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How Effective Would War Mammoths be in Combat in a Medieval Civilization?
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In my book series, there is a planet called Ryu 108 that has domesticated mammoths. Here are some things to consider:
Due to the fact that space travel is done via magic instead of via technology, most of the galaxy is still technologically in either the classical, medieval, or renaissance eras, with even the most advanced civilizations only capable of using derpy muskets and primitive cannons.
Ryu 108 is based on Viking-age Scandinavia culture-wise and technology-wise
Unlike war elephants, these mammoths have been fully domesticated for thousands of years, meaning the temperament problem that real life war elephants suffered from has been greatly reduced
Mammoths used for war have been selectively bred to have 3 pairs of tusks (one long pair under the trunk like normal mammoths, with 2 shorter pairs on the sides and top of the trunk), as well as slightly less blubber and wool than their wild counterparts. They have also been selectively bred to resemble the steppe mammoth in terms of size, even though they are descended from wooly mammoths
Mammoths often wore giant suits of chainmail into battle (plate armor is too expensive to produce on this scale), though this had to be substituted for cotton or leather in warmer climates to prevent overheating
Mammoths were also used as beasts of burden and as livestock (but these are generally different breeds than the ones used in battle)
Although easier to acquire than elephants were in real life, war mammoths are still quite expensive to equip for battle as well as feed
Would these war mammoths be more useful than their real-world war elephant counterparts, or would they be just as much of, if not more of a cumbersome double-edged sword?
warfare fauna domestication
asked 4 hours ago
The Weasel Sagas
851117
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
In my book series, there is a planet called Ryu 108 that has domesticated mammoths. Here are some things to consider:
Due to the fact that space travel is done via magic instead of via technology, most of the galaxy is still technologically in either the classical, medieval, or renaissance eras, with even the most advanced civilizations only capable of using derpy muskets and primitive cannons.
Ryu 108 is based on Viking-age Scandinavia culture-wise and technology-wise
Unlike war elephants, these mammoths have been fully domesticated for thousands of years, meaning the temperament problem that real life war elephants suffered from has been greatly reduced
Mammoths used for war have been selectively bred to have 3 pairs of tusks (one long pair under the trunk like normal mammoths, with 2 shorter pairs on the sides and top of the trunk), as well as slightly less blubber and wool than their wild counterparts. They have also been selectively bred to resemble the steppe mammoth in terms of size, even though they are descended from wooly mammoths
Mammoths often wore giant suits of chainmail into battle (plate armor is too expensive to produce on this scale), though this had to be substituted for cotton or leather in warmer climates to prevent overheating
Mammoths were also used as beasts of burden and as livestock (but these are generally different breeds than the ones used in battle)
Although easier to acquire than elephants were in real life, war mammoths are still quite expensive to equip for battle as well as feed
Would these war mammoths be more useful than their real-world war elephant counterparts, or would they be just as much of, if not more of a cumbersome double-edged sword?
warfare fauna domestication
asked 4 hours ago
The Weasel Sagas
851117
Have a look at this post. worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/125973/…
– Shadowzee
4 hours ago
2
Mammoths were exterminated in prehistory by small hunting parties that which were far less sophisticated, organized, and wealthy than the armies you propose. Like war elephants (and most other superweapons), they are good for one or two uses...then lose their advantage as the enemy adapts.
– user535733
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
In my book series, there is a planet called Ryu 108 that has domesticated mammoths. Here are some things to consider:
Due to the fact that space travel is done via magic instead of via technology, most of the galaxy is still technologically in either the classical, medieval, or renaissance eras, with even the most advanced civilizations only capable of using derpy muskets and primitive cannons.
