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| Hittite Chariot With Runner |
The Chariots
The Hittite chariots were substantial when compared to the rattan vehicles of the Egyptians. The axle was placed in such a way that it made the Hittite chariot less maneuverable than that of the Egyptian chariots. Some modern sources reject this and state that they were equally maneuverable as their Egyptian vehicles. One thing is clear though and that is the Hittite chariots were of wood and not rattan. Each chariot was drawn by two horses.
Arms and Armor of the Chariots
The Hittite fighting men on the chariot would not dismount. The fighting crewman would have at best scale armor and a helmet. For fighting weapons he would use occasionally a bow, a long spear and javelins with some kind of sword as a side arm. Shields might be part of the chariot stock equipment as well. The driver may have been armored or not.
Chariot Units How They Were Used
We can only assume how the Hittites used their chariots. It is not likely that they charged formed foot frontally or even from the flank. The vehicles and their teams of horses were very fragile. Hitting any unit of foot would be extremely damaging to both horses and chariots. Use the chariot rules for a more detailed method of use for gaming purposes for Trojan Allies.
It is highly conceivable that chariots would attempt to charge other chariot units.The chariots were at their best when charging other chariots and when performing feigned charges against foot units. When fighting other chariots nothing was static. Arrange by squadrons of perhaps 5 to 10 vehicles each these would deploy in line with the supporting units of line infantry and their runners immediately behind them. It is also possible that the chariots would deploy in two or more lines. When charging other chariots they would not stop and melee. That would be not only impossible (how could a charging at impact stop. No instead it would either become disabled or pass by at high speed its opposing enemy(ies) ending where the enemy began its charge.
Suppose this is true; the vehicles passing each other, stabbing, jabbing or casting a missiles at its respective opponent and ending where his enemy began. It is at this point that the Hittite runners become valuable. Killing off wounded charioteers, crippled horses which would stop a chariot’s moving. The runners would then rush these wounded or damaged chariots or cause chariots not so damaged to veer off continuing their movement. The runners now become dangerous to the enemy chariots. The Egyptians may not have relied on runner and consequently would be at a great disadvantage.
When chariots deployed in two or more lines, the second wave would hit the disordered enemy and in conjunction with the runners the enemy would be destroyed completely.
Perhaps it is for this reason that the Hittites vanish as a power within 100 years of Qadesh. The Sea Peoples and other enemies were not chariot dependent and consequently could easily over power an army which was designed to defeat a chariot lead army like the Egyptians.
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| Hittite Chariot Having Dropped Runner |
Runner’s Arms
These men might be simply armed as skirmishers, with javelins, slings or even bows. Perhaps they also carried a spear of some length too.
Runner’s Act As
The runners may have acted in a number of ways. They may have acted much like Squires as seen in the middle Ages; who formed a second line and performed much like their knightly masters using extra weapons, these though would be on foot. In this capacity they might rush forward to protect their mounted superiors.
It is more likely the runners formed as a support unit. The squadrons reserve line, the runner, would provide a line of infantry behind which the chariots could fall back behind to regroup and rally.
It may also be possible that these runners were carried on the chariots when the army needed to move quickly and with some stealth. By stealth. How could large numbers of chariots move stealthy? Certainly chariots make some if not a lot of noise. The stealth rests in the assumed the ability to drop off at least one man for each chariot in a unit.
Line Infantry
The Hittites could boast many different allies. Some relied on chariots and runners. Many supplied only foot units of spear men, axe men, archers, slingers and javelin units. None of these could march as fast a wheeled chariot army in the open. Thus they would be purely supportive and used in more difficult terrain and close to cities and towns. On the march they would bring up the rear. In a designated prearranged set piece battle they would be deployed. These would attack once the chariot units had softened the enemy foot and distracted the enemy chariots. The supporting foot units would move in on the enemy once the chariots had done their job.
Hittites Finished
Use the Homeric Hack Rules as set down in the rules for Trojan Allies. Use the same foot unit modifiers and melee values as well. Remember the Hittites did not dismount from the chariots and we are not even sure they actually carried the runners. Players may attach runners to vehicles however, when doing so they carry 12 figures not 6 but move at half speed and are disordered if contacted with the runners still on board. Use the dismounting rules for moving.
The Hittite Army At Qadesh
In the Osprey Book Qadesh 1300 B.C., its author vaguely mentions the numerical strength of the Hittite forces. He places these at about 2,500 chariots and 3500 to 37,000 foot soldiers. The foot soldiers may have been Hittite runners as well as Hittite Allies and regulars. Of the foot soldiers 2500 may have been runners supporting the chariots. A portion of the foot would have remained in the city and camp while the rest supported the attacks. Of the entire army at least half may well have been allies from the region. {It should be noted that other authors date Qadesh circa 1275 B.C.}
The Egyptians it appears were able to counter attack the Hittite chariots inside the Egyptian camp. The Hittite chariots were busy sacking the place. The Hittites threw in their reserve corps of 1000 chariots too soon and this proved fatal to their intentions for victory. Also as more Egyptian divisions and units came into the area the Hittites moved the foot into the city and those chariots in the Egyptian camp were simply slaughtered.
As for actual Hittite units we can assume the following. The chariot units were probably decimal based in organization. Yadin mentions that there was a certain commonality to unit arrangement. Using the squadron and regiment and then battalion. We believe that the foot units could have company sized units of 100 men and that 300 men or more would make up a regiment or battalion. Like we do today battalions made regiments and regiments made brigades. How many men in a brigade? Perhaps 5000 to 10000. Brigades made up divisions like that of the Egyptians. Divisions made corps. The chariots might have been formed into 4 brigades of 600 plus each. Reserve might have had 1000 chariots with runners.
My general feeling is that the standard tactical unit for gaming purposes should be 300 and 1000 men for Hittite and Allied foot units. These seemed to play only a small part in the over all battle. The main strike force were the chariots. These were wasted once committed in the initial assault and pursuit of the Egyptians. The reserve was thrown in too soon. The foot units then became useful only for defending the town and the camp.
In reguard to modifiers the chariots Hittites should receive in melee an additional plus one as they were deadly when charging other chariots. So the modifier of 5 for chariots fighting mounted would go to 6 for Hittite chariots.
These are general notes and comments and should be taken as nothing more.