User blog comment:Elgb333/Oliver Cromwell vs Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba/@comment-379205-20150225065731

119's "Another Anglo-Spanish War" Edges


 * Swords: The Spado de lato has a slightly longer blade, but the mortuary hilt sword has a wider blade with makes it more versatile for both slashing and thrusting. The thing that really gives the mortuary the advantage in my opinion, is the half-basket, which protects the user's hands. Edge: Cromwell.


 * Polearms: While the pike may be a viable single combat weapon, the halberd is more versatile in single combat. Five infantry simply aren't enough to make the type of formations the pike was most useful in. Edge: Cordoba


 * Special: The crossbow has a longer range, and like the pistol, it has a slow reload, however, there is another thing that must be considered: English cavalry at the time would have usually carried at least two pistols. This meant they could fire again more quickly than a crossbowman. The advantage of the pistol is increased again by two more facts: First, Cromwell's cavalry have armor, which would protect against crossbow bolts to the torso- the largest target area, and the helmet would give the head at least some protection. Finally, as the other Spanish weapons- halberd is an infantry weapon, and while the arquebus and crossbow can be fired on horseback, it is far from ideal as a cavalry weapon, it means the Spanish cavalry will have only their swords and maybe a single crossbow or arquebus, while the English cavalry with have both their swords and multiple pistols, giving them a major volume of fire advantage. Edge: Cromwell


 * Firearms: Cromwell's matchlock, while operating on the same principles of the earlier arquebus, would nonetheless have the advantage of about 200 years more gunsmithing experience, meaning greater accuracy, more reliable firing mechanisms, and longer range. Edge: Cromwell.


 * Armor: Both wore heavy plate armor that would have provided substantial protection against blades and arrows and even some protection against musket fire. Edge: Even.


 * X-Factors: While Cordoba's tactics were innovative for the time, the combination of melee-oriented infantry and muskets had been around for at least 150 years by the time of Cromwell. Cromwell adopted cavalry tactics to beat these formations, and was also skilled in using them himself with his infantry. This gives Cromwell the edge in tactics. The New Model Army he adopted were better trained and at least as, if not more physically fit than Cordoba's men, giving him two more important X-Factors.

Overall Winner: Oliver Cromwell takes this victory due to the combination of more advanced weapons, particularly firearms, as well as his innovated use of cavalry, as well as his New Model Army, whose officers were full-time soldiers, rather part-time administrators- Cromwell's Parliament passed a law requiring all nobles to choose between administrative or military service, rather than playing both roles.