Rome (Hannibal at the Gates) Melee Ship

Assault Bireme - Auxiliary Axe Warriors

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.

(Auxiliary Axe Warriors)
Celtic warriors were ideally equipped to hack through even heavily-armoured foes. Their axes took one of two forms: one-handed axes were typical, and the most practical, but two-handed axes were also used. In comparison to swords, axes were cheap to make, and were effective against chainmail, as a blow could still shatter bone and crush the organs beneath the armour. They could also be used to pull aside shields, or hack them apart. Like other Celtic warriors, the lightly-armoured, one-handed axemen relied on their own shields for defence. There was a long tradition, perhaps dating as far back as the Stone Age, of veneration for axes and hammers in Celtic cultures. Although both were associated with strength, axes in particular were used as grave goods and even depicted on coins celebrating victories in the Gallic Wars of 58-50BC.

Unit Name Assault Bireme - Auxiliary Axe Warriors

Main Unit Key Aux_Cel_Axe_Warriors_Two

Land Unit Key Aux_Cel_Axe_Warriors

Naval Unit Key roman_two

Soldiers 60

Category Medium Ship

Class Melee Ship

Custom Battle Cost 380

Recruitment Cost 380

Upkeep Cost 70

Missile Damage 34

├ Missile Weapon rome_javelin_precursor

├ Projectile javelin_prec

├ Missile Damage 19

├ Missile Ap Damage 15

└ Base Reload Time 40

Accuracy 5

Range 40

Reload 0

Shots Per Minute 2

Ammunition 2

Ship Health 467

└ Ship roman_two

Ship Speed 6

Melee Attack 33

Weapon Damage 35

├ Melee Weapon rome_celtic_axe

├ Melee Damage Base 14

├ Melee Damage Ap 21

├ Armour Piercing Yes

├ Bonus vs. Large 0

├ Bonus vs Elephants 0

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 18

Melee Defence 55

├ Base Defence 20

├ Shield celtic

└ Shield Defence 35

Armour 77

├ Armour leather

├ Armour Defence 47

└ Shield Armour 30

Health 65

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_heavy

├ Man Health 55

└ Bonus Hit Points 10

Base Morale 50

Abilities

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

• Shieldwall
  The unit moves into a close formation and raises shields.
  Armour strength, bracing, melee defence, shield strength
  Limited speed

Attributes

• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Very poor hull strength
• Very light crew
• Fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Good boarding

• Average attack
• Poor defence
• Low damage but good armour penetration
• Poor morale

Recuitment Requirement
Unit Resouces	Auxilia_Celtic
Hannibal at the Gates Regions Provinces Regions Gallia Cisalpina Genua Patavium Placentia Vercellae Gallia Transalpina Lugdunum Massilia Nemausus Tolosa
Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Forum Piscarium (rome_port_fish_4) Level 3 Docks (rome_port_patrol_3) Level 2 Coastal Patrol (rome_port_patrol_4) Level 3 Emporium (rome_port_trade_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Rome Senate loyalists Slaves
Samnite Wars	Lucania (Samnite Wars) