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-
- *PHALANX
- A military formation developed in Greece and perfected in Macedonia, the
- PHALANX was a large block of men in ranks and files, generally ranging from
- 8 to 32 men deep. All were armed with long pikes. The first five ranks of men
- presented their pikes outward, forming a bristling barrier of spearpoints,
- while the others kept their pikes upright to deflect missiles. An enemy had
- difficulty closing with the men behind the pikes. On the attack, the enemy
- was faced with this densely-packed body of pikemen advancing, often at the
- run, and usually had to give ground or risk being impaled en masse.
-
- *PHALANX2
- Made obsolete by the availability of MUSKETEERS.
-
- *KNIGHTS
- KNIGHTS of the Middle Ages were the consummate heavy cavalry. Mounted on huge
- horses bred for power rather than speed, encased in armor, braced in stirrups,
- and charging at a thunderous gallop, they were a terrifying prospect to the
- knaves and ruffians on foot. They were the medieval equivalent of the M1 Main
- Battle Tank. Although innovative tactics and defensive formations sometimes
- made KNIGHTS ineffective, they dominated the battlefield until the development
- of firearms. They remained the primary offensive weapon of war until the day
- arrived when they could be shot out of the saddle from a distance.
-
- *KNIGHTS2
- Made obsolete by the availability of ARMOR.
-
- *TRIREME
- The Greeks introduced the TRIREME, the first ship designed for war. It mounted
- a huge bronze beak in its bow that was used to ram and sink enemy ships. The
- TRIREME was also fast, powered by three banks of oars on each side, manned
- by well-trained oarsmen -- highly paid professionals or patriotic citizens,
- contrary to popular belief. Because of its long, narrow hull, however, the
- TRIREME was unstable in all but the calmest waters, and as a consequence
- its crew never ventured out of sight of land for long, lest the ship be
- caught by storms.
-
- *TRIREME2
- TRIREMES may be lost at sea if not adjacent to land at then end of a turn.
- They can transport up to 2 other units and are made obsolete by SAILING
- SHIPS.
-
- *SAIL
- Although the TRIREME and its descendants ruled the waves for many years,
- eventually it was superseded by the SAILING SHIP. Advances in naval
- architecture permitted the construction of large, sturdy vessels that could
- carry people, cargo, and guns, with a very small crew. SAILING SHIPS could
- also travel much greater distances than TRIREMES and over larger expanses
- of water with much less fear of foundering. This made exploration and conquest
- of new lands far simpler.
-
- *SAIL2
- SAILING SHIPS may carry up to 3 other units and are made obsolete by FRIGATES.
-
- *FRIGATE
- The FRIGATE was a fast and powerful sailing warship that evolved to fill
- several important navy roles. It was used as the eyes of the main fleet of
- ships-of-the-line and it raided enemy shipping. The FRIGATE was powerful
- enough to overcome most of its prospective opponents and fast enough to
- escape those it could not outgun. Because of its speed and strength, the
- FRIGATE was often also employed in the role of convoying merchant vessels in
- time of war, many of which were carrying troops and equipment. The FRIGATE
- was the most useful and dominant naval vessel until the appearance of the
- IRONCLAD.
-
- *FRIGATE2
- Frigates may carry up to 4 other units and are made obsolete by TRANSPORTS.
-
- *IRONCLAD
- During the American Civil War, IRONCLAD ships first demonstrated their
- superiority over the wooden warships that dominated world navies. IRONCLADS
- were nearly impervious to the naval weaponry of the era, while wooden ships
- were easily penetrated and wrecked by the large-caliber explosive shells.
- IRONCLADS were the first of future generations of armored ships that ruled the
- waves for most of the next one hundred years.
-
- *IRONCLAD2
- Made obsolete by CRUISERS.
-
- *TRANSPORT
- The troop TRANSPORT, which in peacetime serves as a cargo or passenger
- ship, is the principal means used by modern powers to move
- large quantities of equipment and military units from one place to another.
- Always requiring protection, the TRANSPORT, when properly employed,
- can quickly move substantial forces to either threaten enemy-held
- territory, or to reinforce friendly troops or cities located overseas.
