Germanic equipment
forging technology, capacity and personnel were more limited in Germania libera, although there is evidence that production and standardization of equipment had greatly improved since the time of the Roman Principate. Steel-making was also known in Germania libera (spathae and rapier-like swords out of flexible steel were in use).[119] But Alamanni production of sophisticated forge-products such as metal armour, helmets and swords was on a much smaller scale than the Romans'.[120] Simple weapons such as axes and knives seem often to have been made of unhardened iron.
among the Alamanni, metal armour and helmets were probably owned by members of the social elite only. Most Alamanni foot soldiers had only shields and no metal armour or helmets.
Among the Alamanni, spears were the universal weapon, swords were probably less common.[122] Nobles (optimates) and the professional warrior-retainers of ringgivers certainly had them.[123] For the lower ranks the position is not certain. Ammianus' report on the battle implies that many in the Alamanni ranks carried swords.[124] Those that did not were armed with a seax (long pointed Germanic knives with some types being shortswords) as well as a spear and/or battle axe.
Ammianus talks of a variety of missiles being thrown by the Alamanni in the battle: spicula (a kind of long pilum-type javelin, also known as an angon), verruta missilia (short throwing-spears) and ferratae arundines (probably darts and franciscas: throwing-axes).[125]
Bows of various types were also used by the Alamanni. But the most common type, the yew longbow, could be a powerful weapon. As tall as its user, it could launch arrows with enough power to pierce armour. Such bows had been used in Northern Europe for centuries; it is believed that they became widespread in Germania libera in the 4th century.[128] The longbow's long range made it suitable for shooting volleys from the rear over the heads of one's own infantry lines, but its size made it impractical to use in mêlées, or on horseback (for which the recurved bow was ideal).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_bow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longbow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seax
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_axe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapier
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berserkers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_wedge
forging technology, capacity and personnel were more limited in Germania libera, although there is evidence that production and standardization of equipment had greatly improved since the time of the Roman Principate. Steel-making was also known in Germania libera (spathae and rapier-like swords out of flexible steel were in use).[119] But Alamanni production of sophisticated forge-products such as metal armour, helmets and swords was on a much smaller scale than the Romans'.[120] Simple weapons such as axes and knives seem often to have been made of unhardened iron.
among the Alamanni, metal armour and helmets were probably owned by members of the social elite only. Most Alamanni foot soldiers had only shields and no metal armour or helmets.
Among the Alamanni, spears were the universal weapon, swords were probably less common.[122] Nobles (optimates) and the professional warrior-retainers of ringgivers certainly had them.[123] For the lower ranks the position is not certain. Ammianus' report on the battle implies that many in the Alamanni ranks carried swords.[124] Those that did not were armed with a seax (long pointed Germanic knives with some types being shortswords) as well as a spear and/or battle axe.
Ammianus talks of a variety of missiles being thrown by the Alamanni in the battle: spicula (a kind of long pilum-type javelin, also known as an angon), verruta missilia (short throwing-spears) and ferratae arundines (probably darts and franciscas: throwing-axes).[125]
Bows of various types were also used by the Alamanni. But the most common type, the yew longbow, could be a powerful weapon. As tall as its user, it could launch arrows with enough power to pierce armour. Such bows had been used in Northern Europe for centuries; it is believed that they became widespread in Germania libera in the 4th century.[128] The longbow's long range made it suitable for shooting volleys from the rear over the heads of one's own infantry lines, but its size made it impractical to use in mêlées, or on horseback (for which the recurved bow was ideal).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_bow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longbow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seax
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_axe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapier
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berserkers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_wedge