Wheeling the phalanx

[Severus]

Why would this be a problem? I assume all lifted their lances and faced in another direction? That's 'about face', right?

V.S. I don't know. I am not sure if each rank of the phalanx has an equal length of spears. If they are all equipped the same I would assume a simple pivot 90 degrees would be simpler but again my knowledge of the phalanx is pretty limited. . .If they had different length pikes and had to be arrayed very specifically then a 90 or 180 turn would be much more involved of a maneuver.

Or do you mean a wheel where the front line remains the front line, with one man standing still and the ones at the other end make a 90-degree turn?

I was not asking about a wheel, but heck! I'd be interested to know how well a phalanx could wheel if anyone cares to offer that up as well. . .

T. Gabinus, thanks for the answer but I was looking for something more specific than "real long" . . . for example if the phalanx saw an enemy approaching from their flank at about 500 yards could they reorder themselves in time to face that enemy head on? Would it be a matter of seconds (10, 20, 30) or are we talking several minutes or more to reorder the phalanx?

Thanks for the speedy replies!


Matt Webster