Tercio

Overview

Tercios represent the current cutting edge of the Royal Army of Glas, and indeed potentially the world. The formation relies on armored pikemen as a stopping force, supported by companies of Arquabusiers that provide the main killing power. The formation is renowned for being quite sturdy, able to withstand attacks from many times its number for an extended period of time when properly supported. However, it is also slow, cumbersome, and easily torn to pieces when flanked or attacked from the rear. Despite that, against the Greenskin invasion forces, which have generally relied on overwhelming opposing forces with sheer numbers in pitched battles, the tercio performs fantastically.

Composition

Currently, the tercio serves as the primary Regiment of Foot in the Royal Army. As of this writing, there are five "Regiments of the Line," although in truth only three can currently be considered fit for battle. Each regiment is composed of two battalions, one of pike and one of shot. The I and II Tercios are designated as "Guards" Regiments, being the most senior formations in the line army and maintained at a theoretical double strength of 2,000. The III and IV Tercios are designated as Royal Line Regiments and are maintained at a theoretical strength of 1,000. Due to wartime conditions, theoretical strengths are rarely, if ever met. The V Tercio is a Regional Regiment, raised from local auxiliary forces and trained to meet Royal standards while still being under the nominal command of its native lord. The regional regiments have a theoretical strength the same as a standard Line Regiment, and were devised as a way of folding in local forces and increasing the size of the Royal Army without taking on an excessive burden to the Crown or alienating local nobility.

Organization

At the Regimental Level a Tercio is commanded by a Colonel, who is appointed directly by the King and may command the regiment in fact, or may hold the rank only nominally. Below him is the Lt Colonel, who may act as his second or command or run the Regiment depending on the situation. Assisting the Colonel and Lt Colonel are one or several Majors, who fill staff rolls, assist with Logistics, and may lead a temporary detachment if required. Below the Majors are six Captains, or seven Captains in Guard Regiments, who lead mixed Companies of 150 pikes and 100 musketeers trained to fight in the traditional tercio style. Underneath the Captains are two Lieutenants. A 2nd Lieutenant leads the Company's Musket component and is expected to have a high degree of initiative and daring. A 1st Lieutenant acts as the second in command to the Captain and assists him in leading the pike Company's pike component. If the Captain is incapacitated, he will take command of the Company. The 1st Lieutenant is expected to be calm and collected, with experience tempering the enthusiasm of daring of the 2nd Lieutenant.

Adaptation

Like much of the New Kingdom of Glas' military doctrine and equipment, the tercio was not an original idea, but one imported from the Old World and up through several centuries. Originally, the formation was implemented as a way to protect vulnerable but powerful Arquabusiers from cavalry and infantry attack in a time when firearms were still in their infancy. In the New World, it is economics and biology that drove the adaptation of the tercio.

Economics

For the first several years of the Greenskin war, the Kingdom of Glas faced a chronic shortage of both firearms and gunpowder. This necessitated a severe regression in technology from bolt action and semi-automatic firearms utilizing smokeless powder and brass cartridges that the expedition arrived with to flintlock muskets firing homemade lead balls with black powder. This had been anticipated and contingencies were in place to begin producing domestic muskets as a stopgap measure until more advanced methods could be reintroduced. However, even these relatively simple weapons could not be produced in sufficient numbers to supply the King's needs, so tactics and formations were developed to make the most out of what could be done, with the tercio being foremost among these. At the start of the war, there were five pikemen for every one Arquabusier. As manufacturing centers have grown and the Kingdom has established itself, that ratio has shrunk to around two pikemen for every Arquabusier. As the Royal Army continues to advance in tactics and equipment, that proportion is expected to drop further.

Biology

Were His Majesty's troops fighting only humans, it is quite possible that the tercio would have already been phased out entirely. After all, Royal produced muskets already incorporate the breakthroughs which lead to the tercio's obsolescence in the Old World, namely socket bayonets and flintlock firing mechanisms. However, it is not humans that the Royal Army was currently engaged with, but Orks. Easily growing up to seven feet tall, and strong enough to wear armor that is nearly impervious to human bow and blade, Orks represented not only an existential threat to the island and Kingdom of Glas but a unique tactical problem. Humans fighting Orks in close combat always heavily favors the Orkish force, so it was determined that distance must be kept at all costs. In particular, if Orkish forces were allowed to come to grips with vulnerable gun companies, the result would be a one sided massacre. The obvious weapon for keeping the range open was the pike, which placed emphasis on formations over individual strength. With enemy forces kept at bay by disciplined pike infantry, the gun companies would then have free reign to maneuver and rain supporting fire until the enemy force broke.

Artist's Rendition of an early Royal Tercio

Type

Infantry