Neo-Babylonian List

[IanN]

Neo-Babylonian Army
The Neo-Babylonian kings undertook an aggressive expansion after the collapse of the Assyrian Empire, and within a decade controlled an empire larger than that of the Assyrians. There are references to multiple military campaigns from Palestine, to Egypt and Arabia. It is stated that their army was heavily influenced by that of the Assyrians, and the current MeG list reflects that for the mounted arm; the infantry seem archaic and more closely resemble the earlier Chaldean army.
Beaulieu states that for the Neo-Babylonians war was about plunder to gain materials and resources to bolster the temples, particularly precious metals, woods and craftsmen. Assyrian methods such as deportation and violent destruction as means of control were sources of man-power;  and they could be as brutal as the Assyrians; eg destruction of  Ashkelon  in 604 BCE.
The troops of the Neo-Babylonian Empire were supplied from the cities of Babylonia and Chaldea, from tribal confederations under Babylonian rule, from various client kingdoms and city-states in the Levant, and from mercenaries (MacGinnis). Most 'native' troops were supplied from the temples, (who also provided weaponry, horse and chariots), and from urban levies. Most of these were 'archers' or 'soldiers' (the terms seem interchangeable). MacGinnis quotes the temples of Ebabbara could supply upto 14% of their dependents in a crisis; a total of 50 soldiers. Implying that maybe the native levy was not be the majority troop type.
The Neo-Babylonian army bolstered its numbers through conscripting soldiers from the tribal confederacies within the empire's territory, deported peoples and mercenaries (the presence of Greek mercenaries in the army of Nebuchadnezzar II is known from a poem). These could have been available in considerable numbers (MacGinnis & Stager)
There are few sources, and less illustrations. Native troops would have resembled illustration 160 ("Armies of the Ancient Near East" Stillman & Tallis), and may be typical of temple and native levies. Figure a (archer) represents the "majority native troop type", whilst figure b may represent the front rank spearmen for sparabara; figure c represents a native or conscripted spearmen and shows Assyrian influence with the large shield. Other levied or mercenary troops may be represented by any of the Assyrian auxilia, Aramean or Levantine figures. Ionian troops are mentioned in a poem about the battle of Carchemish,  and there a hints that they have been used on other occasions.

Prior to MeG Neo-Babylonian, later Assyrian and late Urartu troops were been classified as half spearmen (front ranks) and half archers (rear ranks); (refer comments to figure 160 above). In MeG such troops have been reclassified as Spearmen with integral archers, (Assyrian), Spearmen (Urartu) or Archers/Sparabara (Neo-Babylonian). To further complicate things, The Babylonian Chronicles (which 'detail' in very basic terms the wars of this period)  only refer only to 'my army' or 'my spearmen', (helpful ... not). Elamites used Sparabara as early as 660 BCE, and were often allied with Babylonians who may have adopted it. Imho Sparabara should be an option for Babylonian archers from this date onwards, (eg including the Assyrian-Babylonian list)

For the Neo-Babylonian list I offer
Chaldean archers : remain as is, but ...provide optional ugrades to ..
-   Sparabara : as defined in list (any or all), and/or
-   Native Spearmen  : Formed Close, Average, Prot, Short Spear, Shield cover, Int Shoot (as per Assyrians)  (any or all)
-   Downgrade to Levy skirmishers  (up to half)

Add Mercenary/Native Spearmen  :  Formed Loose, Average, Prot, Short Spear, Shield Cover (as per Sargonid infantry)        6 – 24
Option to upgrade Mercenaries to Ionian Hoplites : Formed Close, Average, Prot, Long Spear, Shove, Shield Cover.  0 - 8
These options would provide the Neo-Babylonians with an army with greater Assyrian influence, and increased combat ability based on a 'my spearmen' strategy.

References :
Beaulieu, P. A. (1989). Reign of Nabonidus, King of Babylon (556-539 BC)
Stager, L. E. (1996). "The fury of Babylon: Ashkelon and the archaeology of destruction"
Holland, Tom (2007). Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West.
MacGinnis, John (2010). "Mobilisation and Militarisation in the Neo-Babylonian Empire".