Assyrian Siege Troops

More than anything else, the Assyrian army excelled at siege warfare, and was probably the first force to carry a separate corps of engineers. Assault was their principal tactic against the heavily fortified cities of the Near East. They developed a great variety of methods for breaching enemy walls: sappers were employed to undermine walls or to light fires underneath wooden gates, and ramps were thrown up to allow men to go over the ramparts or to attempt a breach on the upper section of wall where it was the least thick. Mobile ladders allowed attackers to cross moats and quickly assault any point in defences. All these operations were covered by masses of archers, who were the core of the infantry, and were brought forward behind the cover of giant reed shields, to clear the battlements from defenders.