Missile or Melee Light Chariot Missile Platform or Medium Chariot Melee Cart This article should serve to initiate some animated controversy on the subject of ancient military technology and doctrine. I will present my take on this period and await your contrary (or similar) opinions on the subject. Initially we shall deal with the chariots of the adversaries; then a bit upon the tactical organizations of the two powers and the difference in doctrines. THE VARYING APPROACH TO MOBILE WARFARE Hittite chariots were the "Heavy" Chariots of their day. In light of future chariot developments (Assyrians with very large four-horse vehicles) we shall refer to these Hittite Chariots as Medium Chariots in order to differentiate them. They were intended to be used in a melee-oriented manner. They offered the ability (with the runner now mounted as crewman) to deliver a fairly large body of high-quality soldiery for combat on the move or to a point for dismounted action if necessary. We have (using wargame parlance) a heavily-armored spearman armed with a "boar" (large/long) spear and a medium spearmen with shield and normal thrusting spear plus a designated driver well-trained in handling this somewhat cumbersome, rather heavy vehicle constructed of wood with the axle placed under the center of the cab to bear the weight of three men and a more sturdy and shielding enclosure. Medium Chariots could often be used successfully against looselyformed bodies of troops and perhaps even against formations of medium archers upon occasion. These were not very maneuverable and were primarily utilized in line abreast in a fairly straight charge ahead tactic. Turning was not their strength and too much of a turn could upset the vehicle. The Hittites grouped their Medium Chariots into Chariot Divisions of some size with no contingent foot elements attached. In fact, during this period it was often a chariot battle which decided the day with no involvement of infantry 'til the chariots had their go at it! These chariot Divisions were composed of Hittites and their rather unwilling satellites from the West including Arzawans (who were usually rebelling), Masa, Pitassa and of course the pre-Trojans, the Wilusians. There were a number of other Medium Chariot contributors from the Western third of Asia Minor which included a Hittite Military Colony designed to separate warring factions which was located in the Seha River Valley. Mira, Hapalla, Karkisa and even the Lukkan Pirates provided units increasing the strength of the Hittite Medium Chariot forces. CHARIOT FORMATIONS SERVING THE HITTITES From the East the Hittites were able to enroll Light Chariot units from"Syrian"sources which operated in columns as opposed to the line abreast of the heavier Medium Chariot formations. These Light Chariots were drawn from Carchemish, Allepo (our later name), Mitanni, Nusashshe, Ugarit, and Kinza (Qadesh). I am unaware as to whether the Chariots from Kizzuwadna were of the Light or "Medium" construction but I favor them being the lighter variety as they had infantry archer units unlike the Hittites who believed that melee settled the day and not missilery. The Maryanna Chariots were mounted missile platforms as opposed to the melee-oriented Hittite and Western Satellite Medium Chariots. They were not held in great esteem by the Hittites. The design of these lighter Chariots required the axle be placed at the extreme rear of the cab thus enabling the vehicle to be turned "on a dime". This was a very light affair which could be carried on the shoulders of one man. When we refer to Cannanite Chariots, we are speaking of this type. These Light formations were approximately one third of the Hittite strength with over two thirds being of the heavier Medium Chariot variety. THE HITTITE DOCTRINE OF WAR The Hittites utilized the heavier elements for the majority of their fighting. One has the impression that the lighter formations were given the follow-up/clean-up tasks. Lest you feel them deprived lower class units, consider the hosts of Spearmen and the few Archer units ordained as Light Infantry or Skirmishers who seldom even got in the fray. They occupied positions or stood by as back-up. It appears the Hittite doctrine was simply to: Defeat the opposing chariot forces with their powerful "Medium Chariots" in a melee-oriented action which gave a decisive conclusion to the battle and then mop-up the remaining enemy... having driven their Chariots (and likely their Nobility and Command) off the field. THE EGYPTIAN DOCTRINE OF WAR The Egyptians were of a different mind. Whether it be Infantry or Chariotry their mindset was for the missile! Defeat the enemy by filling them full of arrows! Avoid melee as much as possible. They took the use of their ALL light, fast-moving missile platform Light Chariots to a high level of organization. There were units of the right with the archer on the right of the driver. The column would make a left curve in front of the target area and as each member of the pedjet passed he would loose his arrow. Conversely, the left side units (with the archer on the left of the driver) would execute a right curve in order to maneuver their column into its target objective. In counter-chariot action it was bob and weave, shoot as often as possible and then shoot some more. The greatest problem would be the decision whether to trot and retain the support of the Chariot runners; or to take off with alacrity in order to outmaneuver the foe. With the axle at the rear of the cab these Light Chariots were extremely maneuverable and could literally run circles around the heavier, clumsier Hittite-style "Medium Chariots"; but beware if there were melee contact! Granted the Egyptians had yard-long "armor-piercing" arrows (those "Darts" we thought were javelins) but with a heavy boar spear, another normal spear and two Hittites poking at you... Egyptians were in a difficult situation close up ...particularly without their Runners.  