Jonathan Locke

I would have to say the Spinning Wheel. A round formation, where whenver a threat comes it is flexible enough to switch into different mode, without breaking the original formation. Althought this startegy is very ancient

Officer of Engineers

Translation: A bullseye target.

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Chimo

Veni Vidi Vici

eh.. The phalanx was pretty impressive but slightly inflexible and very veunerable from the sides or rear. The testudo was also very impressive when trying to seige a fortress and protect for arrows but was some what impractical for meele combat. I would have to go with phalanx in the end however... I like the greek armor, it looks pretty tight(even though it is impractical.)

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EricTheRed

In what situation? You need to use different tatics in different situations

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Praxus

Roman Cohort Formation Circa 1st Century AD. I also like the Hoplite and Macidonian phalanx's.

Veni Vidi Vici

Alexander really did take the greek concept and turn it into an unstoppable fighting force with his macedonian troops. Great man Alexander, shame he was gay.

Praxus

He wasn't homosexual. If you read Plutarch or the other histories about him, you will find absolutely no reference to him being a homosexual or even bisexual. All they did mention was some extreme caring friendships which might be interprated as being a homosexual relationship, but there is no real evidence.

I wouldn't call the Macedonians an unstoppable fighting force either. Titus Flaminius kicked the crap out of Philip V of Macedon(not exactly that extreme, but he was defeated rather easily, compared to what Rome put up with, with Hannibal). This was something like a century and a half after Alexanders death. I doubt Alexander would have faired to much better against Rome.

Veni Vidi Vici

He most certainly was homosexual, he married because he wanted heirs. It is commonly accepted and proven that he was homosexual. I will provide proof of this as soon as i get the time.


I was refering to macedonia under the rule of alexander.

Praxus

Warning, I won't accept a modern historians interpretation, only direct quotes from ancient historians which had actual real knowledge of him available to them.

Ok, but his father built the Army, Alexander just lead it extremely well.

ChrisF202

The Zulu "horns"

Parihaka

codebreaking, nothing better than knowing what your enemy is thinking / doing.

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dalem

The Holding Attack, particularly as applied by the U.S. Army in WWII.

-dale

Bluesman

Reverse-slope Defense. It works for almost any period, right up to the present day.

In this way, the enemy's firepower (presumably superior to yours, as he's the one attacking) is negated, but yours will be maximized on each of his leading elements as they come into line-of-sight over the crest.

Since the advent of accurate indirect fire, you can even take away the one advantage that the reverse-slope defense would ordinarily concede to the attacker: the ability to approach to close proximity of your forces' defenses unmolested. He's on his side of the hill, massing and preparing to rush you, you're on your side, dug in and guns trained on the crest. Pre-register his likely marshalling areas, and when your carefully-hidden forward obsevers tell you he's got sufficient concentrations, drop a barrage on 'em, and see if he can even get himself together afterwards to press the attack.

If he does want to press on, he will have no recon, because whatever pokes its nose over the crest gets instantly wasted, by everything that has a weapon.

If he's not discouraged yet, he'll send the main body over the hill, and it becomes a shooting gallery. You can fight him on usually even terms, because he won't be able to send his superior force all at once. Kill as many as you can see, wait for the next wave, lather, rinse, repeat.

Here's a good explanation of the 'how-to'..

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Officer of Engineers

recee by fire - self explanetory.

Hawk_eye

Ahh i see there is mention of Alexander, Truly a great King and Greater Leader!

However i prefer the art of Defensive warfare, as stated by Carl Von Clausewitz is both mlitarily and politically the stronger position. He further stated that strategy should aim at three main targets: the enemy's forces, his resources, and his will to fight and although with the development of Long Range Artillary and modern warfare tactics, the basic principals laid down by Clausewitz still apply today.

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