-
- *TRANSPORT2
- Transports may carry up to 8 other units.
-
- *FIGHTER
- The first military aircraft were used primarily in a reconnaissance role, but
- it wasn't long before guns were put on the planes and the FIGHTER was born.
- The FIGHTER'S purpose was to shoot down other airplanes, especially BOMBERS
- and reconaissance aircraft. In addition, the destruction of enemy FIGHTER
- units was the best way to insure that friendly BOMBERS and scouts survived to
- to reach their targets. The FIGHTER'S job was to achieve air superiority and
- gain control of the skies.
-
- *FIGHTER2
- Fighters must return to a city or CARRIER at the end of every turn.
- Fighters are the only unit which may attack other air units.
-
- *BOMBER
- The BOMBER was introduced in World War I but did not become a significant
- weapon until World War II. Its job was to carry bombs into enemy territory,
- normally beyond the range of artillery, and destroy targets of military and
- economic value. BOMBERS became specialized for certain jobs, such as attacking
- ships, ground attack versus vehicles and railroads, daylight precision bombing,
- and carpet bombing. Post World War II experiences indicated that precision
- bombing by "smart" weapons was more effective than mass bombing with "dumb"
- weapons.
-
- *BOMBER2
- BOMBER units ignore the effects of City Walls when attacking and must return
- to a city or CARRIER by the end of their second turn in the air. BOMBERS have
- a visibility range of 2 map squares. An attack by a BOMBER ends its turn.
-
- *CARRIER
- The aircraft CARRIER functions as a floating airfield, carrying FIGHTER and
- BOMBER units far from friendly shores to be launched against enemy targets.
- It allows the projection of military power at great distances from friendly
- cities, against targets, both on land and sea, which might otherwise be
- far out of range. The CARRIER may also carry and launch NUCLEAR weapons,
- bringing these fearsome weapons to bear on distant targets.
-
- *CARRIER2
- Carriers have a visibility range of 2 sea squares.
- Carriers may carry up to 8 air and NUCLEAR units.
-
- *SUBMARINE
- The SUBMARINE is a submersible warship, designed to attack other ships from
- underwater by firing torpedos. Although weak on defense, the SUBMARINE is a
- feared offensive weapon due to its ability to attack while hidden. Often a
- torpedo striking a ship is the first warning that a SUBMARINE is nearby. A
- lurking SUBMARINE can hide near the sea lanes and then strike out at a passing
- TRANSPORT, CARRIER, or other ship.
-
- *SUBMARINE2
- Submarines have a visibility range of 2 sea squares.
-
- *CRUISER
- The CRUISER is the modern equivalent of the FRIGATE. Although much more
- powerful than its sailing forebear, it is still designed to be a sea raider
- and escort. In addition, it can conduct naval bombardment of land targets
- like a BATTLESHIP, but with much less firepower. It also costs much less than
- a BATTLESHIP and moves faster. A CRUISER is not generally able to stand up
- to enemy BATTLESHIPS in combat, but it can still fulfill useful scouting
- functions and attack unescorted TRANSPORTS.
-
- *CRUISER2
- CRUISERS have a visibility range of 2 sea squares.
- CRUISERS may bombard units in coastal land squares.
-
- *BATTLESHIP
- The most powerful surface warship ever built, the BATTLESHIP was the queen of
- the seas until the appearance of its deadly nemesis, the CARRIER. Heavily
- armored and difficult to destroy, it possessed massive guns that could
- accurately fire heavy projectiles for many miles. The BATTLESHIP had two
- primary military functions, clearing the seas of enemy ships and inflicting
- punishing bombardments upon enemy coastal targets, especially in preparation
- for invasion.
-
- *BATTLESHIP2
- BATTLESHIPS have a visibility range of 2 sea squares.
- BATTLESHIPS may bombard units in coastal land squares.
-
- *NUCLEAR
- The atomic bomb changed all the standards for measuring military power. The
- strongest cities and the most powerful ground forces could be erased from the
- map with the release of just one NUCLEAR bomb. NUCLEAR weapons could
- obliterate any target. The only viable defense against the NUCLEAR threat was
- to acquire one's own arsenal of NUCLEAR weapons as a deterrent. It is ironic
- to many that the development of the most devastating weapon of history was at
- least partly responsible for the longest period of relative world peace.
