segmentata

[Dan Howard]

There isn't a single military tactic ever invented that would favour segmentata armour over mail armour. Mail was worn by the Romans before the introduction of the segmentata. Mail was in use during the use of segmentata. Mail was in use after the use of segmentata. There isn't a single depiction of an officer or centurio wearing segmentata (though the sample size is infuriatingly small). It seems to me that segmentata is peasant armour - only worn by those who couldn't afford something better.

The phasing out of segmentata occurred around the same time that the state took over control of the fabricae. Mail armour is equal or superior to segmentata in every sense except that it is more expensive to produce and is heavier. IMO segmentata was phased out because the cost of producing mail was reduced to the point that segmentata was no longer considered viable by the state.