So having done some reading into the subject from the few sources available, I have come to the conclusion that the Moorish forces changed over time. My understanding is that in the early days of the Garrison (1662-1674) the Moors relied very heavily on their cavalry and close combat infantry armed with scimitar and shield a few bows and almost no firearms. I may be wrong in this, but no source mentions the Moors using firearms in this period. If any of you know differently I would be pleased to hear it.
Their tactics were either a charge by cavalry backed up by infantry when fighting more open affairs or more often planned ambushes luring the Garrison out by tempting them with livestock and then springing the trap. They also used the feigned retreat of small forces to lure the British to follow up and caught them with larger forces.
In that later period of 1680-1684, the Moors seemed to favour siege warfare, primarily to overcome the line of forts the British had established on a ring of low hills beyond the main fortifications. Here they were assisted by Turkish gunners and sappers/miners and occasionally a renegade Europeans, including some former British soldiers. By defintion they must have had greater access to gunpowder and firearms. Indeed one source mentions that the Moors had been collecting cannonballs fired by the British over a number of years so that when the finally acquired cannons, thay could actually use them.
Their tactics were to dig mines, supported by siege lines surrounding the fort and cutting off reinforcements or retreats. They still used close combat troops to man the siege lines but now seemed to have greater access to firearms, as witnessed when they held off by fire an attempt by the Royal Navy’s boats to extricate one small garrison by sea. In addition, the use of cavalry had reduced but was still available, especially in more set piece battles.
Taking these factors into consideration, I intend to base my project in the later period, which gives me a wide variety of forces (including some Spanish Cavalry should I wish) but also a more balanced set up of forces. The forts also provide a great deal of scenario possibilities, which I will outline in a later post.
Bearing in mind that I have chosen to use these as a large skirmish game, based on The Pikeman’s Lament rules (adapted where necessary) then these are my outline 24 point starter forces.
British
6 Cavalry Elite 6 Pts
12 Veteran Pike 6 Pts
12 Veteran Shot 6 Pts
12 Veteran Shot 6 Pts
Total 6 Cavalry and 36 Foot. I will also have unit of 6 Grenadiers (acting as a Forlorn Hope if the scenario calls for it) to replace one of the above units.
Moorish Forces
6 Elite Cavalry Lance 6 Pts
6 Raw Horse Archers 3 Pts
12 Raw Matchlock 3 Pts
12 Raw Matchlock 3 Pts
12 Warband 3 Pts
12 Warband 3 Pts
12 Warband 3 Pts
Total 12 Cavalry and 60 Infantry
I can adjust these forces to improve or reduce capabilities as required by the scenario.
In the meantime I have been putting paint on the first Moorish Matchlock figures and hope to have the first few finished shortly.
13 June 2012, 03:23:56 PM