-
- *NUCLEAR2
- NUCLEAR weapons must be placed in a city or on a CARRIER at the end of every
- turn (unless they are used to attack). NUCLEAR weapons may ignore zones of
- control and are invisible to enemy players.
-
- *DIPLOMAT
- The astute DIPLOMAT serves his homeland in a variety of ways. He establishes
- and maintains contacts with other powers, he reports back to his ruler
- on developments of interest, and, when needed he engages in less reputable
- activities. These may include sabotage of enemy production; espionage
- (including the theft of new technologies); and subversion and bribery of enemy
- cities and military units. Possessing no apparent military strength, the
- DIPLOMAT, when properly employed, is nevertheless a potent weapon in the
- arsenal of the intelligent ruler.
-
- *DIPLOMAT2
- DIPLOMATS may ignore adjacent enemy units during movement.
-
- *CARAVAN
- Trade has been a major source of income to civilizations throughout history.
- Journeying to distant lands, CARAVANS exchanged their loads of goods for
- money or other items of value, leaving both parties better off. In addition,
- the traders who accompanied the CARAVANS often brought back new knowledge
- about the advances made by their contacts. Such a person was Marco Polo, who
- went with traders to China, stayed there for many years, and brought back much
- valuable information to the West.
-
- *CARAVAN2
- Caravans may ignore adjacent enemy units during movement.
-
- *ARMOR
- With the demise of the KNIGHT and the ascendancy of RIFLEMEN, the defense
- gained the advantage on the battlefield for many years. It was only with the
- development of ARMOR, first appearing in World War I, that a weapon was found
- which could once more be used to punch a hole through enemy field forces.
- ARMOR moved quickly and struck with power, while still possessing a fair
- defensive strength. It was a powerful weapon against any ground unit.
-
- *ARMOR2
- ARMOR units may attack up to three times in one turn.
-
- *ARTILLERY
- Modern, self-propelled ARTILLERY is far more powerful and far more mobile than
- its muzzle-loading ancestors. Strong enough to batter opposing forces behind
- the strongest fortifications, it is also able to move from one firing position
- to another quickly, an important capability in a fluid battle or when avoiding
- counter-battery fire.
-
- *ARTILLERY2
- ARTILLERY units ignore the effects of City Walls when attacking.
-
- *CANNON
- The development of CANNON following the discovery of GUNPOWDER caused a
- revolution in siege warfare. CANNON forced a redesign of most fortifications
- because the straight, high walls surrounding most cities could be easily
- battered down by direct fire. This was the fate of the walls at
- Constantinople, which had held various besiegers at bay for over a thousand
- years. On the battlefield, CANNON assumed an important role, but were unable
- to dominate because of the development of firearms.
-
- *CANNON2
- Made obsolete by the availability of ARTILLERY.
-
- *CATAPULT
- The CATAPULT was the ancient ancestor of ARTILLERY. It was a large mechanical
- arm that threw heavy stones, fireballs, or other missiles at a great distance.
- It could pierce or eventually batter down even the strongest gates and walls,
- while inflicting damage on buildings and the defenders. Though cumbersome and
- nearly useless on a battlefield, the CATAPULT was an effective weapon during
- sieges and attacks on fortified enemies.
-
- *CATAPULT2
- Made obsolete by the availability of CANNON.
-
- *CAVALRY
- Men have been taming and riding horses for millennia, beginning with the
- tribesmen of the Asian plains. The value of the horse in combat was quickly
- realized, as the mounted warrior coming on at a gallop had a dramatic effect
- on the resolve of those in his path. Mounted warriors, known as CAVALRY, were
- not only useful in battle as shock troops, but could follow up a victory by
- pursuing the losers and finishing the rout. The horse gave CAVALRY power,
- imposing size, and speed. Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general, is
- credited with saying that victory usually went to the "fustest with the
- mostest," and usually the CAVALRY were first.
-
- *CAVALRY2
- Made obsolete by the availability of RIFLEMEN.
