Are we talking about actually "swimming" in water or merely staying afloat?

I was thinking swimming and floating as that is an essential if you wish to stay above water :p

There is alot of knowledge in this forum. Is there not a medieval / Renaissance reference that details drowning deaths vs. survivors in an assault, landing, or ship disaster of some sort? I am suprised that I have not seen something along these lines by now...There has to be historical precedent somewhere.

Sirs-I am thinking of the accounts I have read about the battle of Towton, the longest and bloodiest battle ever fought in Medieval England. King Edward IV pinned the Lancastrian army against Cock Brook at Towton, and after a day-long battle ( over 12 hrs) smashed it. The casualty lists were added to by the fact that when the Lancastrians tried to retreat, they only had a small bridge to cross the brook,and many hundreds drowned trying to swim across, to the point the bodies dammed up the brook The Yorkist army, was totally pissed, and was giving no quarter, not even to nobles.In fact Edward had given orders prior to the battle to execute all knights and nobles on the spot, also any commons who refused to surrender.Edward was trying to destroy the House of Lancaster once and for all.

I think part of the issue of using accounts such as Towton is the context. In many places it does seem likely people could not swim. I'd have to look and see what has been done on the topic. Understanding of swimming aside....The fact they drown after a massive battle might be less armour as armour + fatigue + crowds + water pressure=drowning. After a long day of fighting then being pushed into a moving river and then being caught in the press of hundreds if not more pushing to try getting across the weight of armour is just one of many factors.

At Sluys there are mentions of men without much armour drowning as well so clearly in this case not a factor.

RPM

The material I have seen on Japanese techniques for swimming in full armour has shown them holding their sword and bow out of the water with one hand and swimming submerged, only surfacing to inhale. I would expect a similar strategy in the case of successful European swimming, though I expect that ditching the helmet and gauntlets would be the first order of business. It's what I'd do.

I remember reading of a French? knight who used to practice swimming in his armour and advocated all should learn as bridges were common and also reading of how the Germans defeated the romans etc but I do not remember his name :\