Caledonii Secessionists (Empire Divided) Melee Ship

Medium Assault Raider - Celtic Swordsmen

Able to withstand rough seas, these ships' crews can capture enemy vessels in any weather.

Brave, but unskilled, these men will fight and die for the tribe's honour.

Most of the northern European tribes were not naval powers, but there were still able seafarers to be found amongst them. Shipbuilding techniques were well understood, so while many vessels were small leather-skinned boats for inland and inshore use, bigger sea-going vessels were also made. Shipwrights used heavy planking for hulls, stitched together and then fastened to a wooden skeleton to create sturdy craft able to cope with Atlantic conditions. Julius Caesar was surprised at the quality of the enemy ships when his fleet clashed with the Veneti from modern-day Brittany. The Veneti vessels had flat bottoms to cope with shallows, but were also of heavy oak construction to cope with rough seas. This made them tough opposition for Roman galleys, and capable of shrugging off a ramming attack. Caesar said that the enemy ships "...were constructed of planks a foot in breadth, fastened by iron spikes the thickness of a man's thumb; the anchors were secured fast by iron chains instead of cables”. When the Romans were forced to board, they faced fearsome warriors used to close-quarters fighting at sea.

(Celtic Swordsmen)
For hundreds of years, the Celtic warrior was the prime example of the quintessential barbarian fighter, standing over a head taller than their Mediterranean opponents. Their attacks in battle were fearless - as wild and savage as they were skilled and deadly. As the Celtic people spread across Europe, their warriors turned to new, different styles of warfare, often due to the local terrain and the natural resources available. For example, in Spain, they became master swordsmen; in southern Gaul, they manufactured impressive armour, preferring long swords. In Britain they continued to fight from chariots, adapted for use on rough ground. It took Rome 500 years before they managed to secure their territory against the Celtic warriors pressing against their borders.

Abilities

Medium Assault Raider

• Row Hard 10
  Increases speed for 10 strokes.
  Ship speed

Attributes

• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• Resistant to Cold
  This unit tires less quickly in snow.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Medium Assault Raider

• Good hull strength
• Medium crew
• Fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Good boarding

Celtic Swordsmen

• Good attack
• Average defence
• Average damage but low armour penetration
• Normal morale

Caledonii Secessionists (Empire Divided) Units
General (3)
1.Armoured Chariots
2.Heroic Riders Bodyguard
3.Caledonii Oathsworn Bodyguard
Melee Infantry (8)
4.Ambushers
5.Caledonii Oathsworn
6.Caledonii Oathsworn Bodyguard
7.Celtic Sword Band
8.Chosen Sword Band
9.Scatha Shadows
10.Celtic Swordsmen
11.Painted Warriors
Missile Infantry (4)
12.Elite Highland Archers
13.Highland Archers
14.Celtic Archers
15.Celtic Skirmishers
Spear Infantry (3)
16.Caledonii Spear Wall
17.Celtic Levy
18.Celtic Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (4)
19.Caledonii Heroic Riders
20.Heroic Riders Bodyguard
21.Celtic Horsemen
22.Celtic Nobles
Missile Cavalry (1)
23.Celtic Horse Skirmishers
Chariot (3)
24.Armoured Chariots
25.Armoured Chariots
26.Chariots
Fixed Artillery (3)
27.Briton Giant Ballista
28.Briton Scorpion (Fixed)
29.Briton Bastion Scorpion
Field Artillery (6)
30.Briton Ballista
31.Briton Bastion Ballista
32.Briton Scorpion
33.Briton Heavy Onager
34.Briton Onager
35.Briton Bastion Onager
Special (2)
36.Celtic Warhounds
37.Wolfhounds
Admiral (2)
38.Heavy Raider - Painted Warriors
39.Medium Assault Raider - Celtic Swordsmen
Melee Ship (5)
40.Assault Raider - Celtic Sword Band
41.Heavy Raider - Painted Warriors
42.Heavy Raider - Painted Warriors
43.Medium Assault Raider - Celtic Swordsmen
44.Medium Assault Raider - Celtic Swordsmen
Missile Ship (2)
45.Medium Missile Raider - Highland Archers
46.Missile Raider - Celtic Archers