War Elephants : Ancient Battle Tanks

The elephants were used as weapon from ancient times. They were a patent weapon for Indian civilizations. Other ancient civilizations like Carthaginian and Seleucid used them because of their power and the fear they generate on the enemy line by their presence in battlefield. Hannibal's crossing of Alps with his 37 war elephants is famous in history (Though only one survived to Italy). They were the tanks and siege engines of ancient warfare. 

War Elephants

Origin : The Indian kingdoms used war elephants from the time of starting of their civilization. We could see the rapid use of war elephants in the battles of Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. That was because of the availability of elephants in Indian sub-continent. The western world was unknown to the use of this weapon until the Alexander's invasion of India in 326 BC. The Macedonian army was in complete disarray after seeing these beasts on the enemy line and Alexander almost lost the battle against Purus. But a quick thinking and strategy saved the day for Alexander. The successor kingdoms of Alexander's empire used elephants in their army from that time until the Roman era. The Carthaginians used them in battle and they had trade with India. So, they had the supply of elephants for their army. Here is one point to be noted. The war elephants used in battles were mostly Indian or Asiatic elephants. Their African counter part was difficult to ride and control so wasn't use as weapons. The elephants were used in India until the Medieval era but invention of firearms made them obsolete for battle.
 

Elephant Charge

Equipment : The war elephants were equipped with various things varied for their role in battle. The shock troops were equipped with heavy metal armor from body to the trunk to save the beast. The tusks were some times attached with metal spikes to make heavy losses on enemy side. The archers can sit on their back in a specific structure attached to it called "Hawda", more like a room. From there they can shoot arrows and protect themselves. Moreover a rider called "Mahaut" sit on their back to control the beast. They were equipped with their own spear and a metal weapon to kill the elephant if it got panicked. With these attachments the war elephants were nearly invincible in battle and hard to kill with spear or arrows.

Training : There was a difference and effectiveness of highly trained and untrained elephants. The trained elephants were hard to panic in battle and used a steady course towards enemy line. An untrained beast could panic and run towards its own line and damaged their own side. So, the war elephants were given training to overcome the fear and crush the enemy not friends.

Elephant Battle

Famous Battles : War elephants played a key role in the "Wars of the Diadochi" or the war between the successor kingdoms of Alexander's Empire. Most famous of them was the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BC where Seleucus's 500 war elephants (Which he got from Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta Maurya in exchange of his eastern provinces) crushed the Antigonus I's line and won the victory for him and his allies. Another famous elephant charge was in Battle of Hydaspes in 326 BC where Purus's elephants charged against Alexander's Macedonian army and nearly crushed them.

War Elephants in battle

Conclusion : Elephants are gentle giants and being used for many years in armies. After invention of firearms and canons their effectiveness highly reduced and later obsolete for battles. But they turned the tide of many battles in their days and always were the most feared weapon of ancient era.