[Saurreg]

Originally Posted by alatar

I can understand, as you say, being outnumbered, but out-thought? Where are the wise captains that led Gondor? Hopefully not all floated down the Anduin in an elvish boat. Are we being prepared for the return of a hero? Anyway, I think that it's stated by some character in the movie that the east is quiet and that the orc garrison (too human, that) may have retreated so that they could attack from the north.

Nah mate. When I stated out-maneuvered, I meant it literally as a component of maneuvere warfare. An engagement of attrition means that two opponents just crash into each other headlong and try to bleed the other dry. Maneuvere warfare avoids the bulk of the enemy's strength and instead goes for the weak points. In my opinion, the Witch-King of the books used a combination of both. A strong force to attack the Gondorians head on and tie them down while small but numerous landing parties cross the Anduin at various points and converge at the west end of Osiligath, severing the lines of communication with Minas Tirith.

This is what I think happened in the books:

When Faramir and his lieutenants found out that their all important lines of communication were compromised, they initiated a systematic withdrawal from the west bank of the Anduin towards the west end of Osiligath. In that way the enemy secured the western banks and the Gondorians were pushed out from the old city. Faramir then led the remnants of his battered garrison towards the make-shift wall at the edge of the pelennor before returning to Minas Tirith to report and await further instructions.

Was it night or the darkness? And wasn't this just after Minas Morgul signalled that the war had begun? It's just a little too contrived and makes the Gondorians, including Faramir, look silly.

Alexander's crossing? It was in the dead of the night aided by heavy rains. The great one divided his army into an infantry strong contingent and a cavalry stong one - he crossed the Hydapseus with the latter. In addition to the darkness of night and heavy rains, he had his infantry division led by Nearchus and Seleucus march up and down the north bank of the Hydapseus to distact the Indians and trick them into thinking that he was attempting a direct crossing.

Everything about the battles in RoTK looked contrived.

In this case, the orc advance could only be slowed, not stopped. However, Faramir could have made them pay for the crossing by shooting as many as possible. Orcs with arrows in them swim less well than those who haven't been shot and aren't in water in the first place. By the time the orcs make landfall, they immediately get an advantage from the terrain, as they can use the city ruins for cover just as well as the defenders.

IMO much better to withdraw while he could. Any attempts to defend the west bank would merely delay the enemy and add to his own resources being drained off. Follow the wisdom of Sun Zhi and von Clauswitz; fight only if you need to fight.