- Boarding was a Galley Tactic used by the Romans in the Sea Battles with Carthage during the First Punic War (264-241 BCE)
The Corvus (260-241 BCE)
- The ‘Corvus’ was a heavy gangplank with a spike, positioned in the Prow in a raised position, which was dropped onto the enemy deck and held the Galley in place, whilst the Marines boarded the vessel.
- Unfortunately it was too heavy to be safe, as it destabilised the vessel, and was eventually abandoned.
Battle of Mylae (260 BCE)
- In 260 BCE it was first used by the Romans during the First Punic War. The Republic built a Fleet of 100 Quinqueremes and twenty Triremes, armed with the ‘Corvus’.
- This Tactic enabled the Romans to capture 50 vessels at the Battle of Mylae, modern Milazzo near the Strait of Messina, resulting in a Roman victory.
- In 241 BCE, at the Battle of the Aegates Islands, the Romans had a new fleet of 200 Quinqueremes with Rams, but without the ‘Corvus’, which had now been abandoned, and they won the Battle.
Milazzo (Mylae)