Battle of Nagashino
1573 took place in Nagashino in Mikawa of Japan.
Takeda Katsuyori besieged Okudaira Nobumasa at Nagashino Castle in 1573. Nobumasa was holding the castle for Tokugawa Ieyasu and this castle was situated in the strategic location that could endanger the line of supply for Takeda's troop.
Both Ieyasu and Oda Nobunaga sent troops and Katsuyori was defeated.
Battle
Traditionally, it is believed that Oda-Tokugawa troops constructed several wooden barricades to stop the attack by the fearsome cavalry of Takeda Katsuyori. Then they organized 3000 rifle soldiers into three groups and fired in volleys from behind the barricades into the charging ranks of the Takeda soldiers. This battle was thus believed to be the complete departure from traditional duels that used to be popular back in Kamakura period.
However, many recent studies contradict this belief. It is highly doubted that the massive amount of rifles is the sole key to loss of the battle. The Oda-Tokugawa army outnumbered Takeda by a 3 to 1 ratio, enough to win even with the Takeda deeply entrenched in a fortification. There are also three major doubts about the actual battle:
- Japanese horses of that time were much smaller than today's and unsuitable for charge on the horseback. Samurai are believed to have fought on foot in battle.
- The Takeda army is known to have a deep knowledge of tactics and it is unimaginable for them to attack head on into well-constructed barricades that were visible from far away.
- Most of the Takeda deaths were incurred while in the retreat and not at Nagashino.
The major impact of this battle is that regardless of where the bulk of the Takeda were killed, they lost many seasoned veterans and their military ability was seriously depleted. Takeda never recovered from this loss and was exterminated in 1582.
