05-21-2008, 08:24 PM
Well...
In my other period, we practice breaking and reforming by battalion. I have to confess it would sure help Hoplites.
In 18th C. warfare, every soldier knew his file parters and his place in the ranks--sometimes for years (and then some disease or a battle would ruin everything.) I suspect from lines in Plato that Hoplites were the same--once you were appointed to a place in the phalanx, you kept it all summer long. So in fact, a general COULD break and reform. Tough, but doable.
I mention this because once you know your place in the line, so to speak, all those file maneuvers are really easy. We do your illustration 2 all the time with 60-100 men. You don't have to count paces--if everyone knows their spot, and if the file leaders all stick out their spear arm as they "come up on line" to insure the spacing, you'll find that the whole block forms naturally, and very fast. No one needs to count their paces after they've done it ten or fifteen times, even with 300 men. I suspect with enough practice, even 1000s of men could do it without so much counting.
In my other period, we practice breaking and reforming by battalion. I have to confess it would sure help Hoplites.
In 18th C. warfare, every soldier knew his file parters and his place in the ranks--sometimes for years (and then some disease or a battle would ruin everything.) I suspect from lines in Plato that Hoplites were the same--once you were appointed to a place in the phalanx, you kept it all summer long. So in fact, a general COULD break and reform. Tough, but doable.
I mention this because once you know your place in the line, so to speak, all those file maneuvers are really easy. We do your illustration 2 all the time with 60-100 men. You don't have to count paces--if everyone knows their spot, and if the file leaders all stick out their spear arm as they "come up on line" to insure the spacing, you'll find that the whole block forms naturally, and very fast. No one needs to count their paces after they've done it ten or fifteen times, even with 300 men. I suspect with enough practice, even 1000s of men could do it without so much counting.
Qui plus fait, miex vault.
