How effective was Lorica Segmentata?

[mcbishop]

Lorica Segmentata provided better protection in the shoulders. It uses lower quality iron however.

Not sure what the justification for that last statement is, but David Sim's metallographic analyses of original segmentata plates shows them to be of very good quality steel with few slag inclusions. In fact, he rates it more highly than Renaissance plate armour :-)

Mike Bishop