I have tried to describe most successful military techniques of ancient and medieval period's. And there origins are somehow related to three great warriors Alexander ,Hannibal, Genghis Khan, though they were used by so many Kings/Generals subsequently.Have a look
Phalanx:
Perfected by Philip II of Macedon, best known as Alexander the Great's dad, the augmented phalanx of massed infantry wielding 17-foot long spears (larissa) dominated the traditional line of battle formations in the warfare of Greek city-states and proved highly effective against much larger heterogeneous formations of the Persian empire:
Like their opponents, the Macedonians relied on the power of the offensive lineman to break the enemy line, after which organized opposition was ended. The innovation was doing so with a standoff weapon.
Movie 300 actually showcases a close knit Phalanx Formation.
Double Envelopment:
The pincer movement, or double envelopment, is a military maneuver in which forces simultaneously attack both flanks (sides) of an enemy formation. The name comes from visualizing the action as the split attacking forces "pinching" the enemy.
The pincer movement typically occurs when opposing forces advance towards the center of an army that responds by moving its outside forces to the enemy's flanks to surround it. At the same time, a second layer of pincers may attack on the more distant flanks to keep reinforcements from the target units.
The most famous example of its use was at the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC, when Hannibal executed the maneuver against the Romans. Military historians view this as one of the greatest battlefield maneuvers in history, and cite it as the first successful use of the pincer movement that was recorded in detail,by the Greek historian Polybius.
It continued to be used through out the Medieval History even after the advent of Gunpowder.
Babur had used the same technique against Ibrahim Lodhi at Panipat in 1526 and Rana Sanga at Khanwa in 1527. It is said that Babur introduced the guns(toaps/cannons) for the first time in India so he won, but he actually used this technique to good effect in both battles.His center was protected by line of bullock carts tied together with leather rope and cannons between the gap of the carts.He attacked the enemy center with cannons and and his cavalry attacked Lodhi/Sanga from left and right flanks.
German Blitzkrieg during WW-2 was an application of Double Envelopment, where instead of mere infantry it developed into a complex multi-discipline endeavor that involved fast movement by mechanized armor, artillery barrages, air force bombardment, and effective radio communications.
Feigned retreat:
Another standoff weapon system had great tactical success, the combination of archery and mobility deployed by the Mongol armies
The use of this system was based on hit, retreat, turn, divide and hunt operating with ease over usually winter terrain that infantry was ill adapted to and a logistical system that relied solely on local forage.
Army of Genghis Khan constantly used this technique against their opponents , drawing them in pursuit raining them with arrows. Finally when the enemy lines lost discipline and energy in pursuit, the Mongols used to ambush them. This pursuit could continue for days and the exhausted army was finally defeated easily.
This ability of firing shots while still on horseback is common with all steppe nomads like Mongols,Turks,Huns, Parthinas. In fact this typical shot is called the Parthian Shot.
Parting shot(a hostile remark or gesture delivered while departing) an idiom in English is borrowed from this Parthian Shot.
It is to be noted that Genghis Khan was a Buddhist and not a Muslim. Khan was the surname of Mongol chiefs, which was later on adopted by Muslims.He in fact sacked the city of Baghdad and the Muslim Caliph was rolled into carpet and killed by hoofs of horses.
Conclusion:
Genghis Khan's Feigned Retreat was pitted against Hannibal's Double Envelopment tactic for the X-Factor of Battfield Tactics. The edge was given to Genghis Khan for his tactical ability in luring away and weakening the enemy.
Also the close knit Phalanx does not stand a chance against the elite mongol cavalry.The only way any infantry formation can stand against the cavalry is when they have pikes/long spears and the cavaliers charge at them.
But instead of charging the Mongol Rider/Archer would have always showered arrows from 500 yards and thus could easily harass any Phalanx formation.
It can be safely argued that without Cannons/Guns/Firepower , Feigned Retreat is the best tactics ever.
Phalanx:
Perfected by Philip II of Macedon, best known as Alexander the Great's dad, the augmented phalanx of massed infantry wielding 17-foot long spears (larissa) dominated the traditional line of battle formations in the warfare of Greek city-states and proved highly effective against much larger heterogeneous formations of the Persian empire:
Movie 300 actually showcases a close knit Phalanx Formation.
Double Envelopment:
The pincer movement, or double envelopment, is a military maneuver in which forces simultaneously attack both flanks (sides) of an enemy formation. The name comes from visualizing the action as the split attacking forces "pinching" the enemy.
The pincer movement typically occurs when opposing forces advance towards the center of an army that responds by moving its outside forces to the enemy's flanks to surround it. At the same time, a second layer of pincers may attack on the more distant flanks to keep reinforcements from the target units.
The most famous example of its use was at the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC, when Hannibal executed the maneuver against the Romans. Military historians view this as one of the greatest battlefield maneuvers in history, and cite it as the first successful use of the pincer movement that was recorded in detail,by the Greek historian Polybius.
It continued to be used through out the Medieval History even after the advent of Gunpowder.
Babur had used the same technique against Ibrahim Lodhi at Panipat in 1526 and Rana Sanga at Khanwa in 1527. It is said that Babur introduced the guns(toaps/cannons) for the first time in India so he won, but he actually used this technique to good effect in both battles.His center was protected by line of bullock carts tied together with leather rope and cannons between the gap of the carts.He attacked the enemy center with cannons and and his cavalry attacked Lodhi/Sanga from left and right flanks.
German Blitzkrieg during WW-2 was an application of Double Envelopment, where instead of mere infantry it developed into a complex multi-discipline endeavor that involved fast movement by mechanized armor, artillery barrages, air force bombardment, and effective radio communications.
Feigned retreat:
Another standoff weapon system had great tactical success, the combination of archery and mobility deployed by the Mongol armies
The use of this system was based on hit, retreat, turn, divide and hunt operating with ease over usually winter terrain that infantry was ill adapted to and a logistical system that relied solely on local forage.
Army of Genghis Khan constantly used this technique against their opponents , drawing them in pursuit raining them with arrows. Finally when the enemy lines lost discipline and energy in pursuit, the Mongols used to ambush them. This pursuit could continue for days and the exhausted army was finally defeated easily.
This ability of firing shots while still on horseback is common with all steppe nomads like Mongols,Turks,Huns, Parthinas. In fact this typical shot is called the Parthian Shot.
Parting shot(a hostile remark or gesture delivered while departing) an idiom in English is borrowed from this Parthian Shot.
It is to be noted that Genghis Khan was a Buddhist and not a Muslim. Khan was the surname of Mongol chiefs, which was later on adopted by Muslims.He in fact sacked the city of Baghdad and the Muslim Caliph was rolled into carpet and killed by hoofs of horses.
Conclusion:
Genghis Khan's Feigned Retreat was pitted against Hannibal's Double Envelopment tactic for the X-Factor of Battfield Tactics. The edge was given to Genghis Khan for his tactical ability in luring away and weakening the enemy.
Also the close knit Phalanx does not stand a chance against the elite mongol cavalry.The only way any infantry formation can stand against the cavalry is when they have pikes/long spears and the cavaliers charge at them.
But instead of charging the Mongol Rider/Archer would have always showered arrows from 500 yards and thus could easily harass any Phalanx formation.
It can be safely argued that without Cannons/Guns/Firepower , Feigned Retreat is the best tactics ever.
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