Explanation: In the armies of the mid-Republic era, the poorest soldiers who regularly accompanied the Legions were the Velites - men who could only afford a shield, a sword, and some javelins. Hoping for recognition and status from their actions, since they sure as shit weren’t getting it from their vast wealth, they would wear distinguishing marks - one of which cited by ancient sources was a wolf pelt, which they have become associated with in the modern day.
In order to defeat elephants, a variety of tactics were employed, but the most effective involved pelting the big bastards with as many javelins as possible. At the Battle of Zama, Scipio Africanus had his troops funnel the elephants down empty ‘channels’ in the lines with a bunch of Velite javelineers waiting for them at the end of the line. Spear-throwing furries win!
Explanation: In the armies of the mid-Republic era, the poorest soldiers who regularly accompanied the Legions were the Velites - men who could only afford a shield, a sword, and some javelins. Hoping for recognition and status from their actions, since they sure as shit weren’t getting it from their vast wealth, they would wear distinguishing marks - one of which cited by ancient sources was a wolf pelt, which they have become associated with in the modern day.
In order to defeat elephants, a variety of tactics were employed, but the most effective involved pelting the big bastards with as many javelins as possible. At the Battle of Zama, Scipio Africanus had his troops funnel the elephants down empty ‘channels’ in the lines with a bunch of Velite javelineers waiting for them at the end of the line. Spear-throwing furries win!
And you know, if you can’t buy arms and armor, battlefields just have them laying around
They weren’t the elite units? It’s right there in their name: vElites. /s
I know my history from Rome: Total War that these guys were the expendables.
Speaking of Rome: Total War
The power of the flaming pig compels the the elephant to lose its mind