Battle of Zama

[Dutchhoplite]

He also remembered Xantippos victory achieved by unleashing elephants and crippling Roman infantry first.

Scipio probably did remember it too ;)

Hannibal tactics at Zama are sound. he tried to decimate Roman infantry line by wave after wave of attacks: elephants first then his inexperienced first and second infantry lines (they were actually forbidden from retreating directly into the line before and had to go over the flanks or being cut down by their own men), doing everything to ensure that when his veterans in the third line engage the balance would tip in their favor. and it did if not for returning Roman cavalry.

I always thought Hannibal was the defending side ;)

I think Hannibal's tactiek was something more complicated than "wave aftyer wave of attacks. He prevented a encircling movement (like Baecula,Ilipa, and the Great Plains) by holding his 3rd line back and forcing Scipio to fight a frontal battle. Or better: the battle Hannibal wanted.

Hannibal on his part had 2 thousand Numidians too. and this contingent was actually considered the best cavalry in all of Africa. even though outnumbered he might have had reasons to trusted them to hold the ground against Massinisa. they fled shortly after the engagement, however, completely exposing Carthaginian flanks.

There's still the "defeated" versus the "ordered to retreat discussion" ;)