The best medieval unit

Originally posted by warhead I want the primary source for this, because none of those I've came across regarding to Mongolian tactics mention these.

I'll see what I can track down.

Bah, sucked? You're talking about the Teutonic Order itself, one of probally the hardiest groups of men ever so devoted to religion, helping hold back the tide of the Muslims. Now combine skill, power, devotion, and German stubborness, and you have one hell of a fighting force. They weren't as good as some others, but they didn't suck, either.

Can someone tell me of some battles where the Roman Cataphracts were used with success. I would imagine Basil II used them a lot as he was buried near a cavalry training area.

Originally posted by Someone you are seriously annoying me. All I said was the asian bows were harder to manufacture than the longbow. This is not trolling, you are talking nonesense.

Your wording implied it, or I just seriously screwed up the translation.

Originally posted by SovietJesus Bah, sucked? You're talking about the Teutonic Order itself, one of probally the hardiest groups of men ever so devoted to religion, helping hold back the tide of the Muslims. Now combine skill, power, devotion, and German stubborness, and you have one hell of a fighting force. They weren't as good as some others, but they didn't suck, either.

Muslims? The teutonic knights mainly fought the balts, as you know. And they were heavily defeated by the balts (prussians, lithuanians) in various battles

Originally posted by demon you are seriously annoying me. All I said was the asian bows were harder to manufacture than the longbow. This is not trolling, you are talking nonesense. Sure, Longbows are a heck lot easier to make, just that they are not as good in performance as asian ones

Demon,

This is actually debateable.

Composite bows can launch arrows at far longer ranges with special flight arrows.

But, both types were used in battle at similar ranges.

And the English soldier of fortune, Sir John Smythe (who fought in the Balkans against the Turks), was of the opinion that the longbow was better, as he mentioned in his famous 1590 treatise, Certain Discourses Military.

Peace,

David

But, both types were used in battle at similar ranges.

Oh well.  Maybe because all battles Ive studies with composite bow were defensive warfare (defending fort), I would agree with you on that .

range isn't the only measurement of performance..

composite bows were more complicated to make and maintain, but they made up for this with better accuracy and piercing power..

Vote = Mongol Archers

Best range, best bows, best arrows, best tactics............I'm noticing a trend there

Originally posted by I/eye range isn't the only measurement of performance.. composite bows were more complicated to make and maintain, but they made up for this with better accuracy and piercing power..

What are your sources for the supposedly better "piercing power" of the composite bow over the longbow?