Suggestions for Ottoman infantry (both combat and missile):
15th century:
1. Azap – rank and file soldiers, young free Muslim peasants serving as infantry archers, with a sabra (sword) and shield as a secondary weapon. Quite good in hand to hand combat as well, not just pure missile troops. Light armour, just a mail shirt and a helmet (sisak).
2. Yaya – vassal Christian troops. Light infantry, crossbow armed, sword and shield secondary weapon. Not really necessary, however they would be the only Ottoman crossbowmen so I think that it would be good to include them as well. Could be modelled easy by modifying Azaps (give em crossbows and a different soft armour like the Egyptian spearmen, no helmet).
3. Voyniqs – also vassal Christian troops, however these are armoured soldiers armed with polearms (helebards), shield and a sword, similar to generic western militia or something.
4. Janissary bowmen (or Nefer J. Archer, to use an authentic title) – Inf. Archers, secondary sabre and shield, armoured like azaps however much better fighting qualities.
5. Armoured J. (or Zirhli Nefer J) – Heavily armoured Jannissaries. They should be modelled exactly as in MTW, since that unit was one of the few that was very accurate. Polearm, shield and asabre, good armour.
6. Ottoman milita – As the name suggests. A good picture is on the site I suggested under Ottoman infantrymen in the battle of Sisak 1593. A polearm (tirpan battleaxe, shield and sabre, no armour, wears turban).
7. Optional – Siege assault infantry (or Serdengecti, literally head riskers) – Elite infantry armoured in the very comple armour the Ottomans can provide, a metal shield that can resist firearms, sabre or an axe as the main weapon. Melee infantry.
8. Dervish bektashi – similar to screaming women. These priests often accompanied Ottoman armies and would fire up the troops before battle. Very simple to model – a turban, little clothes (peasant style), a sword. Nothing fancy.
16th:
No more yaya inf as they disappeared.
1. Voyniqs – the same as before, no change
2. Ottoman militia – the same
3. azap – the same uniform, instead of bow now has arquebus.
4. Jannisary musketman – No armour. Typican Jannissary outfit (the hat, long yellow or green overcoat). No shield. Just a musket and a sabre.
5. Zirhli nefer – the same
6. Jannissary bowman – same
7. Serdengecti – the same
8. Dervish – the same.
All in all, 10 units, one of which is just a modification (azap arquebus). Not too much I think.
Important ---- Ottomans never adopted the volley fire tactic, instead relied on individual marksmanship. Can that be modelled?
Also, you initially suggested that we include Ottoman pikeman. This would be ahistorical as they never adopted the pike or any kind of linear, phalanx type tactics. This is going to be a major problem for them in the 16th century, however that was actually the case in real life. So basically, they are incredibly strong in the 15th with easily the best available army (best artillery, best cav and best infantry – the Jannissaries). In the 16th the only element that was still better than their opponents was the cav.
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