cut from, was an English archer able to have five arrows in the air at once, etc.

The arrows were designed to be armor-piercing with a heavier than normal warhead (?) that imparted greater momentum. Launched by longbow with a high trajectory, these English arrows pierced French breastplates with great effectiveness.

The French had Venetian crossbowmen whose bolts were also effective against plate armor but they took much longer to recock using a two-handed winch. Advantage: England.


29 posted on 07/30/2015 11:48:03 AM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: AppyPappy

lol


30 posted on 07/30/2015 11:49:20 AM PDT by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason and rule of law. Prepare!)
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To: Brad from Tennessee
They bought great lots from Viking businessmen? The Far Side mooning photo: Vikings-businessv2 Vikings-businessv2.jpg
31 posted on 07/30/2015 11:53:53 AM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: elcid1970

Those would be bodkin points.


32 posted on 07/30/2015 11:58:16 AM PDT by Covenantor ("Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern." Chesterton)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

With all of those arrows in the air, the French fought in the shade.


33 posted on 07/30/2015 11:59:14 AM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: gov_bean_ counter

“That would have been a lot of arrows... “

You are assuming the French fired back ...


34 posted on 07/30/2015 11:59:38 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: Genoa

Pull ‘em out of the dead guy next to you


35 posted on 07/30/2015 12:00:09 PM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Steely Tom

I might try to find the article. I’ve subscribed since 1964 and have all of those issues stored.


36 posted on 07/30/2015 12:00:49 PM PDT by RJS1950 (The democrats are the "enemies foreign and domestic" cited in the federal oath)
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To: AzSteven

And the Iranian, who claimed he could darken the sky with arrows?

The logistics would be complicated and difficult to sustain.


37 posted on 07/30/2015 12:02:04 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT (BINGO!)
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To: TexasGator

Ha!


38 posted on 07/30/2015 12:02:20 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter
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To: RJS1950

It would have been sometime between 1975 and 1985, I believe. Sorry I can’t narrow it down more, but they published an index every six months (as you probably know).


39 posted on 07/30/2015 12:03:40 PM PDT by Steely Tom (Vote GOP: A Slower Handbasket)
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To: AzSteven

The Romans weren’t big on cavalry either. I believe many of their horsemen were auxiliaries also. Heavy infantry was their forte.


40 posted on 07/30/2015 12:05:44 PM PDT by SoCal Pubbie
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