Timeline for How Effective Would War Mammoths be in Combat in a Medieval Civilization?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
16 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 18, 2020 at 22:36 | comment | added | Robbie Goodwin | Due to the fact that space travel is done via magic instead of via technology, most of the galaxy is entirely open to anything you'd like, from mammoths to MIRVs. Please, if you want to set limits then first explain them. | |
| Oct 21, 2018 at 17:32 | vote | accept | The Weasel Sagas | ||
| Oct 20, 2018 at 17:25 | comment | added | M. A. Golding | @user535733 Unlike you, paleontologists and archaeologists are uncertain what caused the extinction of the various mammoth species, with climate change, epidemics, and human hunting perhaps all contributing. There is actually very little evidence for human hunting of mammoths. Some mammoth species survived for thousands of years later than other megafauna. It is my theory that humans did not hunt mammoths in one area continuously, but in short bursts separated by the generations it took the humans to forget about the eventual mammoth retaliation for being hunted. | |
| Oct 20, 2018 at 17:14 | comment | added | M. A. Golding | @David Thornley If an elephant is wearing armor, spears will not be any more frightening to it than to an armored knight. Anyway, the threat of a charge by a group of elephants is enough to make a formation of infantry take a defensive posture. So how does an infantry formation react when 2 elephant groups threaten to charge from 2 different directions? It seems likely the correct use of elephant threats could paralyze the movements of enemy infantry formations. And see my answer. | |
| Oct 20, 2018 at 16:59 | answer | added | M. A. Golding | timeline score: 2 | |
| Oct 19, 2018 at 21:34 | answer | added | Böller | timeline score: 1 | |
| Oct 19, 2018 at 21:30 | comment | added | David Thornley | @Eth Elephant forces were not all that effective against formed infantry. The elephant looks at the spears and decides to avoid them. They frightened horses, and so were very effective against cavalry. | |
| Oct 19, 2018 at 10:36 | comment | added | Alberto Yagos | I don't think chain mail is a good idea. In humans, it is because we need an extraordinary range of motion with a relatively limited weight. But for quadrupeds, it isn't necessary and it's too expensive. The best protection is padded armor. Leave the rest to the natural skin and the layers of fat of the mammoth. Add a few large plates in vulnerable places sewn into the quited armor. Plates are less expensive than chain mail. Plate armor was very expensive due to the little articulated pieces and the high-quality steel (strong even in thin layers). But you can use almost iron for your beasts. | |
| Oct 19, 2018 at 9:43 | comment | added | Eth | War elephants were one of the most formidable assets an ancient or medieval army could have. Had they not be so horrendously expensive to maintain, they would have been as common as horses. And like horses, they were used for logistics as late as WWII (in the Pacific theater) - again like horses, this may be their best use in many cases. If those mammoths are lower on maintenance cost than elephants, they will be a must-have. | |
| Oct 19, 2018 at 9:02 | answer | added | Blade Wraith | timeline score: 2 | |
| Oct 19, 2018 at 4:37 | answer | added | Mr.J | timeline score: 4 | |
| Oct 19, 2018 at 3:25 | comment | added | user535733 | 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. | |
| Oct 19, 2018 at 2:00 | history | edited | The Weasel Sagas | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
edited title
|
| Oct 19, 2018 at 1:58 | comment | added | Shadowzee | Have a look at this post. worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/125973/… | |
| Oct 19, 2018 at 1:40 | answer | added | Thorne | timeline score: 9 | |
| Oct 19, 2018 at 1:26 | history | asked | The Weasel Sagas | CC BY-SA 4.0 |