In the midst of peoples physically stronger than they were, and very warlike in attitude, the Sumerians built a thriving Empire. They did this because they had both a better organized and better trained military. They also had better weapons. The Sumerians were the first to introduce bronze weapons, the infantry phalanx, and the chariot to warfare. They used the chariot and infantry phalanx in close support of each other with remarkable success.
For information on Sumerian weapons and equipment we rely on the inlay from the Royal cemetery of Ur, the weapons from the same graves and from those in the cemetery at Kish and the inlays at Kish for the fourth millennium BC. For the early third millennium BC we have the stela of the Vultures and the stela of Naram-Sin. For the later period we must rely upon the Law Code of Hammurabi, and notes from several royal and other inscriptions.
The Chariots used by the Sumerians were of heady construction and were pulled by four onagers (wild asses). Top speed as modern experiments have shown was about 15mph, but this was only obtainable on open and level terrain, also the chariots had a very wide turning radius at anything above their slowest speed. The chariots were used for crashing through the enemy infantry line. Experiments have proven that an ass (onager) would have been no more contrary than a horse when trained to pull a war cart. The modern view of the contrary jackass is just that, a modern view, and an old wives' tale, as anyone who has ever been on a hunt in the Rocky Mountains (in the United States of America) where they use jackasses for transportation can tell you. The mountain guides used jackasses for their surefootedness and their tractability, as they worry for the safety of the hunters they are guiding.
The chariots set low on four wheels each made of two pieces of wood fastened around their axles and tyred with leather. The car body was square with a step in the rear. The body was made up of a wooden frame covered by leather to protect the crew. The front was made up of two round topped shields with the reins passing through the V between the shields. The reins were often decorated with silver and lapis beads, these reins passed through a ring on the chariot pole and were attached to the silver headstalls, no bit seems to have been used. Each chariot had a crew of a driver and a warrior. The warrior used several short spears in combat and these were carried in a quiver attached to the front area of the chariot's fighting box. Some of these spears had the butts modified for use with a throwing thong, where the others had plain butts for hand to hand and close-in fighting.
The infantry fought in a close order phalanx that took training and organization. They wore conical copper helmets with fixed cheek-pieces, they wore what appears to be kilts made of leather strips sewn to a girdle fastened around the waist. They also wore long cloaks of what appeared to be animal skins or possibly heavy felt material with copper, stone, or wood discs sewn on for added protection. They carried short spears, and the front rank carried long shields. The Sumerians also had skirmishers and light infantry who wore lighter cloaks and carried light spears, axes, and curved bladed short swords.
Some people have claimed that Sumerians did not use Archers, but grave finds in Ur and Kish would seem to prove otherwise, that they did indeed use Archers in war. Copper and bronze arrowheads of a type that lend themselves more to warfare than hunting have been found along with the remains of bows with grips decorated with sliver, copper, and bronze.
Two types of spearhead have been found that are of special interest. One is a long thin pike like bronze or copper head of as much as two feet in length. The other is a broad leaf shaped head made of bronze that is 12 inches to 20 inches long and is sharp along both edges and could be used both for thrusting and slashing.
Many soldiers seem to have also carried adzes, axes, and daggers. There are inlays that clearly show Axemen and what appear to be men armed with maces with pear shaped heads.
In the latter period the chariot seems to have fallen out of use for combat, and the infantry are armed with longer and heavier spears. In this later period chariots seem to be much lighter and only used for transport by the nobles and other aristocrats. The infantry have discarded their cloaks and now carry much heavier shields. In the later periods the Sumerians also came to rely on more mercenaries from the Akkadians (a Semitic People), and Elamite hillmen.
The Sumerians were finally defeated and their Empire destroyed by the Semite Kingdoms. This defeat may have been caused by the fighting between the Sumerian city-states weakening the Sumerians so much they could no longer resist the invaders.
This list is designed to create a more accurate Sumerian army of the period between 3000 BC and 2350 BC.
The mininimum size for a Regiment is five infantry models or three chariot models. There is no upper limit. One model in each unit may be upgraded to Leader (+5 points), Standard Bearer (+5 points) and Musician (+5 points).
Early Sumerian Phalanx
The Sumerians were the first to develop a phalanx style unit for fighting. To represent this, as long as they maintain a unit of at least 16 models and they have at least +1 rank bonus, the following rules will apply. If the phalanx ever drops below 16 models or loses its rank bonus (including when attacked in flank or rear), then the following rules will no longer apply.
Javelin Throwing Thong
The Sumerians used a special javelin they threw with a throwing thong to attain greater range. They only carried a limited number of these javelins, so the Sumerians, when throwing their first two javelins only (for each figure) have a range of 12". All javelins after the first two have normal range. All other rules pertaining to javelins remain as in the Warhammer Ancient Battles rulebook.
