[kronckew]

English pikemen tended to wear shorter 'hanger' type swords rather than cavalry length ones, as a backup weapon they hoped never to need. they were very vulnerable on the flanks and rear, the flanks were usually protected by cavalry, Halberders or men with partisans/bills, later with pistols and matchlock muskets. They drilled to include a way of a quick 180 if they saw a rear attack coming so they could bristle to the rear too. That was no good on the sides. cavalry or zweihanders could wreck havoc on the sides, so the hanger was their last hope other than dropping their pike and legging it. They were steamrollers, not melee troops. Officers as usual carried whatever they wanted & could afford. The pikemen were the resurrected equivalent of the late Greek/Macedonian Sarissa Phalanx, sans Hoplon but with better body armour.