The Battle of Zama took place near
Carthage on October 18, 202 B.C. It was a battle between
Carthage and
Rome. The Romans were commanded by
Scipio and
Hannibal commanded Carthage's troops.
Army sizes:
Carthage:
Infantry 36, 000
Cavalry 4,000
Elephants 80
Rome
Infantry 30,000
{Cavalry] 7,000
The order of Battle
X == Infantry, C == Cavalry, D == Elite Units, And E == Elephants
Rome
X X X X Triarii
Massinissa X X X X Principes
C X X X X Hastati C Laelius
D D D D D D Velites
E E E E
C X X X X Mercenaries C
Numid. X X X X Punic Punic
X X X X Vetrans
The elephants were ordered to charge first. The
elite roman units stepped aside revealing a checkbox patern, which is effective in
decimating elephant cavalry.
Hannibal, who could not see the progress of the battle because of the dust raised by his elephants, ordered his
mercenaries forward. At the same time the roman Cavalry charged forward eliminating the Hannibal's cavalry. The mercanaries were easily defeated by the fresh roman troops, and when they broke, they tried to cut their way through the
Punic Infantry, wasting Carthage's troops.
Sicipo split his troops, creating a broad line, a bold move because it increases the likely hood that the line will be broken. Hannibal attacked with his
Vetrans. The romans resisted, and the battle was ended when the Roman cavalry returned encircling Hannibal's army. Hannibal was able to break through and escape with a few of his troops but Carthage's army was broken.
Carthage lost this battle, the Romans had adjusted their battle tactics to compensate for the elephants which were used so effectively in The Battle of Canae.
See:
http://www.sbcweb.com/art_of_war/zama.htm
From an Email that I received:
Dataknife:
The checkbox pattern of Scipio Africanus' infantry was to allow Hannibal's
elephants room to run without overrunning Scipio's infantry. Remember the
typical infantry formation of that era was a massed formation, with cavalry to
the flanks. Also I believe Scipio had trumpeters with his army who allowed the
elephants to get close then they sounded their horns. This caused the
elephants to panic and charge back through Hannibals lines, stampeding his
massed infantry lines.