The Use of Battle Tactics and their Importance
During the early 1200’s the Mongols were starting their conquests of Asia and the importance of their military tactics and strategies was immeasurable. The battle tactics that the Mongols (1206-1279) employed in conquering enemy lands and creating their empire were considered the most efficient and advanced tactics of that time period. The tactics that were used more often when engaged in battle involved the use of the swiftness and agility of Mongol horses. The Mongols also made use of their mastery of archery and the power along with the accuracy of their bows from longer distances. But the Mongols also had the advantage when it came to organization, because the soldiers would be put into systematic groups where there would be no confusion among them in battle. The Mongols were the most brilliant and innovative people of the time when it came to war.
The horses that the Mongols used were fast and flexible. The Mongols also usually had three or four horses with them at a time so that the horses could rest while he was using one of them and then he would use another and let that horse rest.[1] The Mongols also highly valued their horses since they protected them with armor so that they would not be injured easily.[2] The horses would often be used in hit-and-run raids where the Mongols would then run back to the steppes and disappear. Their pursuers would not be able to follow them since they were not accustomed for long rides on horseback.[3]
The Mongols also made great use of their archery skills when in combat. One of the most known tactics is called the Arrow Storm. This tactic involved the Mongols enveloping their enemy and then everyone shooting several arrows into the air at a high trajectory so that they would land in the targeted area. This left the enemy with little morale and most of them would be wounded, usually not fatally though.[4] The Mongols would also utilize the Parthian Shot, which was a shot fired during a feigned retreat. They would run away then shoot arrows at them while doing so and eventually turn around and annihilate the opposition.[5] The bows that the Mongols used were made out of sinew and horn, and they had a range of more than 350 yards while the English long bow of the time only had a range of 250 yards.[6] These bows were far superior and much more powerful.
The Mongols were also very highly organized when it came to their armies. Chinggis Khan organized his units based on the principle of ten. He organized his people into units of ten, a hundred, a thousand, and ten thousand.[7] The leader of the group of ten thousand would be someone that was personally close to Chinggis Khan, and someone the Chinggis trusted greatly.[8] The groups of a hundred would also sometimes be organized in Jaghuns or a company with usually about 80 men in each company and the other 20 would be heavy cavalry. Then the companies would split into groups of 20 with each group being a wave of attackers. They would charge, shoot several arrows, then about 50 yards before the enemy lines, they would turn around and run back. Then the next wave would go and this would be repeated.[9]
The Mongols were far more advanced in military tactics and strategies than any other people of the time. They were therefore the most powerful and had the largest chances for success when attacking other nations. They incorporated their horsemanship, archery skills, and organization so flawlessly that they were a force to be reckoned with across all of Asia, and remained undefeated for over a century.
[1] Morris Rossabi, “All the Khan’s Horses,” 103, no. 10 (October 1994): 48, http://www.hchs.hunter.cuny.edu:2089/ehost/detail/detail?vid=5&sid=07867fd6-9773-4e83-8ec9-4c72d60405b6%40sessionmgr4004&hid=4106&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=f5h&AN=9410115385.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Timothy May, “Genghis Khan Secrets of Success,” 24, no. 5 (July/August 2007): 42-49, http://www.hchs.hunter.cuny.edu:2071/ehost/detail/detail?vid=11&sid=f1c8bb6b-7dbf-4090-b215-e2d1917df209%40sessionmgr111&hid=128&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=f5h&AN=25978034.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Rossabi, 48
[7] Columbia University, “The Mongols in World History,” Asia for Educators, accessed November 16, 2014, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/main/transcript.pdf. pp 9.
[8] Ibid.
[9] May, 3-4
The horses that the Mongols used were fast and flexible. The Mongols also usually had three or four horses with them at a time so that the horses could rest while he was using one of them and then he would use another and let that horse rest.[1] The Mongols also highly valued their horses since they protected them with armor so that they would not be injured easily.[2] The horses would often be used in hit-and-run raids where the Mongols would then run back to the steppes and disappear. Their pursuers would not be able to follow them since they were not accustomed for long rides on horseback.[3]
The Mongols also made great use of their archery skills when in combat. One of the most known tactics is called the Arrow Storm. This tactic involved the Mongols enveloping their enemy and then everyone shooting several arrows into the air at a high trajectory so that they would land in the targeted area. This left the enemy with little morale and most of them would be wounded, usually not fatally though.[4] The Mongols would also utilize the Parthian Shot, which was a shot fired during a feigned retreat. They would run away then shoot arrows at them while doing so and eventually turn around and annihilate the opposition.[5] The bows that the Mongols used were made out of sinew and horn, and they had a range of more than 350 yards while the English long bow of the time only had a range of 250 yards.[6] These bows were far superior and much more powerful.
The Mongols were also very highly organized when it came to their armies. Chinggis Khan organized his units based on the principle of ten. He organized his people into units of ten, a hundred, a thousand, and ten thousand.[7] The leader of the group of ten thousand would be someone that was personally close to Chinggis Khan, and someone the Chinggis trusted greatly.[8] The groups of a hundred would also sometimes be organized in Jaghuns or a company with usually about 80 men in each company and the other 20 would be heavy cavalry. Then the companies would split into groups of 20 with each group being a wave of attackers. They would charge, shoot several arrows, then about 50 yards before the enemy lines, they would turn around and run back. Then the next wave would go and this would be repeated.[9]
The Mongols were far more advanced in military tactics and strategies than any other people of the time. They were therefore the most powerful and had the largest chances for success when attacking other nations. They incorporated their horsemanship, archery skills, and organization so flawlessly that they were a force to be reckoned with across all of Asia, and remained undefeated for over a century.
[1] Morris Rossabi, “All the Khan’s Horses,” 103, no. 10 (October 1994): 48, http://www.hchs.hunter.cuny.edu:2089/ehost/detail/detail?vid=5&sid=07867fd6-9773-4e83-8ec9-4c72d60405b6%40sessionmgr4004&hid=4106&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=f5h&AN=9410115385.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Timothy May, “Genghis Khan Secrets of Success,” 24, no. 5 (July/August 2007): 42-49, http://www.hchs.hunter.cuny.edu:2071/ehost/detail/detail?vid=11&sid=f1c8bb6b-7dbf-4090-b215-e2d1917df209%40sessionmgr111&hid=128&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=f5h&AN=25978034.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Rossabi, 48
[7] Columbia University, “The Mongols in World History,” Asia for Educators, accessed November 16, 2014, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/main/transcript.pdf. pp 9.
[8] Ibid.
[9] May, 3-4