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Assault Dieres - Light Peltasts AthensAthens Melee Ship

Assault Dieres - Light Peltasts

With a ramming attack that can break an enemy hull, these ships are deadly weapons.

These skirmishers harass the enemy with their javelins before sensibly withdrawing out of range.

The waterline ram was first mounted on a vessel in around 850BC. Warships and naval tactics were transformed. Ships were no longer platforms for infantry battles on the water; the ship itself became the weapon. Galleys changed as the new reality sank in. Ramming at speed would hole and sink an enemy, therefore slimmer, faster, handier ships were required. More speed on demand obviously required more oars a fast ship with a single row of oars ended up being stupidly, impractically long. The solution, then, was to put in a second set of oars above the first, but slightly offset to allow for rowers' benches. These biremes, a Latin word meaning 'two oars', or dieres, the Greek equivalent, were no longer than previous designs but had twice the number of rowers. They were fast, manoeuvrable, and could carry a fighting contingent. Some nations also gave their bireme crews fire pots; these clay pots filled with oil and pitch were hurled at enemy ships in the entirely reasonable hope of setting them ablaze.

(Light Peltasts)
These skirmishers were named for their small crescent-shaped leather or wicker shields or 'peltai'. It was a common habit to name troops for their shield style in the Greek world. They wore little or no armour and carried three javelins. After harassing the enemy by flinging javelins, they would hastily retreat before any counter-charge or flanking move could be carried out. As armies developed and tactics became more complex, peltasts were expected to take part in hand-to-hand combat: with such expectation they were given stiffened linen cuirasses and short swords. They were still expected to use javelins, but could then join in the close fighting. Eventually, peltasts even exchanged their characteristic shield for the heavier thureos. Their name and battlefield function remained unchanged.

Assault Dieres - Light Peltasts

Unit Name

Assault Dieres - Light Peltasts

Main Unit Key

Gre_Light_Peltasts_Two

Land Unit Key

Gre_Light_Peltasts

Naval Unit Key

greek_two

Soldiers

60

Category

Medium Ship

Class

Melee Ship

Custom Battle Cost

540

Recruitment Cost

540

Upkeep Cost

70

Missile Damage

28

├ Missile Weapon

rome_javelin

├ Projectile

javelin_normal

├ Missile Damage

15

├ Missile Ap Damage

13

└ Base Reload Time

9

Accuracy

5

Range

70

Reload

23

Shots Per Minute

9

Ammunition

30

Ship Health

467

└ Ship

greek_two

Ship Speed

6

Melee Attack

10

Weapon Damage

23

├ Melee Weapon

rome_shortsword

├ Melee Damage Base

20

├ Melee Damage Ap

3

├ Armour Piercing

No

├ Bonus vs. Large

0

├ Bonus vs Elephants

0

└ Bonus vs Infantry

5

Charge Bonus

4

Melee Defence

53

├ Base Defence

14

├ Shield

peltast_thureos

└ Shield Defence

39

Armour

57

├ Armour

cloth

├ Armour Defence

27

└ Shield Armour

30

Health

55

├ Man Entity

rome_infantry_very_light_fast

├ Man Health

45

└ Bonus Hit Points

10

Base Morale

35

Abilities

Assault Dieres
  • Row Hard 10
    Increases speed for 10 strokes.
    Ship speed
Light Peltasts
  • Quick Reload
    Improved reloading for an extended time.
    Shots per minute
    Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

  • Resistant to Fatigue
    Fatigue has less of an effect on this unit.
  • Hide (scrub & forest)
    This unit can hide in scrub and forest until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Assault Dieres
  • Very poor hull strength
  • Very light crew
  • Fast speed
  • Weak ramming
  • Good boarding
Light Peltasts
  • Short range
  • Fast rate of fire
  • Very good damage and armour penetration
  • Large shield
  • Very weak in melee
  • Poor morale
Recuitment Requirement
Required Technology Mercenaries Cost 150 Upgrade From Assault Dieres - Peltasts