03-25-2008, 12:47 AM
This may be going off topic slightly so apologies if it is not relevant.
There a couple of interesting late antique combined siege ops you might want to look at but the sources do not give much detail.
Aquileia 361:
Ammianus 21;11,2 gives us the defenders' strength. Immo commanded the siege. He set up a double shield line around the walls but failed to get a peaceful submission. At dawn an assault was made. Attempts to undermine the wall from behind the safety of mantlets and screens and to scale it were beaten off. Presumably because of the terrain, rams and mines could not be used. The defenders put artillery in suitable spots. The besiegers mounted towers on ships and approached the wall. The troops above would cover the light armed men below who were to cross to the walls on bridges and try to open it to the rest of the attackers. Artillery fire, flaming dart & other combustibles fired them and some toppled over. Next day another ground assault using tortoise shield formation failed. Some who crossed the moat were hit by sallies from gates and an unseen ditch. A blockade started and the aqueducts were cut and the river diverted. News of Constantius' death ended the siege.
Panormus 535
Procopius Wars 5:5;12-15. The Ostrogoths shut themselves in the city and were determined to hold out as the town had strong fortifications. Belisarius considered the landward approaches to be strong so he ordered the fleet into the harbour which was not included in the circuit walls. The ships went right up to the walls and the masts topped the walls. Therefore he put archers into small boats and hoisted them up to the top of the masts to shoot down on the enemy and clear the parapet. The terrified Goths surrendered the city. The siege can only have lasted a day or two, probably with only a few hours fighting if even that.
Hope you find that interesting, if not exactly what you were looking for.
There a couple of interesting late antique combined siege ops you might want to look at but the sources do not give much detail.
Aquileia 361:
Ammianus 21;11,2 gives us the defenders' strength. Immo commanded the siege. He set up a double shield line around the walls but failed to get a peaceful submission. At dawn an assault was made. Attempts to undermine the wall from behind the safety of mantlets and screens and to scale it were beaten off. Presumably because of the terrain, rams and mines could not be used. The defenders put artillery in suitable spots. The besiegers mounted towers on ships and approached the wall. The troops above would cover the light armed men below who were to cross to the walls on bridges and try to open it to the rest of the attackers. Artillery fire, flaming dart & other combustibles fired them and some toppled over. Next day another ground assault using tortoise shield formation failed. Some who crossed the moat were hit by sallies from gates and an unseen ditch. A blockade started and the aqueducts were cut and the river diverted. News of Constantius' death ended the siege.
Panormus 535
Procopius Wars 5:5;12-15. The Ostrogoths shut themselves in the city and were determined to hold out as the town had strong fortifications. Belisarius considered the landward approaches to be strong so he ordered the fleet into the harbour which was not included in the circuit walls. The ships went right up to the walls and the masts topped the walls. Therefore he put archers into small boats and hoisted them up to the top of the masts to shoot down on the enemy and clear the parapet. The terrified Goths surrendered the city. The siege can only have lasted a day or two, probably with only a few hours fighting if even that.
Hope you find that interesting, if not exactly what you were looking for.
Stephen McCotter
