Quote Originally Posted by oaty
As far as close formation goes for legionaires did they use there shield to push the man in front of them to keep the momentum of there unit going or did they not?
No thats not part of their tactic. Polybius writes that Roman soldiers dont get any support from the rear ranks.

Imagine how a soldier fights: He would stand a bit like a boxer facing the enemy sideways with left foot in front. Thats the best for protection against enemy blows as well as for stability. Anyone pushing from the rear would completely ruin the soldiers ability to choose when to attack or move back defending against a blow. And that big protruding shieldboss doesnt make for for very comfortable pushing either.

Not that pushing didnt happen in combat and AFAIK there are several descriptions of units becoming too compressed with the frontrank not being able to use their weapons. But that wasnt a tactic but because of enemy action or too enthusiastic/badly trained rear ranks that didnt stop in time when charging. Generally it was a bad thing if it happened.


CBR