Munition armour (also "munitions-grade armour", "munition quality armour") was mass-producedarmour stockpiled inarmouries to equip bothfoot soldiers andmountedcuirassiers.
During theLate Middle Ages,plate armour was expensive and tailor-made for the wearer. Consequently, it was generally reserved fornobility. During theEnglish Civil War, acuirassier's armour could weigh between 32 and 45 kilograms (71 and 99 lb),[1] making this form of armour prohibitively costly and heavy. For these reasons, full plate armour started to disappear during the first few years of the conflict.
Early Modern warfare was characterized by the establishment ofstanding armies equipped with mass-producedordnance weapons. Munitions-grade armour was produced in bothEurope andJapan beginning in the 15th century to equip the standing armies developed from this period.
Munition armour was of a standard pattern with interchangeable pieces. It was often made ofiron or sometimes analloy of iron containing a small amount ofphosphorus, which gave a marginal increase inhardness.[2] The phosphorus content may have been due to the use of high-phosphorusores or the use ofcoal insmithing.[3]
InJapan, the warfare of theSengoku period (15th and 16th centuries) required large quantities of armour to be produced for the ever growing armies of foot soldiers (ashigaru). Simple munition quality (okashi or lent)[4] cuirasses (dō) and helmets (kabuto) were mass-produced including foldable suits, liketatami armour.[5]Tatami armour was made from small iron or leather plates that were usually connected to each other by mail.[6]
| Head |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Face | ||
| Neck | ||
| Torso | ||
| Arms | ||
| Legs | ||
| Pieces | ||