The Armour Archive

Looking to outfit a sailor/soldier who is employed by the Hanseatic League in the late 14th, early 15th century. Would an armour kit for a sailor be the same as one for land or would they take liberties for weight, available storage and such?

*Eaither a Merc or indentured soldier

You might want to start your search with the AA section " I want to be a..."

Try ...Swede 1490-1510,

and ...Norwegian Knight 1345.

A treatise on Scandinavian warefare of the mid 13c is "The Kings Mirror". It is useful to see what was required for a fully equipped warrior of that time, there is no apparent difference between infantry, cavalry and naval armor. All of which are discussed.They used horn bows and crossbows for missile weapons. Scythes for naval weapons probably to cut rigging. Other weapons much the same, including throwing spears.

http://www.deremilitari.org/resources/s ... mirror.htm

Thy Scandinavians do not seem to make much difference between land warfare and sea warfare. It was warfare. Just try not to fall overboard in armor.

The kettle hat was very popular in Scandinavia and North Europe for a long time, so it is a very likely choice. Add a mail shirt or breastplate/fauld, and you are covered for a middling to lower order impression.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victual_Brothers

A while ago I found a website for a German group reenacting the Hanse and the Vitalienbrudern. Here are some pics of them on board a reconstructed Haseatic cog. I really dig the kettle helms.

Great pictures. I think you need to understand the tactics of the period to appreciate what it is you want to portray. Up until the 16th century, most ships equipped for maritime battles had two groups: ships crew (sailors) and soldiers (marines). The sailors sailed the ships to perform the very difficult maneuvering that was required, and allow the soldiers to lay suppression fire down with bows, crossbows and serpentines to prevent return fire.

If they could clear the decks enough, the ships would come in and attempt to board. This was the English tactic throughout the hundred years war and even in Henry VIII's time in the 16th cen. By the 16th, sailors also were gunners, but they still had soldiers.

As a sailor on board a ship it was your duty to sail and maintain the ships, and since it most duties included running around on deck, tying off lines and climbing riggings, the sailors probably didn't wear much protection at all. It would have impeded their performance greatly. They weren't specifically tasked to engage in the actual fight (though if you were boarded, I'm sure they didn't hesitate to grab a weapon and put up a good fight).
But that's what you brought all of the lubbers with the shiney helms, bows and pole weapons along for that are crowding up your deck.

As a soldier on board a ship, it was your duty to repel boarding of enemy vessels, lay down suppression fire and when possible, to board and capture the enemy ship. As a soldier you were most-likely equipped as a typical foot soldier of your proper status.

-Cian