Greek Equipment and Tactics

Question 1

Cuirass?

Answer 1

• Breastplate
• Made of solid bronze or layers of linen with bronze scales

Question 2

Cuirass benefits?

Answer 2

Protected chest from attack

Question 3

Cuirass downsides?

Answer 3

• Ended at the waist, leaving groin and thighs exposed
• Not very flexible, which could make free movement outside of Phalanx difficult
• Very heavy

Question 4

What are Greaves?

Answer 4

Shin armour
Bronze

Question 5

Greaves benefits and downsides?

Answer 5

• Protected shins from enemy projectiles
• Gave legs some protection
• Thighs were left undefended

Question 6

Helmet positives?

Answer 6

• Protected head from projectiles and from handheld weapons
• Horsehair plumes may have been to intimidate enemy

Question 7

Shield positives?

Answer 7

• Would lock together to form a wall in the phalanx, making a good defence
• Sometimes had a leather curtain at the bottom to give some protection to thighs

Question 8

Spear benefits?

Answer 8

• Kept infantry and cavalry at a distance
• Butt on the end of the spear balanced it and made it less tiring to hold- it could also be used offensively
• Butt helped spear to be stuck in the ground, angled upwards, if there was a cavalry attack

Question 9

What were the downsides of the Phalanx?

Answer 9

• Lacked mobility and manoeuvrability
• Sides and back were not well-defended

Question 10

What would hoplites do in battle?

Answer 10

Fight in Phalanx formation

Question 11

What would lightly armoured soldiers do in battle?

Answer 11

• Harass enemy with projectiles
• Close-quartes fighting
• Block enemy advance
• Hold high or uneven ground

Question 12

What would cavalry do in battle?

Answer 12

• Attack flank and rear of enemy Phalanx
• Frighten Hoplite soldiers and encourage them to break formation
• Target supply caravans
• Scout ahead when marching on campaign

Question 13

How were Corinthian helmets beneficial for soldiers?

Answer 13

• Cheek plates offered more protection than just to the top of the head
• Made of metal so would be more resistant

Question 14

How could Corinthian helmets have hindered soldiers?

Answer 14

• Cheek plates would have obstructed peripheral view
• Heavy material

Question 15

What were the characteristics of an Athenian Trireme?

Answer 15

• Long and thin
• Battering ram on front
• Low to the water with good stability

Question 16

What was a hypozomata?

Answer 16

• Two cables running front-to-back on the ship
• It kept tension in the Trireme, helping the ship to withstand the strain of rapid rowing and turns as well as being knocked around
• This reinforcement also meant that ships could be longer and narrower, further enhancing speed and manoeuvrability

Question 17

What was a typical crew on an Athenian Trireme?

Answer 17

• 170 rowers
  -Roughly 30 others:
  Hoplite soldiers
  Archers
  Steersman
  Quartermaster
  Piper
  Trierarch

Question 18

What was boarding?

Answer 18

• Involved a ship sailing alongside an enemy ship, close enough for soldiers to jump from their deck to the enemy’s
• Once on board, they’d fight

Question 19

What were the pros and cons of boarding?

Answer 19

• You’d get a new ship
• If you have to look after a new ship for the rest of the battle, your forces are more spread out, leaving you vulnerable
• Its quite a long process, so you’re left vulnerable for longer

Question 20

What was ramming?

Answer 20

• Sailing directly into the side of the enemy’s ship to create holes in their hull or break it apart

Question 21

What were the pros and cons of ramming?

Answer 21

• You could cleave the opponent’s ship in half if you sailed fast enough
• Ships that rammed wouldn’t have much infantry so they could move faster, making them more vulnerable if they were boarded
• If you didn’t cleave the ship, you’d have to stop and turn around, making you more vulnerable

Question 22

What was the Diekplous manoeuvre?

Answer 22

• Your ships would sail past opponents ships in a straight line before turning to ram from the side

Question 23

Why was the Diekplous manoeuvre not successful?

Answer 23

• Enemies quickly developed defensive tactics against it
• Such as through the Hedgehog-Counter formation

Question 24

What was the Hedgehog-Counter-Formation?

Answer 24

• Fleet retreated into a tight circle with the prows of their ships facing outwards, which prevented the Greek navy from infiltrating its opponents squadron

Question 25

What was the Periplous manoeuvre?

Answer 25

Ships would sail round the entire enemy line before turning to ram from the side

Question 26

What was shearing and why was it effective?

Answer 26

• Using bronze battering ram to break off then enemy’s oars
• Could injure or eve kill rowers, and the ship would have to spend time rearranging their remaining oars and rowers