-
- *CHARIOT
- The CHARIOT was the first true fighting vehicle. It was used by the armies of
- antiquity to transport archers and other troops to the battlefield, where
- they would then disembark to actually fight. The CHARIOT was turned into
- a fearsome offensive weapon by the Assyrians, whose archers and spearmen
- fought from the car of the CHARIOT itself. Few enemy armies were able to
- withstand the onslaught of a host of Assyrian chariots, and this
- devastating weapon was soon adopted by many of the Assyrians' enemies,
- and used against them with good effect.
-
- *CHARIOT2
- Made obsolete by the availability of KNIGHTS.
-
- *LEGION
- The Roman LEGION, created during the early wars of the Republic and tested
- during the three great Punic Wars with Carthage, was the fighting force that
- conquered and held an empire for five centuries. Nearly unstoppable in the
- attack, the LEGION was relatively weak on defense, especially in broken
- ground. Its demise as a military formation was accelerated by the destruction
- of the Emperor Valens' army by Gothic KNIGHTS in the 4th Century.
-
- *LEGION2
- Made obsolete by the availability of RIFLEMEN.
-
- *MECH. INF.
- The introduction of ARMOR meant that a means now existed to break through
- enemy positions and to move aggressively forward on the battlefield. What was
- needed, however, was a force which could rapidly deploy into enemy territory
- and then defend the ground which had been won. MECHANIZED INFANTRY, first used
- during World War II, so proved its worth that by the end of that war all of
- the major combatants had developed large formations of this type. Infantry
- were mounted in armored vehicles of their own, such as half-tracks or APCs
- (Armored Personnel Carriers), to carry them quickly and safely along with the
- rapidly advancing ARMOR.
-
- *MECH. INF.2
- MECH. INF. may attack up to three times in one turn.
-
- *MILITIA
- The first military units were simply the citizenry armed with whatever tools
- and weapons they could grab. Although MILITIA units were inexpensive to
- organize and maintain, they were not effective against trained armies.
- However, MILITIA units continued in use for many years due to the speed in
- which they could be raised. They were useful for stopgaps while superior units
- could be trained or brought forward, and were certainly better than no defense
- at all.
-
- *MILITIA2
- Made obsolete by the availability of MUSKETEERS.
-
- *MUSKETEERS
- The development of Gunpowder revolutionized warfare because MUSKETEERS,
- relatively inexpensive to equip and train, proved a deadly foe to the KNIGHT,
- the previous champion of the battlefield. The mounted warrior was forced to
- share the battlefield with MUSKETEERS and CANNON, because now each arm had to
- complement the strengths and weaknesses of the others. Victory most often went
- to the general who could best orchestrate the deployment of all three. Large
- numbers of MUSKETEERS within a fortress, or entrenched behind city walls,
- could prove an exceedingly difficult obstacle to an attacking army.
-
- *MUSKETEERS2
- Made obsolete by the availability of RIFLEMEN.
-
- *RIFLEMEN
- RIFLEMEN were a refinement of MUSKETEERS. The rifle was a better weapon,
- accurate at many times the distance of a musket. With the dawning of long-
- standing, conscripted armies, the rifle meant even more difficulties for the
- attacker. First employed in large numbers during the American Civil War, the
- rifle gave the defense a strong advantage. A RIFLEMAN could fire several
- times while the attackers advanced, and this was normally enough to hold any
- position. The RIFLEMAN'S advantage was to last, for the most part, until the
- appearance of ARMOR.
-
- *RIFLEMEN2
- RIFLEMEN do not become obsolete.
-
- *SETTLERS
- In ancient times, cities would inevitably grow to a size where the resources
- were insufficient to adequately insure a decent standard of living for the
- populace. When this happened, it was time for some of the more adventurous
- citizens to move on and look for another place to build a city. New SETTLERS
- set out, searching for a suitable site, and there establishing their new
- homes. The new city normally maintained ties and loyalty to the old, and
- eventually sent out its own SETTLERS.
-
- *SETTLERS2
- SETTLERS are the only units which can build roads, railroads,
- irrigation, mines, and fortresses.
- SETTLERS can also found cities and clean up pollution.
-
- *END