This is my first ever battle here, and I was going for something which might not be very fun in concept, but which I know I could do solidly. This battle is between two troop types who are themselves both fairly similar but starkly different. While I first thought a fight between these two units would have been one sided and unfair, after taking a minute to think, I realized it was more balanced then I previously though. So without further adieu, let me present to you all Roman Hastati and Zulu Impi.
Hastati[]
The Hastati were soldiers who operated in the Roman army in the Pre-Marion Reforms era Roman Military. For this specific battle I will using the Hastati as they existed during the second punic wars. In the Roman Army, The Hestati were used a frontlinemen, even though they were generally considered to be the second best trained and possibly worst equipped of the Republican soldiers. Their main function was basically as a weathering tactic. They would be sent in before the Principes (Best trained and equipped troops), and would be used for a short time to just weaken and wear down the enemies before switching out with the Elites who would then continue in the fight for the long haul. In combat, the Hastati would have fought with gusto and enthusiasm, getting stuck in early on a fighting with all their might.
Weapons.
Gladius Hispaniensis: Also Known as the Spanish sword in english, The Gladius Hispaniensis was the earliest form of Roman Gladius in history. As the name suggests, the sword was itself first carried by Spaniards of the ancient world. The weapon was roughly two and three quarters feet in length and roughly 2 pounds. The weapon was much beefier then all of its decendents, having a blade which was appearently terrifying effective on the cut. According to the Greek Historian Polybius, the sword as able to remove limbs with a solid hit. This however didn't limit its abilities at stabbing, it having a solidly sharp stabbing point and a heavy blade giving said thursts a lot of punch.
Pila: A masterpiece of early Roman Engineering. Considered by some to be inspired by the Iberian Soliferrum, the Pilum (Pural Pila) was a form of heavy Javelin designed to destroy a enemies shield. The Pilum was roughly 6 feet in length, with a 4 foot handle and a 2 foot shaft a heavy Iron behind the tip. The weapon could at its most thrown roughly 50 feet, though you would only thrown the lighter of the Pila at that range (Greater range, lower impact). The heavy Pilum would have been used within a few yards of the enemy, the heavy weight projectile being known to smash, piercing and get stuck into shields. The weapon has designed to be get stuck an enemies shield, with the point piercing and then bending, getting lodged in the shield.
Pugio: A short stabbing knife used as a backup weapon if a warrior lost their sword. The Pugio was itself far below a pound in weight and around 10 inches in length (Blade and hilt together). The Dagger was made for stabbing, but was itself a capable cutter, with it having a solidly wide blade with a sharpened edge.
Tactics.
The Hastati fought in traditional Roman formations. They formed shield walls which and fought in close combat. When closing, they would throw their Pila before rushing into close combat and stabbing the hell out of their enemies. When going against projectiles, it was likely that These men would have formed a testudo, putting their shields over their heads to protect against incoming arrows and javelins.
Zulu[]
Zulu Warrior
The Zulu Impi were the main leading military force of the Zulu army. For this specific battle I will using them after Shaka Zulu had already expanded their territory, so roughly 1840. The Zulu warriors were a form of light infantrymen who would have excelled as powerful offencive movements. As a unit the Impi would have been an offencive force, generally entering combat as a powerful attacking force. They wore little armor, but made up for it by taking advantage of their now increased mobility, running into combat and overwhelming enemies (as the battle Isandlwana proves).
Weapons.
Iklwa: The classical short spear. The Iklwa was the main close range weapon used by Zulu warriors. The weapon was itself used in a way less like a full lengthed spear, but in many ways similar to that of a sword. The entire weapon was around 3 and half feet long. The weapon had a short but deadly sharp iron blade and a slender but resiliant shaft often made from Rosewood. The weapon was itself very light weight, weight roughly one a three quarters pounds. It was mainly used as a close range stabbing weapon, but was itself very well suited for delivering debilitating and deadly gashes. I've even seen records of these weapons being used as thrown weapons, but I see that as a terrible way to disarm yourself of your main melee weapon.
Assegai: The revolutionary weapon of South African warfare. The assegai (light throwing spear) was according to Zulu Legend created by Shaka Zulu himself (I'm not sure about that, but IDK). The weapon was itself perfectly designed for ranged combat. Due to its light weight and effective design, it could effectively be thrown up to 200 feet, though its effective aimed range is likely around 100. The weapon was made to go through flesh and muscle like a razor, it being designed to pierce unarmored bodies and do massive damage. While it wasn't tested against metal armor, it was known to pierce the rawhide shields of the Zulu, which were known for being able to at times turn musket balls.
Iwisa: The simple wooden club. As a weapon, The Iwisa was itself a club weighing around a pound and averaging around 2 feet. While potrayed as a thrown weapon in the Tv series Deadliest warriors, I personally feel it would have mainly been used as a club in melee, especially when considering how the Zulu warriors had better ranged weapons. Being a club, it could break bones and cave in skulls, though it had no cutting or piercing abilities.
Tactics. Zulu Warriors took up a formation call the Horns of the Buffalo. This formation was based around having a rank of soldiers forming a line. But on the flanks are wings (or Horns) of units which act as flanking units who try and wrap around the sides of an enemy unit. As these forces closed, they would thrown the Assegai before get up close and getting stuck in.
X-factors[]
Experience: Hastati 90/ Zulu 90. Both of these forces were infantry which fought against large groups of enemies. The Zulu were constantly waring with other African tribes, while the Hastati were constantly fighting people like the Syracusans and Gauls. Both were basically at constant war with not too different enemies from each other. So I'm going with a draw.
Armor: Hastati 70/ Zulu 45. This is a little unfair honestly. While the Zulu's did carry shields, and all historical records show that they were good shields (the musket ball turning feat above is my main evidence), thats all the Zulu's have. The Hastati carried shields of similar size and shape, but they also wore Montefortino helmets, a greave on their leading leg, and a possibly a square bronze plate strapped to the chest (though this doesn't seem all that effective to me). While its not great armor, it's still better then nothing. So I kinda have to side with the Hastati on this one.
Training: Hastati 70/ Zulu 80. While both of these troops were trained in a professional manor, with both going down different paths (Zulu's constantly drilled in insane conditions, like running across thorned bushes and getting beaten. While the Hastati trained and worked together and trained to work as a unit, along with lots of weight training and Athletics). But when looking at it, there is a clear difference. The Zulu were all the best of the best of their troops. They were like the Spartans, were the weaklings would have died in training to become warriors. While the Hastati were directly considered to be a form of lesser soldier in the Roman army, being seen as the second or even third best troops. So its comparing two groups of well trained warriors, but were the Hastati were simply good, the Zulu were all the best of the best.
Battle Info[]
This battle will take place along a beach on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa. a 120 Hastati would be sent here by the Republic to deal with a band of 120 Zulu Raiders who have migrated north and were attacking docked ships who were transporting grain to Rome. The Hastati will be dropped off, and the Zulu will see their beach landing from a distance. Both will have no knowledge of the others tactics, with the two attacking each other not long after the Romans arrive. Both will be Fresh for battle and fully fed/watered for the fight.