Rodos (Macedonian Wars) Melee Ship

Penteres - Rhodioi Sphendonetai

A quinquereme is a 45 meter long galley with three decks of oars, in a pattern of 2-2-1 oarsmen, developed around 400 BCE by the Syracusans. Its large size allows many marines on board, and also allows ballistae to be mounted on the large decks.

(Rhodian Slingers)

Few can match the deadly accuracy of the men of Rhodes.

The 'five', called a quinquereme in Latin and a penteres in Greek, was a ship first used by the Syracusans against the Carthaginians sometime around 398BC. Like other polyremes, a term meaning many-oared, the chances were that it did not have five banks of oars but that the word 'oar' was used to mean 'rower'. In such a case, the arrangement of rowers would be two-two-one going up from the waterline. It makes sense to keep as much weight as possible low in the vessel to help its stability; a high centre of gravity makes any ship liable to capsize if struck from the side. The quinquereme, then, would be a formidable vessel both in terms of appearance and combat value. With a large fighting contingent aboard and plenty of deck space, this heavy vessel could cope with most enemies and threats.

(Rhodioi Sphendonetai)
Slingers were common in ancient armies. Slings are ancient weapons, dating back to Palaeolithic times. In comparison to bows, they were easy to make and had a greater effective range. Constructed from braided flax, hemp or rushes, a sling has a cradle where the shot is placed. One end has a finger-loop, while the other has a knot or strip giving a firm handhold. The slinger puts his middle finger through the loop and holds the knotted end with his thumb and forefinger. After whirling the shot in the sling it is released with a flick of the wrist. Quick to fire and reload, the sling was widely hated by those on the receiving end. Shot varied from stones collected in rivers to shaped lumps of clay and lead; lead shot could fly over 400 metres. Such missiles were sometimes inscribed with comments such as “Catch!” or “Take that!” Shot was difficult to see in flight, and although it lacked the penetrating power of an arrow it could easily break bone or stave-in armour at short ranges. Famously, the Roman Consul Paullus was killed by a slinger early in the disastrous Battle of Cannae.

Abilities

Penteres

• Row Hard 20
  Increases speed for 20 strokes.
  Ship speed

Rhodioi Sphendonetai

• Stamina (excellent)
  Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat.

Attributes

• Improved Stamina
  This unit type has an improvement on the base stamina stat.
• Hide (scrub & forest)
  This unit can hide in scrub and forest until enemy units get too close.
• Hide (scrub & forest)
  This unit can hide in scrub and forest until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Penteres

• Good hull strength
• Medium crew
• Average speed
• Average ramming
• Poor boarding
• Good missile combat

Rhodioi Sphendonetai

• Very long range
• Average rate of fire
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Very weak in melee
• Very poor morale

Rodos (Macedonian Wars) Units
General (1)
1.Epilektoi Hoplitai
Melee Infantry (17)
2.Cladio Argos
3.Catuiros Calgo
4.Curoas
5.Kares Pezoi
6.Skiritai Machairaphoroi
7.Agrianoi Pelekophoroi
8.Cordinau Orca
9.Thrakioi Pezoi
10.Local Armed Townsfolk
11.Local Townsfolk
12.Greek Citizens
13.Local Citizens
14.Machairaphoroi
15.Okhlos
16.Thureophoroi Machairaphoroi
17.Supply Crew
18.Rhodioi Epibatoi
Missile Infantry (15)
19.Mysoi Sphendonetai
20.Kretai Toxotai
21.Skiritai Peltastai
22.Agrianoi Peltastai
23.Thrakioi Peltastai
24.Local Bowmen
25.Local Archers
26.Greek Archers
27.Local Slingers
28.Psiloi Toxotai
29.Psiloi Akontistai
30.Euzonoi
31.Peltastai
32.Rhodioi Sphendonetai
33.Psiloi Sphendonetai
Hoplite/Pike Infantry (17)
34.Erin-mesh Uriki
35.Ephesoi Phalangitai
36.Athenai Hoplitai
37.Korinthoi Epistratoi Hoplitai
38.Korinthoi Ekdromoi Hoplitai
39.Spartiatai Hoplitai
40.Thessalikoi Epistratoi Hoplitai
41.Thessalikoi Ekdromoi Hoplitai
42.Macedonikoi Phalangitai
43.Greek Militia
44.Greek Hoplites
45.Politai Hoplitai
46.Epilektoi Hoplitai
47.Ekdromoi Hoplitai
48.Epistratoi Hoplitai
49.Phalangitai
50.Rhodioi Epilektoi
Spear Infantry (12)
51.Galatai Lugoae
52.Phrygioi Pantodapoi
53.Kretai Haploi
54.Korinthoi Thureophoroi
55.Thessalikoi Thureophoroi
56.Rhodioi Hoplitai
57.Local Tribesmen
58.Local Militia
59.Local Town Guard
60.Thureophoroi Hoplitai
61.Thureophoroi
62.Philioi Thureophoroi
Melee Cavalry (4)
63.Galatai Epos
64.Greek Cavalry
65.Hippeis
66.Baggage Train
Missile Cavalry (3)
67.Hippakontistai
68.Tarantinoi Hippeis
69.Thureophoroi Hippeis
Shock Cavalry (2)
70.Hippeis Thessalikoi
71.Xystophoroi
Fixed Artillery (3)
72.Polybolos
73.Oxybeles (Fixed)
74.Oxybeles (Bastion)
Field Artillery (3)
75.Lithobolos
76.Lithobolos (Bastion)
77.Oxybeles
Special (1)
78.Molossoi Kyon
Admiral (2)
79.Scorpion Trieres - Epibatoi Toxotai
80.Tower Penteres - Epibatoi
Melee Ship (7)
81.Assault Dieres - Rhodioi Epibatoi
82.Tower Penteres - Rhodioi Epibatoi
83.Assault Tetreres - Rhodioi Epibatoi
84.Trieres - Rhodioi Epibatoi
85.Fire Pot Dieres - Rhodioi Epibatoi
86.Penteres - Rhodioi Sphendonetai
87.Trieres - Rhodioi Sphendonetai
Missile Ship (5)
88.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Epibatoi Toxotai
89.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Rhodioi Sphendonetai
90.Raiding Hemiolia - Epibatoi Toxotai
91.Raiding Hemiolia - Rhodioi Sphendonetai
92.Scorpion Trieres - Epibatoi Toxotai
Artillery Ship (1)
93.Light Artillery Penteres - Lithobolos (Ship)
Transport Ship (1)
94.Supply Ship - Supply Crew