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Carthaginian Heavy War Chariots
Carthaginian Heavy War Chariots
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This item is part of the “Punic Wars: Hannibal at the Gates” collection.
Carthage used heavy war chariots in its military during its early history before they were replaced by cavalry and elephants. Carthaginian heavy chariots were used in North Africa and southern Spain for a time but fell out of use from the 3rd century BCE.
Carthaginian chariots were based on designs from other ancient powers like the Assyrians and Persians, but with a unique build.
- Frame: The main body of the chariot was a wooden frame covered with woven willow branch panels.
- Axle and wheels: A single-axle design was most common. The wheels could be fitted with blades to increase their lethality and a free-hanging axle could be suspended with ropes for greater mobility.
- Crew: A chariot typically had a two-person crew: a driver and an archer. Sometimes, a third crewman, a hoplite, would also join.
- Horses: The chariots were pulled by a team of two or four horses, which were protected by metal breastplates and ox-hide side covers.
Battlefield tactics and effectiveness
Chariots were used as shock weapons to terrorize and disrupt enemy formations. Their tactical effectiveness, however, was highly dependent on terrain and the enemy they faced.
- Limited utility: Chariots could only operate effectively on flat ground, restricting their use to certain battlefields.
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Mixed results: They had mixed results against prepared Greek and Roman armies.
- In 341 BCE, Carthaginian chariots successfully broke up a Syracusan cavalry attack near the Crimiso river in Sicily, though many were later captured.
- In 310 BCE, Carthaginian chariots and cavalry charged the Syracusan army of Agathocles in North Africa. The charge failed, as enemy infantry maintained their formation while archers and slingers harassed the chariots, forcing a retreat.
- Replaced by elephants: After encountering war elephants from the Hellenistic kingdoms, Carthage adopted elephants into its army. The elephants proved to be more effective shock weapons and chariot use was eventually phased out entirely.
Armored War Elephants. Carthage. 28 mm Miniatures
Ideal for games like HAIL CAESAR, SAGA, and other wargames.
This set contains unpainted Armored War Elephants, crew, and bases.
Ideal for games like SAGA and other wargames.
Produced by Tofer's Miniatures
The model was designed by Carlos A. Mariani
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