Did the Camillan/Polybian Roman allied infantry use the quincunx formation?

[crow41798]

Couldn't find very much info on this. Usually you only hear of the hastati, principes, and triarii in the quincunx formation.

[Ryoga84]

well... as far as I know, the quincunx formation was used only in the phalanx formation characteristic of the Camillan / first Polybian times.
The Camillan and initial Polybian legions used an Makedon-like phalanx battle line, with infantry disposed on 3 battle lines, engaging only the troops on their front. When the first line was exausted, the second advanced and so on. The cavalry, on the wings, was made for engaging enemy cavalry and then flanking and charging the already engaged enemy front. Makedonian-style.
The "classic" manipular tactics didn't come out before Scipio Africanus.
The quincunx was only a simple tactical positioning, not really a tactic, as the rear units needed simply to advance in the gaps between the front units.
As such, probably the allies didn't used it, as they were usually auxilia or light troops, deployed on the wings

[QuintusSertorius]

Prior to conflicts with the Samnites and Gauls, the Romans used regular phalanx tactics just like everyone else in the Hellenistic world. It was in response to those two enemies that they changed to the more flexible manipular tactics.