| Sysiphus | 13 Feb 2012 2:19 p.m. PST |
Looking at the recent police actions on the streets of Athens I was struck by how similarly equipped the police were to their ancient counterparts.
As the rioters roamed around the police seemed to be in small groups, acting very disorderly.
If the police squads formed street wide phalanxes (sans spears) couldn't they push the rioters into a zone where they could be dealt with more effectively? |
| Grumpy Monkey | 13 Feb 2012 2:26 p.m. PST |
Shhhh It's more fun to watch this way :) I like to play Yackety Sax when the video clips roll on TV. |
| Bellbottom | 13 Feb 2012 2:28 p.m. PST |
They do in the UK, but it's a bit simplistic. Hoplites sans spears are prone to having the 'enemy' grab the top of their shields and pull them down, even when the long shields are 'linked' together. You could give them shorter shields (some have them) but the front line needs shields right down to the ground to limit the effects of petrol bombing and to prevent 'enemy' from playing 'ducks and drakes' (like skimming stones on water) with broken glass against their feet and shins |
| Mako11 | 13 Feb 2012 2:31 p.m. PST |
Grumpy does have a point. With the spears, they'd probably be even more effective at subduing, or chasing their foes away, and keeping them beyond arm's reach. What they really need are street-wide phalanxes on three sides, and a bunch of cargo vans, with auto ramps on the last side, which the protestors can be herded, and then sealed into. |
| Pan Marek | 13 Feb 2012 2:42 p.m. PST |
… I smell blue fez coming. |
| mjkerner | 13 Feb 2012 2:43 p.m. PST |
Billy clubs would prevent the grabbing of the top of the shields, methinks. |
| Waco Joe | 13 Feb 2012 2:47 p.m. PST |
Cossacks. Never should have gotten away form Cossacks.  |
| CPT Jake | 13 Feb 2012 3:46 p.m. PST |
If you mean should they employ their own skirmishers to take out the enemy skirmishers so that they can close with the enemy main battle line, you need to remember the enemy doesn't have a battle line. Hoplites were never the complete answer to a purely skirmishing force. Good riot cops/troops are trained in a manner similar to Hoplites in some ways, but their mission is quite a bit different so the training must reflect that as well. |
 Dentatus   | 13 Feb 2012 3:55 p.m. PST |
Not spears – cattle prods. |
 D6 Junkie  | 13 Feb 2012 4:12 p.m. PST |
I think the rioters should
start carrying bowling balls!
Just to break up those tight
police packs. |
| Striker | 13 Feb 2012 4:52 p.m. PST |
What would happen if the rioters got their hands on some elephants? |
| Chef Lackey Rich | 13 Feb 2012 4:57 p.m. PST |
What they really need are street-wide phalanxes on three sides, and a bunch of cargo vans, with auto ramps on the last side, which the protestors can be herded, and then sealed into. Cargo vans are for wimps: YouTube link You even get to recycle your rioters afterwards. |
| Pictors Studio | 13 Feb 2012 5:04 p.m. PST |
I was thinking cattle prods too. |
| CmdrKiley | 13 Feb 2012 5:05 p.m. PST |
Soylent Gyros are made from people! |
| CPBelt | 13 Feb 2012 6:16 p.m. PST |
"Soylent Gyros are made from people!" LOL!!! |
| darthfozzywig | 13 Feb 2012 8:10 p.m. PST |
I was going to suggest TazerPikes for the phalanx, but CmdrKiley has already won this thread. :) |
| Mako11 | 13 Feb 2012 11:40 p.m. PST |
"What would happen if the rioters got their hands on some elephants"? The police would just counter with mice, or rats, to scare them away. |
| Pat Ripley | 14 Feb 2012 12:38 a.m. PST |
the police were heavily outnumbered. |
| Fatman | 14 Feb 2012 1:03 a.m. PST |
Nuke them from orbit its the only way to be sure. Fatman |
| capncarp | 21 Feb 2012 3:49 p.m. PST |
Sanitation truck buckets?
Naw, if you want to encourage someone to get out of the way quick, it would be better to start rolling _Steamrollers_! |