Ryu 108 is based on Viking-age Scandinavia culture-wise and technology-wise
Unlike war elephants, these mammoths have been fully domesticated for thousands of years, meaning the temperament problem that real life war elephants suffered from has been greatly reduced
Mammoths used for war have been selectively bred to have 3 pairs of tusks (one long pair under the trunk like normal mammoths, with 2 shorter pairs on the sides and top of the trunk), as well as slightly less blubber and wool than their wild counterparts. They have also been selectively bred to resemble the steppe mammoth in terms of size, even though they are descended from wooly mammoths
Mammoths often wore giant suits of chainmail into battle (plate armor is too expensive to produce on this scale), though this had to be substituted for cotton or leather in warmer climates to prevent overheating
Mammoths were also used as beasts of burden and as livestock (but these are generally different breeds than the ones used in battle)
Although easier to acquire than elephants were in real life, war mammoths are still quite expensive to equip for battle as well as feed
Would these war mammoths be more useful than their real-world war elephant counterparts, or would they be just as much of, if not more of a cumbersome double-edged sword?
warfare fauna domestication
asked 4 hours ago
The Weasel Sagas
851117
In my book series, there is a planet called Ryu 108 that has domesticated mammoths. Here are some things to consider:
Due to the fact that space travel is done via magic instead of via technology, most of the galaxy is still technologically in either the classical, medieval, or renaissance eras, with even the most advanced civilizations only capable of using derpy muskets and primitive cannons.
Ryu 108 is based on Viking-age Scandinavia culture-wise and technology-wise
Unlike war elephants, these mammoths have been fully domesticated for thousands of years, meaning the temperament problem that real life war elephants suffered from has been greatly reduced
Mammoths used for war have been selectively bred to have 3 pairs of tusks (one long pair under the trunk like normal mammoths, with 2 shorter pairs on the sides and top of the trunk), as well as slightly less blubber and wool than their wild counterparts. They have also been selectively bred to resemble the steppe mammoth in terms of size, even though they are descended from wooly mammoths
Mammoths often wore giant suits of chainmail into battle (plate armor is too expensive to produce on this scale), though this had to be substituted for cotton or leather in warmer climates to prevent overheating
Mammoths were also used as beasts of burden and as livestock (but these are generally different breeds than the ones used in battle)
Although easier to acquire than elephants were in real life, war mammoths are still quite expensive to equip for battle as well as feed
Would these war mammoths be more useful than their real-world war elephant counterparts, or would they be just as much of, if not more of a cumbersome double-edged sword?
warfare fauna domestication
warfare fauna domestication
asked 4 hours ago
The Weasel Sagas
851117
asked 4 hours ago
The Weasel Sagas
851117
edited 4 hours ago
asked 4 hours ago
The Weasel Sagas
851117
asked 4 hours ago
The Weasel Sagas
851117
asked 4 hours ago
The Weasel Sagas
851117
851117
Have a look at this post. worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/125973/…
– Shadowzee
4 hours ago
2
Mammoths were exterminated in prehistory by small hunting parties that which were far less sophisticated, organized, and wealthy than the armies you propose. Like war elephants (and most other superweapons), they are good for one or two uses...then lose their advantage as the enemy adapts.
– user535733
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
Have a look at this post. worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/125973/…
– Shadowzee
4 hours ago
2
Mammoths were exterminated in prehistory by small hunting parties that which were far less sophisticated, organized, and wealthy than the armies you propose. Like war elephants (and most other superweapons), they are good for one or two uses...then lose their advantage as the enemy adapts.
– user535733
2 hours ago
Have a look at this post. worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/125973/…
– Shadowzee
4 hours ago
Have a look at this post. worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/125973/…
– Shadowzee
4 hours ago
2
2
Mammoths were exterminated in prehistory by small hunting parties that which were far less sophisticated, organized, and wealthy than the armies you propose. Like war elephants (and most other superweapons), they are good for one or two uses...then lose their advantage as the enemy adapts.
– user535733
2 hours ago
Mammoths were exterminated in prehistory by small hunting parties that which were far less sophisticated, organized, and wealthy than the armies you propose. Like war elephants (and most other superweapons), they are good for one or two uses...then lose their advantage as the enemy adapts.
– user535733
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
In reality, if the enemy were prepared for them, not so much but when used against an enemy that had never seen one before, they would create fear.
See war elephants
The best way to take them out is caltrops as elephants have sensitive feet and I don't know how they'd take to wearing shoes. Set pike walls would also work.
