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Phalanx warfare: Closing of the ranks
#72
Renatus wrote:
"This works out at 2.8 statute miles per hour at the military pace and 3.3 at the full pace. However, the Romans over-trained, so that campaigning conditions would appear easy by comparison. Accordingly, these distances should be seen as maxima and not necessarily those that would normally be expected to be covered on campaign."

Again, this average does not take into account rest stops, probably taken hourly, so that the actual pace would be rather higher. That these speeds are 'maxima' is indicated by Vegetius' next words:
"If they exceed this pace, they no longer march, but run, and no certain rate can be assigned."
i.e. the quick 'full step' is maximum walking speed. The average human walking speed is about 3.1 mph. Some people are capable of exceeding 5 mph while still maintaining a walking gait, but the natural tendency is to begin running at much beyond 4 mph.
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)

"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
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RE: Phalanx warfare: Closing of the ranks - by Paullus Scipio - 09-22-2016, 10:35 PM

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