Roman Galley Tactics

  • Roman Galley Tactics originally consisted of either Ramming or Boarding.
  • Ramming gave way to the use of artillery designed to disable the opponents crews by firepower from a distance.

Roman Sea Tactics

Roman River Tactics

  • Frequent Patrols
    • Deterrence by using River Patrols between a line of Bases along the Rhine and the Danube.
    • Using small 30 oared fast Galleys, this denied the enemy the use of these rivers and their tributaries.

The Crescent

  • The Crescent formation, used at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE, seems to have been the main method of Battle between two opposing Fleets, with a Left Wing, a Centre and a Right Wing.
  • The Admiral’s Flagship was either in the centre or on a Wing. The Galleys in the Wings aimed to attack the enemy’s flanks, and so break up his Crescent formation.

Ramming

  • The Ram:
    • Although in use from the seventh century BCE, Herodotus gives us the first recorded use of a Ram, in the ‘Battle of Alalia’ in 535 BCE.
    • The Phocaean Greeks with 60 Penteconters defeated a combined Etruscan-Carthaginian Fleet of 120 Penteconters by using Rams.
    • Athlit Ram is a rare example of a Ram from the Classical World.
  • Ramming Tactics:
    • Aim:
      • To puncture and swamp the enemy vessel, disabling it.
    • Method:
      • High speed forward attack at an oblique angle, followed by reversing the oars to disengage.
    • Counter:
      • To get a hold of the attacking Galley by Grapnels to prevent it reversing, and then board the vessel.

The Periplus, Diekplus and Kyklos

  • Periplus (‘to sail around’):
    • Aim:
      • ‘Periplus’ meant ‘to sail around’. The attacking Galley must outflank the Enemy, and get into a position where the Galley could use its Ram against the enemy Galley’s vulnerable sides.
    • Method:
      • Both opposing Fleets line up In a horizontal line. The centre was protected, but the wings were vulnerable. By outflanking the wings, the sides of the outflanked enemy vessels became exposed. And if they turned to face the outflanking Galley, their sides were still vulnerable to the other Galleys.
    • Counter:
      • If outnumbered and outflanked, the Galleys must form into a Kyklos or defensive circle.
  • Diekplus (‘to break through’):
    • Aim:
      • To snap the oars off one side of the Galley, disabling it.
    • Method:
      • Galleys form in line astern and head straight towards an Enemy Fleet with its Galleys aligned side by side. The first Galley pulled in its oars at the last minute and using its momentum snapped off the enemy’s oars on one side. It passed through the Enemy line, and the second Galley attacked the disable vessel. If a neighbouring Galley turned to help, its sides became vulnerable to the next Galley in line.
    • Counter:
      • The Opposing Fleet forms into two horizontal lines, one behind the other. Or if outnumbered, forms into a Kyklos, defensive circle.
  • Kyklos (‘to circle’):
    • Aim:
      • Defense when outnumbered or overtaken:
    • Method:
      • Galleys form a defensive circle with Prows facing outwards, to avoid presenting their sides. The Enemy can only circle, but is unable to use the Periplus or Diekplus.
    • Counter:
      • The Diekplus, the circling Galleys form into line astern and smash through the ring. To counter this attack, the Kyklos would have 3 to 5 vessels inside the circle, waiting for a Galley to come through and expose its sides.

Boarding

  • 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.
    • 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, resulting in a 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.

The Change in Galleys during the Roman Period

Roman Naval Artillery

  • Artillery, such as Catapults (Ballistae)
    • These replaced Ramming. Artillery was designed to disable the opponents crews from a distance, rather than make contact. The technique was to sweep past within 1,600 feet (500m) and rake his sides, without giving the opponent a chance to Ram or Board.
  • The Harpax:
    • In 36 BCE, Agrippa defeated Sextus Pompey by the use of this device which he invented himself, according to Appian.
    • The Harpax was an Iron Grapnel launched by a Ballista (Catapult), and attached by a rope to a winch. It had long iron bands so that it could not be easily cut free by a sword. Once the Grapnel had attached itself to the vessel, the Grapnel and vessel were then winched in, and the Vessel boarded using a smaller version of the Corvus.
  • Battle of Actium (31 BCE)

Roman Ship Weapons

  • Grappling Hooks
  • Grapnels
  • Boarding Planks
  • Ballista
  • Catapult
  • Harpax: A Catapult mounted Grapnel used by Agrippa from 36 BCE onwards.
  • Bows
  • Crossbows:
    • Arcuballista or Manuballista.
    • Handheld arrow firing weapon:
    • Two types: Torsion Crossbow and winched pullback crossbow.
  • Slings:
    • Slingers with lead bullets (sometimes the bullets carried an inscription)

Heat based Weapons

  • Hot Oil:
    • In 67 CE Josephus described the Siege by three Legions of Jotapata (Yodfat), which was conquered after 47 days and 40,000 of its inhabitants slain. During the Siege, the Romans poured Hot Oil on the defenders, which penetrated their armour. Hot Oil could also be launched at enemy Galleys.
  • Firepots:
    • Containing Pitch, Sulphur and Bitumen would be ignited and launched by Catapult.
  • Flaming Arrows or Spears:
    • The Romans used iron boxes or tubes filled with flaming materials and then attached to arrows or spears.
  • Grenades:
    • Early grenades consisted of hand held containers containing burning materials that covered an enemy with fire. They could also be launched from Catapults.
  • The Defense against Fire:
    • To defend against Fire, the Romans could cover the sides of their wooden galleys in raw skins soaked in vinegar and packed with seaweed, in the same way that they protected their siege engines.

 

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