What would be cool and would make them really dangerous is the handlers feeding them pain killers so they would be run away trains through the enemy ranks in a battle. Low survival rate but could really break an enemy's ranks.
answered 4 hours ago
Thorne
12.2k31735
Don't really know how a viking-age society could muster painkillers but I'll give it some thought.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
1
Opium poppies? Many natural plants that act as pain killers.
– Thorne
4 hours ago
Good thinking. I'll be sure to put this in the book series when I actually get to writing it.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
just get them drunk, in africa the elephants often get drunk eating fruits from the marula tree
– mgh42
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Totally Effective BUT Do not try to seige a castle!
Here is where I think War Elephants (or Mammoths) are best suited for war, because well, they are big! And will trample both friend and foe (but please focus on foe)
Charging through enemy ranks will not be a problem, however, some notes to truly make your war elephants the Key to victory.
1) War Formations
Most of the time, war movies during the medieval period has 3 main formations, the infantry, the archers, and the cavalry, while roman movies show a fourth, the siege engines(trebuchets, Catapults, Ballista, etc..).
Since you have not indicated your war formations, I'll be using the mammoths for siege transport. A plus for having mammoths.
2) Battle points
While most of the time the enemy would REALLy prepare for your mammoths, do take note that YOU SHOULD have prepared more than them. That's why most of the time, infantry are "sacrificed" in the battlefield, they march first because of this reasons
If the enemy launches an arrow barrage to your infantry, the time the cavalry attacks, the enemy would have less arrows. Most of the time, cavalry is more expensive because of the war beasts, and infantry men are more equipped to protect themselves on a arrow barragge.
Your infantry will step on the traps the enemy has prepared for your cavalry. Since Infantry men can be slaves, or soldiers wanna be to disposable footmen, you'll have plenty of mine sweepers so that your mammoth will pass through in a clear path.
Your infantry shall push or destroy any obstruction for your cavalry. What's the point of a cavalry charge if you already know that there are traps or spike protruding in the battlefield and you didn't even removed them? It will be costly to launch your cavalry to their deaths, launch the infantry, make them remove those things, then let the charge begin.
Your infantry's strength shall determine who launches their cavalry first. This will be your support for your mammoths, sure they can be expendable, but making them under armored, under armed, untrained and inexperience will seriously affect your battle plans. If they fall down really quick without accomplishing the two aforementioned tasks to them, you are seriously in danger, and the enemy general will just wait until your forces whittle down.
3) War strategy
War asset position: Your infantry will spear head your army, bring them up front. Followed by the archers at the rear. Siege machines will be behind archers, followed by the Mammoths.
Rain hell with your siege machines only, this is to avoid lots of protruding arrows on your side, so that your mammoths will gain enough acceleration to smash through enemy ranks, if they stepped on the arrows early on, then they might turn away from the charge.
Infantry to march towards the enemy, this is to remove or activate the traps on the field, step on any obstructions or spikes, and remove the spike walls that are around.
Archers will fire as Infantry support only IF they are engaged by enemies, this is again, to lessen the obstructions that your war mammoths will step on.
Your "Elepantry" SHOULD be lead by a very experienced commander. He has to evaluate the war, weather a full frontal charge from your cavalry, or a wave charge where your cavalry are divided into squads, charging wave after wave to the enemies, or an indirect attack where the cavalry will charge at the sides. The commander has to evaluate the situation that's happening in the battlefield since he holds in his command your highest valued asset, and strongest weapon.
All these is possible and yields the highest percentage of winning in all the situations during a war, but during a castle siege, your mammoths are no good and will just become work mules.
answered 1 hour ago
Mr.J
1,349628
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
In reality, if the enemy were prepared for them, not so much but when used against an enemy that had never seen one before, they would create fear.
See war elephants
The best way to take them out is caltrops as elephants have sensitive feet and I don't know how they'd take to wearing shoes. Set pike walls would also work.
What would be cool and would make them really dangerous is the handlers feeding them pain killers so they would be run away trains through the enemy ranks in a battle. Low survival rate but could really break an enemy's ranks.
answered 4 hours ago
Thorne
12.2k31735
Don't really know how a viking-age society could muster painkillers but I'll give it some thought.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
1
Opium poppies? Many natural plants that act as pain killers.
