Roman Tactics Beat Brits

Tribal leaders are claiming that the Roman army's advanced tactics and armour has made it impossible for them to repel the Roman invasion.

The Roman army has been able to conquer great swathes of Britannia with ease, while the less well-organised Britons have been able to do very little about it despite fighting hard.

Metal armour is one of the Romans' main advantages.

Those who have seen the Roman army in action believe that the armour and tactics have given the invading forces a huge advantage over the aggressive but less well-equipped Britannic tribesman.

One tactic seen quite frequently is something called a testudo (tortoise). A group of soldiers can get close together and form a protective shell with their shields. This helps them when they attack a town as they can safely get close to the gates without being hit by arrows.

A soldier has a bronze helmet to protect his head and face. Over his tunic he wears body armour. It is made of metal plates joined together. This means he can move around.

He carries a curved shield to protect himself. It covers a soldier from his knees to his chin. The curve helps to protect the soldier's sides. Made of wood, with a bronze edge and boss in the middle it appears to have a hand grip at the back to allow the soldier to use his free hand for fighting.

To keep him warm a soldier wears a woollen cloak. The army reportedly looks alarming as it comes near closer, with its swinging cloaks, gleaming armour and tall fluttering standards.

Strong leather sandals with metal studs on the sole mean the soldier can march for many miles every day if needed. It is easy for army shoemakers to mend them.

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