Medieval Higgins boat?

[BlackPrince]

Last night myself and four other war gamers went to see Ridley Scott's movie Robin Hood. We pissed ourselves laughing for the last 10 minutes of the film during the scene that looked a medieval remake of Omaha beach. Strangely the five of us were the only people laughing in the cinema. So does any manufacturer make medieval landing craft?

[madcam2us]

Don't scoff too much, they were in use at least during the Sicilian Vespers with Pedro's admiral using these type of boats all over the med. Not sure when they say Robin was around but we are talking 1250s+...

Lawrence DeMott has written a wonderful book on the Aragonese Naval forces and their role during the Vespers that I can't recommend enough!

Now, if I can just get Derek to return my copy, I'd be able to post some text...

Madcam.

[BlackPrince]

interesting, the illustrations I have seen gave me the impression in the 12th century that amphibious operations involved turning up on a Cog or other general boat you had lying around putting a plank over the side and climbing into the water. I am surprised the medieval mind invented the land craft I thought they were a creation of the 20th century.

[madcam2us]

Here is the offical title. You may be able to get via inter-library..


Sea Power in the Medieval Mediterranean: The Catalan-Aragonese Fleet in the War of the Sicilian Vespers.(Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2003)


Madcam.

[madcam2us]

and again some depictions of the boats in question...

http://www.worldencompassed.com/warsici ... puppa.html

Madcam.