– Thorne
4 hours ago
Good thinking. I'll be sure to put this in the book series when I actually get to writing it.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
just get them drunk, in africa the elephants often get drunk eating fruits from the marula tree
– mgh42
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
In reality, if the enemy were prepared for them, not so much but when used against an enemy that had never seen one before, they would create fear.
See war elephants
The best way to take them out is caltrops as elephants have sensitive feet and I don't know how they'd take to wearing shoes. Set pike walls would also work.
What would be cool and would make them really dangerous is the handlers feeding them pain killers so they would be run away trains through the enemy ranks in a battle. Low survival rate but could really break an enemy's ranks.
answered 4 hours ago
Thorne
12.2k31735
Don't really know how a viking-age society could muster painkillers but I'll give it some thought.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
1
Opium poppies? Many natural plants that act as pain killers.
– Thorne
4 hours ago
Good thinking. I'll be sure to put this in the book series when I actually get to writing it.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
just get them drunk, in africa the elephants often get drunk eating fruits from the marula tree
– mgh42
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
In reality, if the enemy were prepared for them, not so much but when used against an enemy that had never seen one before, they would create fear.
See war elephants
The best way to take them out is caltrops as elephants have sensitive feet and I don't know how they'd take to wearing shoes. Set pike walls would also work.
What would be cool and would make them really dangerous is the handlers feeding them pain killers so they would be run away trains through the enemy ranks in a battle. Low survival rate but could really break an enemy's ranks.
answered 4 hours ago
Thorne
12.2k31735
In reality, if the enemy were prepared for them, not so much but when used against an enemy that had never seen one before, they would create fear.
See war elephants
The best way to take them out is caltrops as elephants have sensitive feet and I don't know how they'd take to wearing shoes. Set pike walls would also work.
What would be cool and would make them really dangerous is the handlers feeding them pain killers so they would be run away trains through the enemy ranks in a battle. Low survival rate but could really break an enemy's ranks.
answered 4 hours ago
Thorne
12.2k31735
answered 4 hours ago
Thorne
12.2k31735
answered 4 hours ago
Thorne
12.2k31735
answered 4 hours ago
Thorne
12.2k31735
12.2k31735
Don't really know how a viking-age society could muster painkillers but I'll give it some thought.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
1
Opium poppies? Many natural plants that act as pain killers.
– Thorne
4 hours ago
Good thinking. I'll be sure to put this in the book series when I actually get to writing it.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
just get them drunk, in africa the elephants often get drunk eating fruits from the marula tree
– mgh42
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
Don't really know how a viking-age society could muster painkillers but I'll give it some thought.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
1
Opium poppies? Many natural plants that act as pain killers.
– Thorne
4 hours ago
Good thinking. I'll be sure to put this in the book series when I actually get to writing it.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
just get them drunk, in africa the elephants often get drunk eating fruits from the marula tree
– mgh42
3 hours ago
Don't really know how a viking-age society could muster painkillers but I'll give it some thought.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
Don't really know how a viking-age society could muster painkillers but I'll give it some thought.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
1
1
Opium poppies? Many natural plants that act as pain killers.
– Thorne
4 hours ago
Opium poppies? Many natural plants that act as pain killers.
– Thorne
4 hours ago
Good thinking. I'll be sure to put this in the book series when I actually get to writing it.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
Good thinking. I'll be sure to put this in the book series when I actually get to writing it.
– The Weasel Sagas
4 hours ago
just get them drunk, in africa the elephants often get drunk eating fruits from the marula tree
– mgh42
3 hours ago
just get them drunk, in africa the elephants often get drunk eating fruits from the marula tree
– mgh42
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Totally Effective BUT Do not try to seige a castle!
Here is where I think War Elephants (or Mammoths) are best suited for war, because well, they are big! And will trample both friend and foe (but please focus on foe)
Charging through enemy ranks will not be a problem, however, some notes to truly make your war elephants the Key to victory.
1) War Formations
Most of the time, war movies during the medieval period has 3 main formations, the infantry, the archers, and the cavalry, while roman movies show a fourth, the siege engines(trebuchets, Catapults, Ballista, etc..).
