Ottoman Military Tactics - Historum

sultantutan · November 22nd, 2012, 10:34 PM

Guys, maybe some of you are experts here, I need some enlightenment regarding this, out of curiosity. What kind of Military Tactics did the Ottomans used during their golden age 15th - 16th Century that made them one of the best armies in the world. Thanks in advance!

Lazyman · November 22nd, 2012, 11:16 PM

It's a rather broad question, I would put it down to their organization and logistics first of all . Aside from that , early adoption of firearms, and use of field fortifications certainly helped .

Military History of the Ottoman Empire by Uyar and Erickson covers this area quite well , for more information on logistics and organization, as well as how much men they actually had , Ottoman Warfare 1500-1700 is great .

Yes, I gave a very crappy post but cannot think of a better one right now

pugsville · November 22nd, 2012, 11:31 PM

Ottoman tactics were normally pretty defensive, artillery and field fortifications in the center, sequential lines of troops, generally wait absorb the enemy then counter attack. Pretty much the same for most of the ottoman period.

Shaheen · November 23rd, 2012, 04:53 AM

Putting fear in the enemy was also an important Ottoman tactic. The military band (mehtar), along with religious chants is one example. Then the use of light cavalry (Akincis) to harass and "hit and run" the enemy in true Central Asian style also demoralized the enemy. No wonder the word "Turk" caused such fear in Christian Europe.

**infestør** · November 23rd, 2012, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaheen

Putting fear in the enemy was also an important Ottoman tactic. The military band (mehtar), along with religious chants is one example. Then the use of light cavalry (Akincis) to harass and "hit and run" the enemy in true Central Asian style also demoralized the enemy. No wonder the word "Turk" caused such fear in Christian Europe.

yes they had 2 units for spreading total fear:

1-the ones that specially trained their hands by slapping on a stone (deliler [the crazies]). they could break the enemy's neck with a slap. hence, the ottoman slap. these were not lunatics as most people believe. they were called "crazy" for their crazy courage as primary forces. of course the slap was not their primary weapon. they used other melee weapons.

2-the ones that are total lunatics (başıbozuklar [not-right-in-the-head(s)]). hardly soldiers at all. they wore no uniforms. their primary goal was to break the enemy ranks (though most were killed during this). they were also given opium for insanity boosts. their motivation to fight was to pillage and rape. their high tolerance to pain from getting high on opium made them look like zombies. imagine a guy with serious wounds and missing arms still charging at you.

sultantutan · November 23rd, 2012, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infestør

yes they had 2 units for spreading total fear:

1-the ones that specially trained their hands by slapping on a stone (deliler [the crazies]). they could break the enemy's neck with a slap. hence, the ottoman slap. these were not lunatics as most people believe. they were called "crazy" for their crazy courage as primary forces. of course the slap was not their primary weapon. they used other melee weapons.

2-the ones that are total lunatics (başıbozuklar [not-right-in-the-head(s)]). hardly soldiers at all. they wore no uniforms. their primary goal was to break the enemy ranks (though most were killed during this). they were also given opium for insanity boosts. their motivation to fight was to pillage and rape. their high tolerance to pain from getting high on opium made them look like zombies. imagine a guy with serious wounds and missing arms still charging at you.

Awesome! thanks for this Info.

Lazyman · November 23rd, 2012, 10:30 PM

The plus side of using **** like Bashibazouks was that you also rid society of its undesirable elements

ANAX · November 24th, 2012, 05:32 AM

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Lazyman · November 24th, 2012, 05:57 AM

The above post makes absolutely no sense and it seems you wrote a wall that basically says "go search, search what? I don't know" .

**infestør** · November 24th, 2012, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazyman

The plus side of using **** like Bashibazouks was that you also rid society of its undesirable elements

yes. başıbozuklar was consisted of homeless, mentally/criminally insane, convicts, beggars, POVs etc. those people were "put to use". i guess they were give the choices of "join the ranks or get chopped by the sword"