Can fight animals? Elephants.

In the melee - and before the invention of firearms all the war was precisely because of them - is crucial brawn fighter. Therefore, the giant elephant that can easily be enormous gravity, and in a rage - to destroy homes and trees - could not avoid the attention of the military, and was doomed to serve in the ancient armies.

The first "called" elephants under its banners Indians, it happened in the early first millennium BC. Looking ahead, I note that the service is delayed and to this day. However, the combat capabilities of the elephants no one is interested in, but still great demand for live trucks and cranes.

Indian Maharaja chose to fight mobile units, the infantry they were not honored. Most mobile combat unit, of course, at that time was an armed horseman. That's against them, the elephants were extremely effective. Horses and elephants were afraid of panic at the meeting, completely forgetting his "military duty", turned to flight.

The elephant, called for military service was the basis of a small unit of three or four, and in some armies, and up to six people. In the minimal version of the staffing of the unit consisted of sarissofora defending the elephant from the attack of infantry, archer's arrow, and "driver". The latter was sitting on the neck and the other crew members in a lightweight shelter on the back. Alternatively, adding heavy weaponry - darter, or enhances protection - were added to the four infantry unit designed to protect the animal's legs in battle.

Frankly, the effectiveness of shooting from a moving elephant is not very high. To verify this, just ride on elephant back, when he moves unhurried pace. If an elephant is running, then hold "in the saddle" can only an experienced rider, but about the shooting can all forget.

But the main merit of the elephant was not in the armed crew, and in himself, his strength, weight and menacing form. Significantly increased the combat capacity of the animal steel lugs on the tusks and protective armor. A huge curved sword in the trunk further reinforces the impression, and brow-beat, without causing, however, virtually no harm to the enemy.

Indian tactic of elephants eventually copied the tank crews of the Second World War. Elephants were collected in a single fist and placed in the center of troops to break through the defense and break the enemy's system. Success developed infantry and cavalry, coming over the huge animals.

Enemy infantry, the first time, faced with attack by the elephants, initially fled in terror. But the method of combating giants found quite quickly. "Intrigue" was the psychological aspects of giants. They are fairly easy to scare, after which the animal becomes unmanageable, tends to escape and destroy their forces as effectively as the enemy.

Thus, in the Battle of Magnesia Romans used against elephants ... pigs. Plastered them with resin, burned and released on the battlefield. Mad squealing pigs caused panic among the elephants, after which the Roman infantry dobila remnants of enemy troops.

To combat such surprises in Carthage drovers began to equip the hammer and chisel or a long nail. In the event of panic, people had to kill an elephant, slid the chisel in the skull of the animal.

In addition to such "self-killer" and tactical measures taken, the elephants stopped at the center of the constructions, leaving their flanks and behind them, removing all its troops. And gradually, the beginning of a new era, the elephants have almost disappeared from the armies of most countries.

However, in India, they effectively used until the arrival of artillery, and then gradually elephants, men have become a convenient vehicle. In per se as the elephants are in the Indian Army to this day. Their service is regulated, every "war" animal has a passport, and on reaching the age of 65 is sent to "retire" to the conservation and maintenance ration.

As we see in our time, not only for horses, but for elephants military service continues ...

Alex Norkin
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

How we used animals in the war?

For many thousands of years of friendship lasts rights to animals. They help us in many different life situations, including very heavy - for example, in the hostilities.

Of course, the picture, which I decided to illustrate this story - no more than a joke, intended to raise the patriotic spirit. As far as I know, real-life examples of combat employment of bears in the history havent.

But seriously, the first animal that comes to mind in this context - of course, the horse. No comment. For millennia, the horse and the warrior, merging into a single whole constituted a formidable force. Forget the role of the cavalry is difficult even today, despite the fact that the security forces almost always the first to take all the technical innovations. Remember how effectively look the recent attacks Mounted Police on Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip, or the protesters in Hungary? And in the best traditions of England and some other countries «cavalry» are called, many regiments have long turned-intelligence, or the tank.

Sometimes, the horses were people after death. In the Middle Ages, their corpses were thrown into the enemy's city with catapults to Save this there every disease pathogens.

Sometimes the horse replaced the other animals. For example, in Sweden, police and army «huntsman» (or Rangers) are sometimes moved to the elk, and in Arabia and North Africa, the riders have long preferred to use camels. Camel cavalry in the British and French armies have actively participated in the Second World War. And he met with the usual cavalry, the inhabitants of the desert are often victorious due to the fact that the horses were simply frightened by the camels because of their roar and the smell!

Way, the smell. Another very unpleasant in this respect the animal, in contrast, could render the horses in good stead: sometimes cavalrymen to deter them from different parasites were kept in the stables of the goat.

The second of its military value of animals, probably should be called a dog. Through its acumen, attention and learning dog in many cases is irreplaceable border guards, combat engineer, communications ... History is a unique example of how our four-legged friends were utterly betrayed us in the most desperate situation: at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Soviet engineers have formed special groups of dogs, tank destroyers - as we just said, «death» ...

But the ancient Romans and Barbarians side by side with them using very different quality of dogs: they kept a pack of strong and aggressive dogs that can not only seek, but also literally to cut the opponent's neck. It is from those times have gone some modern breeds of dogs such as Rottweilers and mastiffs, as well as the expression «the dogs of war».

Separately, it is worth mentioning elephants. To them, as is known, owes his success Carthaginian general Hannibal. The role of the elephant in the battle was somewhat different from that of, say, a horse. This peacetime elephant may seem nothing more than another vehicle animals, whereas here it was a living weapon, and intimidating. The Roman soldiers wisely chose to avoid the prospects end up under the tusks, or feet of these giants, but if a collision does occur, then survived a few. Especially if the tusks of elephants wearing special blades, and sharpshooters were placed on the back. For the latter, incidentally, the best firing position was difficult to find: fire and comfortable, and the enemy is unlikely to get it.

Nowadays, this element of the ancient military might remind not only the history textbooks, but also a very familiar thing - chess. After all, this game was born from an Indian military science, and arrangement of figures reflect the standard disposition of troops. Remember: rook, knight, and then who? So «officers» has nothing to do with it ..

However, the Romans soon found a remedy for the elephants: realizing that they are afraid of fire, they began to produce on the battlefield, the herd of pigs plastered over with resin and set fire to them. Here such, does an unusual example of the use of animals in the fighting took place in antiquity.

Another unusual example was awarded the First World War. For the first time in the history of the battles were active not only on land and at sea, but also in the air, and participated in them as people and they created the aircraft and the original owners of the airspace - such as eagles, which the Germans were taught to attack enemy airplanes.

Now that the conversation turned to the birds, you can not pay tribute to the pigeon. They have long been unable to oust any telegraph, radio, or other means of communication. After all, any signal can be decoded, messenger intercept, and a dove who would even think to shoot? Is it only if the quartermasters very bad work ...

They search for people and military allies among marine fauna. Thus, Napoleon once had the idea to capture Britain, crossed the English Channel to the whales, and now the naval forces of the USA are actively working with the dolphins.
"ШколаЖизни.ру"
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/
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