Since you have not indicated your war formations, I'll be using the mammoths for siege transport. A plus for having mammoths.
2) Battle points
While most of the time the enemy would REALLy prepare for your mammoths, do take note that YOU SHOULD have prepared more than them. That's why most of the time, infantry are "sacrificed" in the battlefield, they march first because of this reasons
If the enemy launches an arrow barrage to your infantry, the time the cavalry attacks, the enemy would have less arrows. Most of the time, cavalry is more expensive because of the war beasts, and infantry men are more equipped to protect themselves on a arrow barragge.
Your infantry will step on the traps the enemy has prepared for your cavalry. Since Infantry men can be slaves, or soldiers wanna be to disposable footmen, you'll have plenty of mine sweepers so that your mammoth will pass through in a clear path.
Your infantry shall push or destroy any obstruction for your cavalry. What's the point of a cavalry charge if you already know that there are traps or spike protruding in the battlefield and you didn't even removed them? It will be costly to launch your cavalry to their deaths, launch the infantry, make them remove those things, then let the charge begin.
Your infantry's strength shall determine who launches their cavalry first. This will be your support for your mammoths, sure they can be expendable, but making them under armored, under armed, untrained and inexperience will seriously affect your battle plans. If they fall down really quick without accomplishing the two aforementioned tasks to them, you are seriously in danger, and the enemy general will just wait until your forces whittle down.
3) War strategy
War asset position: Your infantry will spear head your army, bring them up front. Followed by the archers at the rear. Siege machines will be behind archers, followed by the Mammoths.
Rain hell with your siege machines only, this is to avoid lots of protruding arrows on your side, so that your mammoths will gain enough acceleration to smash through enemy ranks, if they stepped on the arrows early on, then they might turn away from the charge.
Infantry to march towards the enemy, this is to remove or activate the traps on the field, step on any obstructions or spikes, and remove the spike walls that are around.
Archers will fire as Infantry support only IF they are engaged by enemies, this is again, to lessen the obstructions that your war mammoths will step on.
Your "Elepantry" SHOULD be lead by a very experienced commander. He has to evaluate the war, weather a full frontal charge from your cavalry, or a wave charge where your cavalry are divided into squads, charging wave after wave to the enemies, or an indirect attack where the cavalry will charge at the sides. The commander has to evaluate the situation that's happening in the battlefield since he holds in his command your highest valued asset, and strongest weapon.
All these is possible and yields the highest percentage of winning in all the situations during a war, but during a castle siege, your mammoths are no good and will just become work mules.
answered 1 hour ago
Mr.J
1,349628
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Totally Effective BUT Do not try to seige a castle!
Here is where I think War Elephants (or Mammoths) are best suited for war, because well, they are big! And will trample both friend and foe (but please focus on foe)
Charging through enemy ranks will not be a problem, however, some notes to truly make your war elephants the Key to victory.
1) War Formations
Most of the time, war movies during the medieval period has 3 main formations, the infantry, the archers, and the cavalry, while roman movies show a fourth, the siege engines(trebuchets, Catapults, Ballista, etc..).
Since you have not indicated your war formations, I'll be using the mammoths for siege transport. A plus for having mammoths.
2) Battle points
While most of the time the enemy would REALLy prepare for your mammoths, do take note that YOU SHOULD have prepared more than them. That's why most of the time, infantry are "sacrificed" in the battlefield, they march first because of this reasons
If the enemy launches an arrow barrage to your infantry, the time the cavalry attacks, the enemy would have less arrows. Most of the time, cavalry is more expensive because of the war beasts, and infantry men are more equipped to protect themselves on a arrow barragge.
Your infantry will step on the traps the enemy has prepared for your cavalry. Since Infantry men can be slaves, or soldiers wanna be to disposable footmen, you'll have plenty of mine sweepers so that your mammoth will pass through in a clear path.
Your infantry shall push or destroy any obstruction for your cavalry. What's the point of a cavalry charge if you already know that there are traps or spike protruding in the battlefield and you didn't even removed them? It will be costly to launch your cavalry to their deaths, launch the infantry, make them remove those things, then let the charge begin.
