Tusk Sword

By Crusader1307

The use of War Elephants in combat (as has been discussed) was a common tactic in The Ancient World, in many cases – Elephants served as platforms by which Archers and Spearmen could engage an Enemy. The elephant itself was taught to break thru defensive lines and stomp or crush an Enemy. Such tactics were document with Alexander The Great and his encounters with The Indian Kush Warriors (3rd BC). The overall weaponization of The Elephant was seen as an extension of The Warriors who sat atop the high platforms on the animals back. Highly trained beasts, they still fell prey to basic spear and arrow themselves. Most were armored in some fashion as a form of protection. Another form of defensive tactic was the addition of The Tusk Sword. While in some cases, The Elephant's tusks were sharpened and used to impale Enemy soldiers, this was still somewhat ineffective. The Tusk Sword was seen as a better method. These were wooden or metal sleeves custom fitted to each animal. Extending outward, was a long sharp blade (normally ranging from 4 to 8-feet in length. These ''swords'' were almost always double-edged. In use, as The Elephant charged an Enemy Line, he (or she) was taught to sway it's head back and forth. This created a ''slashing'' motion quite capable of dismembering a soldier. The animal was also taught to ''thrust'' forward as well. The Tusk Sword thus became a very effective anti-personnel weapon. They were still in use as late as the 17th Century AD in many Hindu Countries.