07-03-2013, 08:14 PM
I agree that relief of front line soldiers happened when there was lull in combat, apparently very common of era. Clash of waves, I think, is very good analogue. This apparently does not include removing wounded from front line, since I think it was imperative to keep that line intact and have someone step in immediately.
I wonder if Romans (for manpower reasons and need to get maximum number of men active in combat) often deployed ranks more than 4 deep (of course triplex acies was quite common, but different from century). There are some exceptions, like Pompeius in Pharsalus, of course. If legion was understrength, even if it's like 60 men in century, it's be foolhardy to deploy e.g. 6 ranks deep and only 10 wide...risking envelopment.
I wonder if Romans (for manpower reasons and need to get maximum number of men active in combat) often deployed ranks more than 4 deep (of course triplex acies was quite common, but different from century). There are some exceptions, like Pompeius in Pharsalus, of course. If legion was understrength, even if it's like 60 men in century, it's be foolhardy to deploy e.g. 6 ranks deep and only 10 wide...risking envelopment.
(Mika S.)
"Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris? Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior." - Catullus -
"Nemo enim fere saltat sobrius, nisi forte insanit."
"Audendo magnus tegitur timor." -Lucanus-
"Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris? Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior." - Catullus -
"Nemo enim fere saltat sobrius, nisi forte insanit."
"Audendo magnus tegitur timor." -Lucanus-