Your infantry's strength shall determine who launches their cavalry first. This will be your support for your mammoths, sure they can be expendable, but making them under armored, under armed, untrained and inexperience will seriously affect your battle plans. If they fall down really quick without accomplishing the two aforementioned tasks to them, you are seriously in danger, and the enemy general will just wait until your forces whittle down.
3) War strategy
War asset position: Your infantry will spear head your army, bring them up front. Followed by the archers at the rear. Siege machines will be behind archers, followed by the Mammoths.
Rain hell with your siege machines only, this is to avoid lots of protruding arrows on your side, so that your mammoths will gain enough acceleration to smash through enemy ranks, if they stepped on the arrows early on, then they might turn away from the charge.
Infantry to march towards the enemy, this is to remove or activate the traps on the field, step on any obstructions or spikes, and remove the spike walls that are around.
Archers will fire as Infantry support only IF they are engaged by enemies, this is again, to lessen the obstructions that your war mammoths will step on.
Your "Elepantry" SHOULD be lead by a very experienced commander. He has to evaluate the war, weather a full frontal charge from your cavalry, or a wave charge where your cavalry are divided into squads, charging wave after wave to the enemies, or an indirect attack where the cavalry will charge at the sides. The commander has to evaluate the situation that's happening in the battlefield since he holds in his command your highest valued asset, and strongest weapon.
All these is possible and yields the highest percentage of winning in all the situations during a war, but during a castle siege, your mammoths are no good and will just become work mules.
answered 1 hour ago
Mr.J
1,349628
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Totally Effective BUT Do not try to seige a castle!
Here is where I think War Elephants (or Mammoths) are best suited for war, because well, they are big! And will trample both friend and foe (but please focus on foe)
Charging through enemy ranks will not be a problem, however, some notes to truly make your war elephants the Key to victory.
1) War Formations
Most of the time, war movies during the medieval period has 3 main formations, the infantry, the archers, and the cavalry, while roman movies show a fourth, the siege engines(trebuchets, Catapults, Ballista, etc..).
Since you have not indicated your war formations, I'll be using the mammoths for siege transport. A plus for having mammoths.
2) Battle points
While most of the time the enemy would REALLy prepare for your mammoths, do take note that YOU SHOULD have prepared more than them. That's why most of the time, infantry are "sacrificed" in the battlefield, they march first because of this reasons
If the enemy launches an arrow barrage to your infantry, the time the cavalry attacks, the enemy would have less arrows. Most of the time, cavalry is more expensive because of the war beasts, and infantry men are more equipped to protect themselves on a arrow barragge.
Your infantry will step on the traps the enemy has prepared for your cavalry. Since Infantry men can be slaves, or soldiers wanna be to disposable footmen, you'll have plenty of mine sweepers so that your mammoth will pass through in a clear path.
Your infantry shall push or destroy any obstruction for your cavalry. What's the point of a cavalry charge if you already know that there are traps or spike protruding in the battlefield and you didn't even removed them? It will be costly to launch your cavalry to their deaths, launch the infantry, make them remove those things, then let the charge begin.
Your infantry's strength shall determine who launches their cavalry first. This will be your support for your mammoths, sure they can be expendable, but making them under armored, under armed, untrained and inexperience will seriously affect your battle plans. If they fall down really quick without accomplishing the two aforementioned tasks to them, you are seriously in danger, and the enemy general will just wait until your forces whittle down.
3) War strategy
War asset position: Your infantry will spear head your army, bring them up front. Followed by the archers at the rear. Siege machines will be behind archers, followed by the Mammoths.
Rain hell with your siege machines only, this is to avoid lots of protruding arrows on your side, so that your mammoths will gain enough acceleration to smash through enemy ranks, if they stepped on the arrows early on, then they might turn away from the charge.
Infantry to march towards the enemy, this is to remove or activate the traps on the field, step on any obstructions or spikes, and remove the spike walls that are around.
Archers will fire as Infantry support only IF they are engaged by enemies, this is again, to lessen the obstructions that your war mammoths will step on.
