Description
Most of the northern European tribes were not naval powers, but there were still able seafarers to be found amongst them. Shipbuilding techniques were well understood, so while many vessels were small leather-skinned boats for inland and inshore use, bigger sea-going vessels were also made. Shipwrights used heavy planking for hulls, stitched together and then fastened to a wooden skeleton to create sturdy craft able to cope with Atlantic conditions. Julius Caesar was surprised at the quality of the enemy ships when his fleet clashed with the Veneti from modern-day Brittany. The Veneti vessels had flat bottoms to cope with shallows, but were also of heavy oak construction to cope with rough seas. This made them tough opposition for Roman galleys, and capable of shrugging off a ramming attack. Caesar said that the enemy ships "...were constructed of planks a foot in breadth, fastened by iron spikes the thickness of a man's thumb; the anchors were secured fast by iron chains instead of cables”. When the Romans were forced to board, they faced fearsome warriors used to close-quarters fighting at sea.
The German tribesman grew up throwing the stones found on the river beds of northern Europe, giving him a natural advantage when applying the skill to combat. Rocks and stones were in ready supply, so whilst spears may have needed repair after a battle, slingers were always well provisioned. Poor men of low status, both in society and subsequently in battle, slingers would typically take up position behind veteran warriors, protecting them from enemy attacks. In return, the veterans would use their shields to safeguard those behind them as they unleashed their rain of missiles. Slingshot could be an effective weapon against close enemy formations or cavalry.