Sumerian Chariots
Sumerian Chariots do 1D3-1 automatic wounds instead of the 1D3 most heavy chariots do, due to their slower movement rate. (This rule was suggested by RJM.)
0-1 ARMY GENERAL........ 143 points
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| General | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
9 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, javelins & light armour. May have thrusting spear at +2 points (may not be given thrusting spear if mounted in chariot). May ride in a four-onager heavy chariot bought at an additional cost from the list below.
Special Rules: Any unit within 12" of the General may use his Leadership when it takes a Leadership test.
0-1 ARMY STANDARD BEARER........ 77 points
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Standard Bearer | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
Equipment: Hand weapon and light armour.
Special Rules: Army Standard.
CHARIOTS ........ 45 points per model
These were heavy, low-slung chariots pulled by four Onagers. They were set on four solid wooden wheels with leather tyres. They had a light body box made up of a wooden frame covered by a leather hide, with two large round-top shields forming the forward section to protect the driver and fighting warrior. These were the earliest form of war chariot, and were created by the Sumerian civilization some time in the late fourth millenium or early third millenium BC. They first seem to appear in Sumerian armies in the early third millenium.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Four-Onager Chariot | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
Equipment: One fighting crewman armed with a hand weapon and javelins, with light armour, riding in a heavy Onager-pulled chariot with a driver.
Special Rules: Throwing Thong
0-1 UNIT OF SCOUTS ............. 17 points per model
The Sumerians used a limited number of Scouts riding Onagers for patroling and carrying messages.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Scouts Mouted on Equids | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
Equipment: Hand weapon and javelin.
Special Rules: Scouts may make a special march move toward the enemy after both sides have set up but before the battle begins. This is a free move made before the actual start of the battle.
0-1 UNIT OF HOUSEHOLD GUARD ........... 15 points per model
The Household Guard were the picked men who served the ruler as a bodyguard and a shock unit in times of war.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Household Guard | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
Equipment: Two hand weapons and light armour. May have javelins (+2 pts).
Special Rules: Stubborn
AXEMEN/MACEMEN ........... 7 points per model
These troops fought with wicked axes designed for punching through the copper helmets of the day or with heavy stone-headed maces which they wielded in two hands. They were used for shock troops, often following the chariot charge.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Axemen/Macemen | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
Equipment: Two handed weapon (either axe or mace). May have light armour (+2).
MILITIA SPEARMEN ........... 7 points per model
All male Sumerian citizens were trained to fight in the army, and were expected to serve when called. They trained on a regular basis to fulfill this role.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Spearmen | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
Equipment: Hand weapon & thrusting spear. May have light armour (+2). May have large shields (+2). May have javelins (+1).
Special Rules: Early Phalanx
0-2 UNITS OF MILITIA ARCHERS ........... 6 points per model
The militia archers would have been made up of citizens who had shown a proficiency with the bow. These were never available, it seems, in great numbers, but there is sufficient proof that they were employed in Sumerian armies.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Archer | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
Equipment: Hand-weapon & composite bow.
Special Rules: Light Infantry.
LEVI ........... 4 points per model
These were poorer citizens that were called up to fight in the armies in times of need. They were supplied with a spear and little else.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Levi | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Hand-weapon and thrusting spear.
Special Rules: Light Infantry.
JAVELINMEN ........... 4 points per model
These were young soldiers who fought as skirmishers. They were considered to be too impetuous to stand in the phalanx.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Javelinman | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Hand-weapon and javelins.
Special Rules: Skirmishers.
SLINGERS ........... 5 points per model
The sling was a very common weapon during the days of the Sumerians and was used in most armies of the period.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Slinger | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Hand-weapon & sling.
Special Rules: Skirmishers
ZAGROS HIGHLANDER ALLIES ............. 5 points per model
These were a more primitive people from northern Messopotamia who often fought in the different armies of the period, including the Sumerians.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Zagros Highlanders | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment:
Hand weapon and javelins.Special Rules: Light Infantry. Subject to Warband psychology.
AMORITES ........... 5 points per model
The Amorites at this period were a very primitive tribal people.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Amorites | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment:
Hand weapon and javelins.Special Rules: Light Infantry. Subject to Warband psychology.
HILL TRIBE SKIRMISHERS ........... 4 points per model
I use this category to cover the many unnamed small hill tribes that fought as mercenaries.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Skirmisher | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Hand weapons & short bow or sling.
Special Rules: Skirmishers
ELAMITES ........... 6 points per model
The Elamites seem to have obtained a reputation as archers during the period.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Elamites | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Hand weapon & composite bow.
Special Rules: Light Infantry.
AKKADIANS ........... 7 points per model
This was another people who relied upon archery and fought in looser formations as light infantry. They excelled at fighting in broken ground.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Akkadians | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
Equipment: Hand weapon & composite bow.
Special Rules: Light Infantry.