In  the  Middle  period, 14th  to  8th century the army  was  characterised  by  2 and  3 horse  chariots, supplemented  with  light cavalry operating  in  pairs. One armed  with  bow  the  other  defensive with  shield  and lance. The warrior  in  the  chariot  was  scale  armoured with  bronze  helmet,and  used  a  bow. The  cavalry was  unarmoured. There  was  a  small  standing  army  of  infantry  augmented  by  ally  levies.  With  the  accession  to  the throne  of  Tiglath Pileser  lll the  standing  army  was  increased. It became  increasingly  standardised in  its  equipment  and  training. The  chariots  became  larger  with  4 horses  and  crew used  as  shock  troops. cavalry became  armoured  and  the  arm  was increased  in  size. It became the  main  element  of  the  Assyrian  army,  often  acting  independently. Cavalrymen  now  wore  bronze  lamellar  armour and  carried  a  lance  and  composite  bow. By  the  end  of  the  period  cavalry  horses  were  armoured too  with  fabric  barding. 
The  regular  Assyrian  infantry  was initially  unarmoured ,carrying  a  conical  shield,spear  and  sword. Bronze  scale  lamellar  body  armour  became  standard  throughout  the  army, both cavalry  and  infantry. The  conical  helmet  changed  from bronze  to  iron,  with  hinged  cheek pieces. Later  the  cheek  pieces  became  an  integral  part of  the  helmet,  and it  carried  a  crest. One  would  suppose  that  some bronze survived  throughout  the period and  some  continued  to  be  made  in  bronze The iron  helmets  were decorated  with bronze  to  show  rank.  Lamellar  armour  cold  be  reinforced  by  a  bronze  disc  over  the  chest.  This  could  also  be  worn  independently by  lighter  troops. A conical  leather  shield  was  carried  edged  in  bronze  with  a  bronze  boss. The  conical  shape  would  deflect  arrows.  the  shield  became  larger   and  a  long  rectangular  shield  with  curved  top  was  introduced. In  sieges  huge  reed  shields  were  used  to  protect  the  besieging  troops, carried  by  a  shield  bearer. The  equipment  had  become  so  standardised  that  a  uniform  tunic  colour  seems  likely, at least  for  regular  rank  and  file.