HYW English v Santa Hermandad Nuevo

[paulcummins]

Henry V (IC) took the initiative over the scouting hordes of Spanish Jinetes (who rolled a 1 for initiative) and forced a battle in a Forested area.
The battlefield had patches of forest and brush closing down each flank with a gentle hill commanding the central gap.
The Spanish deployed with a line of Hermandad and Santa hermandad spearmen and a block of Swiss mercenaries filling the central gap, their flanks covered by Hermandad crossbowmen (on the defensive side) and sword and buckler men on the Swiss end of the line. Outside the Swiss were 2 groups of jinettes and a group of mounted crossbowmen. Following behind these horsemen were a group of Almughavers and more sword and buckler men.
On the other flank the front edge of the wood was filled with 3 more groups of Jinetes and 2 groups of hand gunners.
Behind the main battle line a group of Mounted Men at Arms waited to deliver the final decisive strike.
The English deployed with a line of alternating groups of dismounted men at arms and longbowmen. The battle lines flanks were guarded by a group of Kerns in a brushy area, opposite the hand gunners, supported by a battery of light guns. A group of brigans and Irish Horse protected the opposite flank (facing the Almughavers)
The battle opened with a general advance by both armies. The Spanish Light horse manoeuvred around and then through forest to get to the Irish Horse in order to clear the way for the medium foot to get to the lurking Brigans, before turning the flank of the main battle line (at least that was the plan)
On the opposite flank 2 groups of hand gunners and 2 groups of Jinetes attacked the Kerns. Their combined missile fire did nothing but annoy the kerns who launched an attack on the combined skirmishers.
This did not go according to the Spanish plan as the Kerns fragmented one group of hand gunners on impact and laughed at the efforts of the rest of the skirmishers to defend themselves. Even another group of Jinetes attacking the open flank of the Kerns failed to have much impact. It took another couple of bounds before the Kerns finally ran for it (6 LF, javelin, light spear against 8 LF firearm, and 8 LH javelin light spear), but one group of gunners and one of Jinetes were also running by this time with another group o f Jinetes becoming less enamoured of the whole fighting business (fragmented)
In the centre the battle lines neared and the Longbows opened up. This not being a good place to stand the Santa Hermandad offensive spearmen and Swiss pikemen crashed into the men at arms, and sword and buckler men into some longbows. The men at arms showed the stiffness of their sinews and proceeded to chop the Spaniards into chorizo. The longbowmen though didn’t like the skilled and flamboyant sword and buckler men. With only 2 bases in contact with the bowmen they proceeded to do much slaughter, taking them to Fragmented in short order. The CinC dying while leading the Swiss (who then broke) filled the buckler boys with dismay, and they ran for the hills too.
Not looking good for the Spaniards, but what is happening on the flank?
The Irish horse stood up to the Jinetes for a long time, but the assistance of another bunch of sword and buckler men saw them break, clearing a space for the almughavers, who could then swing onto the flank of the main battle line. The buckler men then carried on into the Brigans supported by Jinetes, and utterly failed to make much difference.
The Almughavers now launched themselves onto the flank of the Longbow line. This was nicely timed to coincide with the cream of Spanish chivalry crashing into the front of the line. Result – a broken group of Longbowmen and a destroyed group of Men at Arms.
More Men at Arms and Longbowmen had cornered the remaining hand gunners and Jinetes on the opposite flank, and butchered the Hamandad crossbowmen and defensive spearmen in passing.
The Spaniards were down 15 Attrition points out of 16, with no centre troops reaming, and the English were down 9 out of 11.
A final rush for the camp by Jinetes, a charge back into the main line by knights and an attempted mugging of Brigans all failed to break the English before the cornered Spanish light troops were shot down.
So – pike the all conquering? Not in my hands!