Longbow Penetration: Piercing Plate Mail's Defense

The effectiveness of the longbow against plate armour is a highly debated topic. While some sources claim that arrows could penetrate plate armour, others argue that they were ineffective. It is generally accepted that arrows were unlikely to penetrate plate armour, but they may have been able to cause injury or death by exploiting weak points in the armour, such as the joints or the eyelits of the knight's helmet. The arrows could also incapacitate a knight by bending the plates of their armour, making movement difficult. Additionally, arrows could be used to target the horses of mounted knights, as they were often less armoured and easier to injure.

Arrows with special bodkin points could pierce plate armour if they hit a weak spot

The longbow was a powerful weapon in the English arsenal during the Middle Ages, with victories at Crecy and Agincourt attributed to its armour-piercing capability. However, the longbow's effectiveness against plate armour is a subject of debate. While some experiments suggest that arrows could penetrate plate armour, others refute this claim. The answer may lie in the specifics of the armour and the arrows used, as well as the conditions of the test.

Arrows with special bodkin points were designed to penetrate armour. The bodkin is a type of arrowhead characterised by a simple square metal spike. The typical bodkin featured a square-section arrowhead, typically up to 11.5 cm long and 1 cm thick at its widest point, tapering down behind the initial "punch" shape. These arrowheads were used extensively during the Middle Ages and were particularly effective against mail armour.

Modern tests have shown that bodkin points can penetrate plate armour, especially if they strike a weak spot in the armour or are fired at close range. For example, testing by Matheus Bane in 2006 and David Jones in 2014 demonstrated that a bodkin point arrow fired from a longbow at a distance of 10 yards could penetrate mail armour and minimum-thickness (1.2 mm) plate armour. However, the arrowheads used in these tests were made of steel, while most medieval arrowheads were likely made from wrought iron.

In contrast, a 2019 test by Tod's Workshop, in collaboration with historian Tobias Capwell, failed to penetrate a reproduction of a 15th-century plate breastplate over chainmail and gambeson using both wrought iron and case-hardened arrows fired from a distance of 25 meters. This test highlights the importance of factors such as arrow material and armour quality in determining the effectiveness of arrows against plate armour.

Additionally, it is worth noting that even if an arrow penetrated plate armour, it might not cause fatal injuries due to the padding worn underneath. Experiments suggest that arrows with bodkin points could penetrate up to 1 cm into plate armour, but this would typically be insufficient to cause fatal wounds.

In conclusion, arrows with special bodkin points could pierce plate armour, especially if they struck a weak spot or were fired at close range. However, the effectiveness of arrows against plate armour depended on various factors, including arrow material, armour quality, and range. Even when penetration occurred, it might not result in fatal injuries due to the protective padding worn underneath the armour.

The force of the strike from a longbow could break the sternum or ribs

The force of a strike from a longbow could indeed break the sternum or ribs of a person wearing plate armour. In fact, the force of a longbow strike was comparable to being hit with a sledgehammer.

The effectiveness of a longbow strike would depend on a variety of factors, including the quality of the armour and the skill of the archer. For example, the angle of the strike would affect its efficacy—a direct, perpendicular strike would be more likely to penetrate armour than a glancing blow. The range of the archer from their target would also make a difference, with the optimal range for a longbow strike being around 20 to 30 yards. Beyond this distance, the effectiveness of the arrow would decrease significantly.

The type of arrow used would also be a factor. Arrows with special bodkin points were more likely to be able to pierce plate armour if they hit a weak spot in the plate, such as a spot where the metal had been hammered too thin. However, even then, the arrows usually did not penetrate further than 1 cm, and the padding worn under the armour often prevented fatal injuries.

The draw weight of the longbow would also have an impact on its effectiveness. The draw weight of a typical English longbow is disputed but was at least 81 lbf, and possibly more than 130 lbf. The draw weight of the bows found on the Mary Rose, a ship of Henry VIII's navy that sank in 1545, were estimated to be between 100 and 185 lbf.

The longbow was a powerful medieval weapon, about 6 ft long, and was effective against the French during the Hundred Years' War, particularly in the battles of Sluys, Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt.

Arrows were more effective against chainmail, which was ineffective at stopping them

Chainmail armour was good at stopping slashing attacks or thrusts from wide-bladed weapons. However, projectiles fired from heavy war bows or crossbows had a good chance of penetrating. Chainmail armour was also ineffective at stopping arrows fired from longbows at medium to short ranges.

Chainmail was also bulky and coats of it put a lot of weight on the wearer's shoulders. It did not flex like cloth and was hard to stretch. It was, however, easy to move in, except for the weight.

Arrows were also effective against the horses of mounted knights

The horses of knights were often unarmoured or armoured more lightly than the knights themselves. Arrows could therefore be effective against them. A knight on foot, weighed down by his armour, was vulnerable to attack by lightly armoured archers.

In addition, a knight who had lost his horse was at a disadvantage. Knights were trained to fight from horseback, and a knight on foot was an easier target. A knight on foot could be attacked by several lightly armoured archers, who could hold him down and stab him through the eyeslits of his helmet. Alternatively, they could cut the chin strap of his helmet and remove it, leaving him vulnerable to attack.

Arrows could also be used to injure the horses of knights, causing them to fall and throw their riders. Even if the knight was unharmed, his horse might fall on top of him, trapping him.

Arrows could also damage the armour of knights, bending the plates so that they no longer glided over each other. This would limit the knight's movement.

Arrows could still be dangerous to plate-wearing knights if they hit weak points like the eyeslits of the helmet, the armpits, or the crouch

While arrows were unlikely to penetrate a knight's plate armour, they could still be dangerous if they hit weak points such as the eyeslits of the helmet, the armpits, or the crouch.

Plate armour was developed in response to weapons like the longbow, so it was designed to be resistant to arrows. However, it was not always possible to create a suit of armour without weak points, and these areas could be exploited by skilled archers.

The eyeslits of a knight's helmet, for example, were a necessary weak point that could be targeted. An arrow that found its way into the eyeslit could kill or severely injure the knight. Similarly, the armpits and crouch were areas that were difficult to armour effectively due to the need for mobility. An arrow that hit one of these areas could bend or restrict the movement of the armour's plates, limiting the knight's ability to fight.

In addition to targeting weak points, arrows could also be used to target a knight's horse. While a knight in full plate armour might be well-protected, their horse was often more vulnerable. Arrows that wounded or killed a knight's horse could throw the rider and leave them vulnerable to attack.

Even if an arrow did not penetrate a knight's armour or hit a weak point, the force of the impact could still be dangerous. Arrows fired from longbows could deliver a significant amount of force, equivalent to being hit with a sledgehammer. This could knock a knight off their feet, causing them to become trampled or stuck in the mud, unable to rise.

Overall, while arrows may not have been able to penetrate plate armour consistently, they could still be a threat to knights by exploiting weak points, targeting horses, or delivering a forceful impact.

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