<?xml version="1.0" ?><?encoding UTF-16?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../xsl/unit.xsl"?><unit><full_name>african missile slingers</full_name><dictionary>african_missile_slingers</dictionary><category>infantry</category><class>missile</class><voice_type>General_1</voice_type><soldier><name>african_missile_african_iberian_rhodian_slingers</name><soldiers>30</soldiers><extras>0</extras><mass>0.85</mass></soldier><mount_effect>horse -2, chariot +2, elephant +1</mount_effect><attributes>sea_faring, hide_improved_forest, can_sap, very_hardy, hide_long_grass, mercenary_unit</attributes><formation><side_spacing>2.8</side_spacing><front_spacing>3.5</front_spacing><loose_side_spacing>3.4</loose_side_spacing><loose_front_spacing>4.8</loose_front_spacing><ranks>5</ranks><formations>square</formations></formation><stat_health><hit_points>1</hit_points><animal_hit_points>1</animal_hit_points></stat_health><stat_pri><attack>1</attack><charge>0</charge><missile_type>stone</missile_type><range>162.8</range><ammo>25</ammo><weapon_type>missile</weapon_type><tech_type>archery</tech_type><dammage_type>blunt</dammage_type><sound>none</sound><min_delay>15</min_delay><lethality>1</lethality></stat_pri><stat_pri_attr>ap</stat_pri_attr><stat_sec><attack>7</attack><charge>0</charge><missile_type>no</missile_type><range>0</range><ammo>0</ammo><weapon_type>melee</weapon_type><tech_type>simple</tech_type><dammage_type>piercing</dammage_type><sound>knife</sound><min_delay>0</min_delay><lethality>0.04</lethality></stat_sec><stat_sec_attr>no</stat_sec_attr><stat_pri_armour><armour>1</armour><def_skill>7</def_skill><shield>1</shield><sound>flesh</sound></stat_pri_armour><stat_sec_armour><armour>0</armour><def_skill>0</def_skill><sound>flesh</sound></stat_sec_armour><stat_heat>1</stat_heat><stat_ground><scrub>0</scrub><sand>0</sand><forest>0</forest><snow>-1</snow></stat_ground><stat_mental><morale>8</morale><discipline>low</discipline><training>untrained</training></stat_mental><stat_fire_delay>0</stat_fire_delay><stat_food>60, 300</stat_food><stat_cost><turns>1</turns><cost>520</cost><upkeep>130</upkeep><upgrade_weapon>40</upgrade_weapon><upgrade_armour>60</upgrade_armour><custom_battle>520</custom_battle></stat_cost><ownership>slave, numidia, macedon, thrace, greek_cities, egypt, spain, seleucid</ownership><description><name>Qala'im Numidim (Numidian Slingers)</name><short>Numidian slingers came from the shepherd nomads who used their slings to protect their herds from predators. They're quite skilled with their slings, which truly is a deceptively simple weapon.</short><long>Impetuous
Hardy

Numidian slingers came from the shepherd nomads who used their slings to protect their herds from predators. They're quite skilled with their slings, which truly is a deceptively simple weapon. One end of the sling is looped around his wrist while the other is released when the stone is launched. A sling bullet would not be seen in flight and was capable of shattering a shield or penetrating unarmored flesh to a range of about 100 metres when slung by a skilled man.

Numidian slingers are best used as light skirmishers. With no armor and very simple melee weapons, they rush forward toward the enemy to pepper them with stones, only to flee when threatened.

Historically, slingers seem to have been used in almost all corners of the world in some form and North Africa was no exception.Hand slings are very easy and cheap to make, and yet they are a respectable weapon. They generally consisted of a single long strip of leather or woven wool, with a central "pocket" for the stone. The longer the sling, the greater its range.</long></description></unit>