The case against javelins killing.

[Nick Harbud]

What a very simplistic arguement.  I recommend reading my articles "A Ballistic Comparison of Trebuchet and Gunpowder Artillery" from 2010 or "Behind the Curve" from 2014 for a more rigorous approach.

Of course, I do not expect everyone to be able to master the techniques of numerical integration that are necessary to incorporate drag into ballistic calculations.  However, there are readily available apps for sportsmen (individuals who enjoy killing wildlife with high powered firearms) that can do all the difficult maths for you.

[Ian61]

Having been on the team measuring javelin throws in athletics competitions many times I can agree with those above that they are easy to dodge. One of the perils of amateur but strong throwers is that they can be wildly off direction so watching essential. That said it is only really possible to track one at a time. If two were coming at same time then it's a problem. A good way to use would be smaller groups within the skirmishers releasing simultaneously towards the same area of the enemy (you don't want to run out of ammo too quickly.) This would keep the enemy on their toes and watching out.

[DavidMcCann]

I've been reading Jean Du Plessis's Light infantry in the Greek and Roman World. On the subject of the javelin, he mentions their modern use by huntsmen in both South Africa and the USA, where they are even capable of taking down a grizzly bear or a Cape buffalo at 40 paces. They may not have been effective against body armour, but that's no use if the enemy aims at your legs, as Philopoemen discovered.

[Justin Swanton]

Having been on the team measuring javelin throws in athletics competitions many times I can agree with those above that they are easy to dodge. One of the perils of amateur but strong throwers is that they can be wildly off direction so watching essential. That said it is only really possible to track one at a time. If two were coming at same time then it's a problem. A good way to use would be smaller groups within the skirmishers releasing simultaneously towards the same area of the enemy (you don't want to run out of ammo too quickly.) This would keep the enemy on their toes and watching out.

Here's a familiar example of an all-day battle with javelins and bows involving very few casualties (both sides intended to kill but there were no fatalities despite hours of fighting). I imagine this is exactly how the skirmishing between psiloi went before the main battle.

[Imperial Dave]

Blimey