Roman Naval Artillery

  • Artillery in the form of Catapults and Ballistae started to replace Ramming at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE.
  • The strategy was to disable the opponents crews from a distance, rather than make contact. The technique was to sweep past within 1,600 ft (500 m) and rake his sides, without giving the opponent a chance to Ram or Board.

Battle of Actium (31 BCE)

Boarding using a Catapult

  • 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 Cheiroballistra (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.

Roman Ship Weapons

  1. Grappling Hooks
  2. Grapnels
  3. Boarding Planks
  4. Cheiroballistra
  5. Catapult
  6. Harpax: A Catapult mounted Grapnel.
  7. Archers
  8. Bows
  9. Crossbows: Arcuballista or Manuballista.
    • Handheld arrow firing weapon:
    • Two types: Torsion Crossbow and winched pullback crossbow.
  10. Slings: Slingers with lead bullets (sometimes the bullets carried an inscription)

Heat based Weapons

  1. Hot Oil:
    • Hot Oil launched by catapult was used in Naval Battles and in Sieges:
    • 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.
  3. Firepots:
    • Containing Naptha, Pitch, Sulphur and Bitumen would be ignited and launched by Catapult. Naptha could not be extinguished by water.
  4. Flaming Arrows or Spears:
    • The Romans used iron boxes or tubes filled with flaming materials and then attached to arrows or spears.
  5. 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 hides soaked in vinegar and stuffed with seaweed.
  • The same was done to protect their wooden siege engines.

Roman Sea Tactics

Roman River Tactics

  • Continuous River Patrols monitored any attempt by a hostile force to attempt a crossing or set up a fleet.
  • On the River Rhine and the River Danube, there were Galley bases at frequent intervals.
  • Vegetius (4th century CE) mentions the use of river patrols.

 

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