EGYPTIAN "CORPS" ORGANIZATION The Egyptians had developed (during the period of the New Kingdom) a rather sophisticated Corps concept we would describe as COMBINED ARMS. Each of their four Line Divisions (named after gods: Amun, Re, Ptah and Set) had components of Medium Spearmen as melee troops (if the missiles did not stop an enemy attack), Medium Archers as massed-missile volley units (they also carried sidearms if needed), Light bowmen as long-range, aimed-fire light infantry in loose order contrasted to the close order of the native Egyptians comprising the Spear and Archer complements and finally a unit of loose-order javelin Lights. These loose order bows and javelins were typically Nubians, Lybians, Cannanites or other subject ethnicities. Of course, the elite force within each of these divisions were their Light Chariots, the Tanet-hetry! All these various types and functions united into a single corps offered a great deal of versatility as each Division was in effect a separate army capable of independent action on its own. Amun's color was red, Re's is blue, Ptah is green and Set offers yellow. My divisions use these characteristic colors for identification ... and it looks great! EGYPTIAN SPECIAL UNITS In addition to the four Line Divisions there was a Chariot Reserve which often was enhanced with Cannanite Maryanna. We are given to understand that Amurru was a contributor and it is likely that perhaps Solomon's Chariotry may have been utilized also as part of the Na'Arun who assisted so ably at Qadesh. A Guard Division is inferred which offers a native Egyptian Armored Spearmen Unit as well as a crack mercenary formation of Armored Shardana Swordsmen. I have added the Medjay Bowmen (Military Police for the Egyptian Army) and an elite Light Bow unit from the priests of Luxor (which I may be hard-pressed to legitimize) but it looks impressive and is not outside the realm of possibility. These are naturally Light Infantry elements (of WAB "Marine" status) intended to complement the heavy brigade. Naturally, the Chariot component for this Division is none other than the Pharaoh and his Personal Guard Pedjet in the finest of vehicles with the very best of horses! HITTITE ARMY ORGANIZATION In contrast, the Hittites grouped all their Chariots into Chariot Divisions. I have two Medium Chariot Divisions described as the Hittite Chariot Division and the Western Allies/Satellites Chariot Division. There is a third Light Chariot Division made up of the "Syrian" Light Chariots previously described. The Westerns were not enthusiastic but surprisingly it appears that the "Syrian" types were more cooperative. In fact, in a later era the Neo-Hittites were based out of Allepo and Carchemish. Spearmen were grouped into large masses without much sophistication. Some Light Infantry and Skirmishers were available but held in low regard. We are given to understand that at Qadesh there were two large spear masses without much distinction given. I have organized these types into a Hittite Infantry Division, a Western Allies / Satellite's Infantry Division and a "Syrian" Infantry Division. Each offers units of spearmen with a small number of Lights and Skirmishers. I have supplied my Order of Battle for your consideration as an addenda to this article; it may provide some suggestions for you. A SUMMARY OF THIS SUBJECT This is a match of night and day as the Egyptians build their battle plan on missile action; their fast-moving Light Chariots are nothing more than moving missile platforms ill suited to melee action. Large numbers of Medium Archers trained to issue arrow storms which can darken the sky are complemented by Light loose-order Bowmen skilled in taking aimed shots at specific targets; and these are supported by masses of close-order Spearmen enhanced by loose-order javelins. All these various components are woven into a series of integrated COMBINED ARMS tactics. The question becomes a matter of which doctrine will win the day in the late bronze age warfare of New Kingdom Egyptians tinder Rameses II verses trickv Muwattilis and his Hittite Confederation. Since the major tactical weapon of the time is the chariot, should we assume that the success or failure of either side's Chariotry would likely decide the issue? It might appear on paper that the Egyptian's ingenious organization and COMBINED ARMS approach should greatly affect the outcome yet the only example of adversarial combat for which we have much information (Qadesh) seems to alter this opinion in favor of the Hittites. It truly appears that the Egyptians were likely bested! However, this was not a set piece confrontation (which could have been more favorable to the Egyptians), rather it was a cleverly conceived and executed ambush taking the Egyptians in flank and stretched out in columns of march. It is up to us to simulate a number of battles using the forces in different scenarios in order to arrive at a conclusion; so I invite you to assist in this research by having a go at this period on the tabletop and reporting your results to me so we may once and for all determine whether it is MISSILE or MELEE which triumphs in this clash of concepts! We have played with these forces a number of times at shows and with local groups using both my CHARIOT rules (see Wargames Illustrated #164) and the popular WARHAMMERŽ ANCIENT BATTLES rules. See my WebSite at www.UncleDukes.com. You may also wish to reply to MWAN Magazine, via Letters to the Editor, so your response may be noted by others.  Egyptian and Hittite Orders of Battle Back to MWAN # 132 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2004 Legio X This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com