Your "Elepantry" SHOULD be lead by a very experienced commander. He has to evaluate the war, weather a full frontal charge from your cavalry, or a wave charge where your cavalry are divided into squads, charging wave after wave to the enemies, or an indirect attack where the cavalry will charge at the sides. The commander has to evaluate the situation that's happening in the battlefield since he holds in his command your highest valued asset, and strongest weapon.
All these is possible and yields the highest percentage of winning in all the situations during a war, but during a castle siege, your mammoths are no good and will just become work mules.
answered 1 hour ago
Mr.J
1,349628
Totally Effective BUT Do not try to seige a castle!
Here is where I think War Elephants (or Mammoths) are best suited for war, because well, they are big! And will trample both friend and foe (but please focus on foe)
Charging through enemy ranks will not be a problem, however, some notes to truly make your war elephants the Key to victory.
1) War Formations
Most of the time, war movies during the medieval period has 3 main formations, the infantry, the archers, and the cavalry, while roman movies show a fourth, the siege engines(trebuchets, Catapults, Ballista, etc..).
Since you have not indicated your war formations, I'll be using the mammoths for siege transport. A plus for having mammoths.
2) Battle points
While most of the time the enemy would REALLy prepare for your mammoths, do take note that YOU SHOULD have prepared more than them. That's why most of the time, infantry are "sacrificed" in the battlefield, they march first because of this reasons
If the enemy launches an arrow barrage to your infantry, the time the cavalry attacks, the enemy would have less arrows. Most of the time, cavalry is more expensive because of the war beasts, and infantry men are more equipped to protect themselves on a arrow barragge.
Your infantry will step on the traps the enemy has prepared for your cavalry. Since Infantry men can be slaves, or soldiers wanna be to disposable footmen, you'll have plenty of mine sweepers so that your mammoth will pass through in a clear path.
Your infantry shall push or destroy any obstruction for your cavalry. What's the point of a cavalry charge if you already know that there are traps or spike protruding in the battlefield and you didn't even removed them? It will be costly to launch your cavalry to their deaths, launch the infantry, make them remove those things, then let the charge begin.
Your infantry's strength shall determine who launches their cavalry first. This will be your support for your mammoths, sure they can be expendable, but making them under armored, under armed, untrained and inexperience will seriously affect your battle plans. If they fall down really quick without accomplishing the two aforementioned tasks to them, you are seriously in danger, and the enemy general will just wait until your forces whittle down.
3) War strategy
War asset position: Your infantry will spear head your army, bring them up front. Followed by the archers at the rear. Siege machines will be behind archers, followed by the Mammoths.
Rain hell with your siege machines only, this is to avoid lots of protruding arrows on your side, so that your mammoths will gain enough acceleration to smash through enemy ranks, if they stepped on the arrows early on, then they might turn away from the charge.
Infantry to march towards the enemy, this is to remove or activate the traps on the field, step on any obstructions or spikes, and remove the spike walls that are around.
Archers will fire as Infantry support only IF they are engaged by enemies, this is again, to lessen the obstructions that your war mammoths will step on.
Your "Elepantry" SHOULD be lead by a very experienced commander. He has to evaluate the war, weather a full frontal charge from your cavalry, or a wave charge where your cavalry are divided into squads, charging wave after wave to the enemies, or an indirect attack where the cavalry will charge at the sides. The commander has to evaluate the situation that's happening in the battlefield since he holds in his command your highest valued asset, and strongest weapon.
All these is possible and yields the highest percentage of winning in all the situations during a war, but during a castle siege, your mammoths are no good and will just become work mules.
answered 1 hour ago
Mr.J
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answered 1 hour ago
Mr.J
1,349628
answered 1 hour ago
Mr.J
1,349628
answered 1 hour ago
Mr.J
1,349628
1,349628
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Have a look at this post. worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/125973/…
– Shadowzee
4 hours ago
2
Mammoths were exterminated in prehistory by small hunting parties that which were far less sophisticated, organized, and wealthy than the armies you propose. Like war elephants (and most other superweapons), they are good for one or two uses...then lose their advantage as the enemy adapts.
– user535733
2 hours ago