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Re: Pikes

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  Posted by Tar-Elenion on April 16, 2000 at 22:59:56
In Reply to: Re: Pikes posted by DGG on April 16, 2000 at 17:36:38:



: : : : If he doesn't mind me answering for him, he's correct, those swords were employed to remove the heads off of pikes. Some units, like the german mercenaries, Katzbergers or something like that were known for that skill alone.

: : OK, but would that fact make them the "terror" of pike armed troops? : : My understanding is that the greatest fear of pike armed troops, prior to the introduction of cannon, was losing formation or being flanked.

: : Nope. It was to be suddenly reduced to "Broomhandle man" by the aforementioned swordsman.

Aelmer is correct. The pikeman would be more worried about losing formation, having a gap created in the formation or being flanked than being assaulted by soldiers wielding two hand swords. The key to successful pike tactics is keeping the unit in a tight formation with the flanks protected. One use of the two hand sword and halberd armed soldiers was to turn the flank of an opposing formation. When two pike blocks would engage the halberds and two hand swords would leave the formation and attempt to assault the flank of the opposing formation. Another way they were used was to support the arquebusiers/crossbowmen who would preceed a formation (the 'forlorn hope') and attack an opposing forlorn.




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