Ashigaru Missile Troops

Ashigaru Missile Troops

The biggest change in the Sengoku Period (1467-1603) would affect the role of missile troops in battle. At the start of the period these would all be armed with the Yumi (bow) and would fight in coordinated units to pepper the enemy with their arrows. This bow, like the equivalent English Longbow, took many years of training to master, but was lethal when used correctly. Due to the training required, there were never as many Yumi armed troops as a Daimyo might want!

This would change with the introduction of firearms in 1543 via some Portuguese traders. It wasn't long before clever Daimyos saw the opportunity they presented. As in Europe, the relative lack of training required to use one meant that Teppo (muskets) quickly superseded the Yumi as the missile weapon of choice.

With no gunpowder weapons prior to their introduction within 60 years, the numbers of Yumi on the battlefield outnumbered 4 or 5 to 1, but the Yumi didn't disappear and there were always Yumi armed troops amongst the Teppo, helping to protect them while they reloaded.

This product contains:
- 20 plastic Ashigaru with bow and arquebus
- Decal sheet with Takeda Clan markings
- Assembly leaflet
- Plastic bases

Models supplied unassembled and unpainted.