Tactics: Employment of the Pilum

[garrelt]

A few years back we did some tests with a Off the shelf Pilum and 2 home made handforged ones.
The shank of the home made ones was 10mm by 10mm square and 10mm round in diameter.
The shank was not hardened only the tip.

All penetrated, being thrown from a distance of around 5meters, a standard Deepeeka shield.
The shanks did not bend and they were easy to pull out of the shield to be used again.
From the same distance we threw them into a thick block of wood again only bending a bit by the weight of the shaft and pulling them out was a bit more difficult.

The throwing range, from a static position, that we achieved was around 12meters.
With a small lead we achieved ranges up to 20meters.
When the Pila hit the ground with the point and got stuck into the ground they bended a bit trough the weight of the shaft.

Well training is tomorrow so we will see how a Pilum works as a close combat weapon in a 2 by 2 meter square.