singular class infantry roman army mid republic light infantry armed number light latin enemy carried short swords use melee rarely wore armour youngest soldiers legion afford equipment carry small wooden shields protection wore wolf skin allow officers differentiate heavier form units number attached typically screening force driving enemy disrupting enemy formations throws retiring lines allow heavier armed attack normally ones engaged war elephants present field high mobility ranged weaponry effective enemies heavy infantry early roman legion contained approximately eventually away reforms equipment organization youngest usually soldiers legion rarely afford equipment armed light tips designed bend impact prevent thrown similar heavier backup weapons carried relatively short swords centimetres inches length main weapons fought loose formation like irregular troops carried small round shields feet diameter legion attached usually formed legion battle harass enemy throws prevent enemy retiring lines allow heavier infantry attack pitched battle form legion cover advance armed swords line attack failed break enemy fall let similarly equipped experienced infantry failed retire heavily armoured spear armed let carry history descended earlier class light infantry dating legion 5th century similar role poorer younger soldiers legion classes considerably poorer eventually away having insufficient equipment effective soldiers likewise armed number carried spear sword like units attached units siege citizens normally poor join called shortage manpower trained ride horseback jump given signal enemy siege adopted force irregular light infantry enemy battle began earnest formal military reforms designed combat shortage manpower wars different classes units away entirely wealth age requirements scrapped soldiers join career service city equipped medium infantry state purchased equipment local irregular troops fulfill roles flanking
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