2 28mm chariots

This chariot is an Iron Age Celtic Briton Chariot, these were first recorded by Julius Caesar after his 55 BCE invasion of Britain.  In his account he stated that;

“In chariot fighting the Britons begin by driving all over the field hurling javelins, and generally the terror inspired by the horses and the noise of the wheels are sufficient to throw their opponents’ ranks into disorder. Then, after making their way between the squadrons of their own cavalry, they jump down from the chariot and engage on foot. In the meantime their charioteers retire a short distance from the battle and place the chariots in such a position that their masters, if hard pressed by numbers, have an easy means of retreat to their own lines. Thus they combine the mobility of cavalry with the staying power of infantry; and by daily training and practice they attain such proficiency that even on a steep incline they are able to control the horses at full gallop, and to check and turn them in a moment. They can run along the chariot pole, stand on the yoke, and get back into the chariot as quick as lightning”

These chariots were such a shock for Caesar and his men because not only did they make a thunderous din but chariots had not been used in actual mass battle on continental Europe for centuries.  Made of wood and metal they also used a lot of leather.  When in earshot of thousands of chariots the terrible noise they made was probably also due to the creaking strains of woven leather flooring, sprung across the bed of the chariots; thousands of creaking suspended floors along with the din from the iron rimmed wheels (originally a Celtic invention to prolong the life of a wheel) was enough to cause disorder even among the massed ranks of Roman’s Legions.

The British continued to use chariots in battle, even after the Claudian invasion of 43 AD, as at the battle of Mons Graupius (83 AD) where they were said to have ‘filled the middle of the plain, making a din as they rode back and forth’.  Though by the time of this battle the Roman Auxilia were not so intimidated by such a terror weapon.

Supplied unassembled.