Commands.

This is coolbert:

Here is an extract from a web site that illustrates HOW the Romans employed their missile firing troops as part of the combined arms concept.

[missile firing troops in this instance consists of archers, sling and javelin throwers!!]

Keep in mind that those sling throwers [peltists] are heaving at you a solid lead projectile the size of a human kidney. This is a glandes.

The missile firing troops supporting the men-a-foot [infantry] in combat.

It has been noted in a previous blog entry that the Assyrians of old also arrayed THEIR missile firing troops in a similar manner as part of THEIR combined arms concept.

Perhaps the Romans brought the combined arms concept to a much more higher degree of development than did the Assyrians!!??

At any rate, we DO HAVE more info on the subject from Roman times.

From the web site:

"ROMAN BATTLE TACTICS
The following description is just one typical battle tactic that could be employed against the enemy.

The Signifer sounds the call for Battle Formation as the order is shouted, "Form Battle Lines! Battle!" Ad aciem - Pugna! The Centurio gives the order to follow the standard and march towards the enemy, Signo sequate - Moveo! A halt is ordered when the front line reaches a distance of about 100 yards from the enemy's front. Consiste! The Archers and Slingers are ordered forward about 25 yards. The Archers fire a high arcing shower of arrows. The Slingers fire a lower trajectory aimed at the enemy's waist and head.




After a period of time, the Slingers are ordered to the rear. The Archers will continue to fire their arrows while the Legion's front advances past them to a distance that is about 100 feet from the enemy. The front two ranks will now receive the order to plant their pila [javelin]. Pila infige! The Optio marks the front line. The Centurio now gives the order to throw the pilum. Pila iace! This is quickly followed by the order to throw their second pilum. Swords are now drawn and the advance is made to engage the enemy. Gladium stringe! Parati - Oppugnare! - Impetus!



The next two rows advance to the Optio's mark. Now they, in turn, repeat the action of throwing their two pila. Swords are drawn and held at the ready as they slowly move forward to back up the front ranks, now engaging the enemy. The archers have ceased firing. The fifth row is stationed nearby as a reserve line."



Several things to note here:

The archers are firing in a manner for their arrows to descend from a high arc [plunging], while the slingers are throwing in a manner so that their glandes have a "lower trajectory"!! The targets must contend with missiles coming from two directions at once!!

The commands for the Roman missile firing troops are standardized and SIMPLE!! Roman soldiers from all corners of the realm would NOT need be THAT conversant in Latin to be useful and efficient soldiers. Knowing only a few simple commands would be ADEQUATE!! Recall my previous blog entry where Suvorov states that the Soviet soldier, regardless of nationality, regardless of proficiency in Russian, KNEW ten simple commands that would suffice in combat!!

Roman cavalry would of course be waiting in the wings, ready to exploit gaps in the enemy defenses created by the infantry advance.

Such combined arms tactics show a very marked and high degree of military knowledge honed and developed over centuries!! Tactics that served the Romans and the Assyrians before them very well!!

coolbert.