Editing Second Punic War (section)

== Opposing forces ==
{{main|Roman army of the mid-Republic|Military of Carthage}}

Most male Roman citizens were liable for military service and would serve as [[infantry]], the wealthier [[equites]] providing a [[cavalry]] component. Traditionally, when at war the Romans would raise four [[Roman legion|legions]], each of 4,200 infantry{{#tag:ref|This could be increased to 5,000 in some circumstances,{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|p=23}} or, rarely, even more.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=287}}|group=note}} and 300 cavalry. Approximately 1,200 of the infantry, poorer or younger men unable to afford the armour and equipment of a standard [[legionary]], served as [[javelin]]-armed [[skirmisher]]s, known as [[velites]]. They carried several javelins, which would be thrown from a distance, a short sword and a {{convert|90|cm|ft|0|adj=on}} shield.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=48}} The rest were equipped as [[heavy infantry]], with [[Body armor|body armour]], a large [[Scutum (shield)|shield]] and [[Gladius|short thrusting swords]]. They were divided into three ranks: the [[hastati|front rank]] also carried two javelins, while the [[principes|second]] and [[triari|third]] ranks were equipped with a [[Hasta (spear)|thrusting spear]] instead. Legionary [[Maniple (military unit)|sub-units]] and individual legionaries both fought in relatively [[wikt:open order|open order]]. It was the long-standing Roman procedure to elect two men each year as senior [[Roman magistrate|magistrates]], known as [[Roman consul|consuls]], who in time of war would each lead an army. An army was usually formed by combining two Roman legions with a similarly sized and equipped pair of legions provided by their [[Socii|Latin allies]]. These legions usually had a larger attached complement of cavalry than Roman ones.{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|pp=22–25}}{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=44–50}}{{sfn|Rawlings|2015|p=312}}

Carthaginian citizens only served in their army if there was a direct threat to the city.{{sfn|Lazenby|1998|p=9}}{{sfn|Scullard|2006|p=494}} When they did, they fought as well-armoured heavy infantry armed with long thrusting spears, although they were notoriously ill-trained and ill-disciplined. In most circumstances Carthage recruited foreigners to make up its army.{{#tag:ref|Roman and Greek sources refer to these foreign fighters derogatively as "mercenaries", but the modern historian Adrian Goldsworthy describes this as "a gross oversimplification". They served under a variety of arrangements; for example, some were the regular troops of allied cities or kingdoms seconded to Carthage as part of formal treaties, some were from allied states fighting under their own leader, many were volunteers from areas under Carthaginian control who were not Carthaginian citizens. (Which was largely reserved for inhabitants of the city of Carthage.){{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=33}}|group=note}} Many were from North Africa and these were frequently referred to as "Libyans". The region provided several types of fighters, including: [[Close order formation|close-order]] infantry equipped with large shields, helmets, short swords and long thrusting [[spear]]s; javelin-armed [[light infantry]] skirmishers; close-order shock cavalry{{#tag:ref|"Shock" troops are those trained to close rapidly and aggressively with their opponents, with the intention of breaking their formation before, or immediately upon, contact.{{sfn|Jones|1987|p=1}}|group=note}} also known as "heavy cavalry" carrying spears; and light cavalry skirmishers who threw javelins from a distance and avoided close combat. The latter cavalry were usually [[Numidian]]s.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=32–34}}{{sfn|Koon|2015|pp=79–87}} 

The close-order Libyan infantry and the citizen-militia would fight in a tightly packed formation known as a [[phalanx]].{{sfn|Koon|2015|p=80}} On occasion some of the infantry would wear captured Roman armour, especially among [[Hannibal]]'s troops.{{sfn|Rawlings|2015|p=305}} Both [[Iberians|Iberia]] and [[Gaul]] provided large numbers of experienced infantry and cavalry. These infantry were unarmoured troops who would charge ferociously, but had a reputation for breaking off if a combat was protracted.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=32–34}}{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|p=9}} The Gallic cavalry, and possibly some of the Iberians, wore armour and fought as close-order troops; most or all of the mounted Iberians were light cavalry.{{sfn|Carey|2007|p=13}} [[Balearic slinger|Slingers]] were frequently recruited from the Balearic Islands.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=32}}{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|p=8}} The Carthaginians also employed [[war elephant]]s; North Africa had indigenous [[African forest elephant]]s at the time.{{#tag:ref|These elephants were typically about {{convert|2.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} high at the shoulder and should not be confused with the larger [[African bush elephant]]s.{{sfn|Miles|2011|p=240}}|group=note}}{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|p=9}}{{sfn|Lazenby|1996|p=27}}

Garrison duty and land [[blockade]]s were the most common operations.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=82, 311, 313–314}}{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|p=237}} When armies were campaigning, surprise attacks, [[ambush]]es and [[Ruse de guerre|stratagems]] were common.{{sfn|Koon|2015|p=93}}{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=55}} More [[Pitched battle|formal battles]] were usually preceded by the two armies camping {{convert|2-12|km|mi|sigfig=1}} apart for days or weeks; sometimes forming up in battle order each day. If either commander felt at a disadvantage, they might march off without engaging. In such circumstances it was difficult to force a battle if the other commander was unwilling to fight.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=56}}{{sfn|Sabin|1996|p=64}} Forming up in battle order was a complicated and premeditated affair, which took several hours. Infantry were usually positioned in the centre of the battle line, with light infantry skirmishers to their front and cavalry on each flank.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=57}} Many battles were decided when one side's infantry force was [[Flanking maneuver|attacked in the flank or rear]] and they were partially or wholly [[Envelopment|enveloped]].{{sfn|Koon|2015|p=93}}{{sfn|Sabin|1996|p=66}}

Both states possessed large fleets throughout the war. The Carthaginian fleet rarely put to sea, and when it did it was usually to escort transport ships; it rarely acted aggressively. This gave the Romans [[Command of the sea|naval superiority]] for the duration of the war.{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|p=328}}