Employing war elephants

[philsidnell]

It seems clear that it would be easier to shoot from the back of a stationary elephant and so using them simply as a missile platform might seem logical. However, as always we must remember that just because something was possible or even sensible, that doesn't mean that is what happened. In the Western world at least all the literary evidence suggests the elephants themselves were the primary weapon, using their bulk for shock action (or the threat of it - their mere presence being an effective deterrent to cavalry - as at Ipsos). Besides, as I see it, each elephant represents a very big investment in logistical and financial effort (not to mention actual risk if the thing runs amok), just to give one or two archers a better view.

Phil Sidnell