Worst Thing to Fight in but best to discuss (from a distance)

[Iarwain Ben-adar]

Miliatry Tactics and Strategies In Middle-earth

In this thread, I would like to discuss the different forces, number of soldiers, and strategies/tactics in the battles of Middle-earth. In this starting thread I will give you an example of what I mean:

The first battle, or the first of the great battles, was fought soon after the destruction of the Two Trees of Valinor. After his own return to Middle-earth, Melkor sent legions of Orcs to attack Thingol and Círdan, who were,at that time, the two greatest lords of Beleriand. Those legions of orcs, If I recall correctly from all of the other battles that Orcs have fought under Morgoth, used something called an Overwhelming Force tactic, which is where the besiegers attack with a greater force than the defenders, and try to destroy them with one powerful blow. They send all of their forces in at once and try to completely anhilate the defenders. It was a win-lose situation for the elves; they did manage to safely defend their kingdoms, but n turn Orcs wandered in Beleriand from then on in.

Another example of a Military tactic would be the elves of Nargothrond. They usually employed a tactic known as th Guerilla Tactic, or a hit and run tactic. They would swiftly attack a groups of Orcs, then run away, presumably into a forest, before any damage to their forces could be done. When Turin came, he convinced Orodreth, the ruler of Nargothrond, to use an overwhelming force tactic. I quote from the Children of Hurin, Turin in Nargothrond:
Because of his prowess and skill in warfare with Orcs Turin found favour with Orodreth, and was admitted to his council. Now Turin had no liking for the manner of fighting the elves of Nargothrond, of ambush and stealth and secret arrow *1, and he urged that it be abandoned, and that they should use their strength to attack the servants of the enemy, to open battle and pursuit*2
*1: Hit and Run/Guerilla Tactic
*2: Overwhelming force Tactic

So, just follow my example above and i feel that we can have a great in depth and lore filled thread discussing the various strategies and tactics and if possible, the numbers of the soldiers) of all the battles of Middle-earth.