|
Infantry Units
Pikemans
| Firing fuse muskets was a very slow process, while the fire was far from being accurate or effective. Therefore pikemen squads were added
to musketeer detachments in order to defend them from cavalry charges at the open space. On average, pikemen have constituted about 30% of infantry
during the Thirty Years War. Pikemen are virtually the last infantry force of European regular armies that was equipped with cuirasses. A pikeman's
armor comprised an iron helm, a cuirass with knee-long leg-guards, narrow elbow-long shoulder-guards, and gauntlets with large cuffs. The total armor
weight was about 20 kg (45 lb). It could protect from arrows, pistol bullets fired from more than 3-4 m (10-14 ft), and even musket bullets fired from
large distances. Pikemen were armed with pikes with a wooden shaft 5.2-5.8 m (17-19 ft) long, and swords. Pikemen were very effective in close fight;
early in the XVII century they were used both in attacks and defensive. In 1674 pikes have played a significant role in the battle of Enzheim, when
German cavalry did not dare to assault Turenne's pikemen square. However, as firearms were developed, the role of pikemen became not such significant.
Body armor is abolished here and there. Soldiers become more mobile and less expensive. By the end of XVII century pikemen were used mainly as defensive
units. All European armies gradually refuse pikemen, and their number falls considerably. Pikemen become armed with pistols and sometimes muskets. In
the XVIII century, they use no armor and wear a customary uniform - a broadcloth caftan, a camisole (sometimes of elk or goat leather), trousers, and
stockings. When it was cold, they also wore a cloak. Pikemen fought in tight arrays of six files each. Usually they were marshaled in a manner allowing
musketeers to retreat behind them, while pikemen could easily form a square formation to protect musketeers from cavalry charges. Later pikes gave place
to bayonets in close fight. Bayonets were surely important in hand-to-hand fight, but far not as good as pikes. Pikemen were the most battle-worthy
infantry for close fighting. |
|
 |
|
