Assault Bireme - Legionaries
With a ramming attack that can break an enemy hull, these ships are deadly weapons.The classic heavy infantry, with good armour and exceptional morale.
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.
(Legionaries)
The military reforms of Gaius Marius in 104BC transformed the Roman army into a professional fighting force. Recruits were no longer required to own land in order to be soldiers: Roman citizenship was enough. Without farms to return to, men were willing to make the army their career, fighting lengthy campaigns in return for the pay, glory and retirement benefits. The Legions were equipped at the expense of the state, and each man carried a pilum, a gladius and a large 'scutum' shield, emblazoned with their Legion’s insignia. Under Marius men were expected to carry their own equipment, removing the need for large baggage trains manned by non-combatants. Unfortunately for the men this meant that they were carrying kit that weighed around 45 kilos, earning them the nickname 'Marius' mules'.
Unit Name Assault Bireme - Legionaries |
Main Unit Key Rom_Legionaries_Two |
Land Unit Key Rom_Legionaries |
Naval Unit Key roman_two |
Soldiers 60 |
Category Medium Ship |
Class Melee Ship |
Custom Battle Cost 420 |
Recruitment Cost 420 |
Upkeep Cost 70 |
39 |
├ Missile Weapon rome_pilum_heavy |
├ Projectile pilum_heavy |
├ Missile Damage 22 |
├ Missile Ap Damage 17 |
└ Base Reload Time 40 |
Accuracy 5 |
Range 40 |
Reload 0 |
Shots Per Minute 2 |
Ammunition 2 |
467 |
└ Ship roman_two |
Ship Speed 6 |
Melee Attack 42 |
39 |
├ Melee Weapon rome_gladius_marian |
├ Melee Damage Base 31 |
├ Melee Damage Ap 8 |
├ Armour Piercing No |
├ Bonus vs. Large 0 |
├ Bonus vs Elephants 0 |
└ Bonus vs Infantry 5 |
Charge Bonus 11 |
57 |
├ Base Defence 28 |
├ Shield scutum_marian |
└ Shield Defence 29 |
93 |
├ Armour mail |
├ Armour Defence 57 |
└ Shield Armour 36 |
75 |
├ Man Entity rome_infantry_very_heavy |
├ Man Health 60 |
└ Bonus Hit Points 15 |
Base Morale 55 |
Abilities
Assault Bireme- Row Hard 10
Increases speed for 10 strokes.
Ship speed
- Defensive Testudo
The troops of this unit raise their shields above their heads in a static defensive formation.
Bracing, protection against missiles
Can't move - Attacking Testudo
The troops of this unit raise their shields above their heads in a defensive formation.
Protection against missiles
Limited speed - Use the Whip
Improved attack and fatigue resistance for a short time.
Melee attack, weapon damage, fatigue resistance
Exertion: fatigue
Attributes
- Disciplined
This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often. - Hide (forest)
This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Assault Bireme- Very poor hull strength
- Very light crew
- Fast speed
- Weak ramming
- Good boarding
- Good attack
- Average defence
- Average damage but low armour penetration
- Normal morale
Recuitment Requirement | |
---|---|
Required Technology Cost 150 Upgrade From | |
Upgrade | |
Required Technology Cost 300 Upgrade To |
Faction Availability | |
---|---|
Grand Campaign | |
Samnite Wars |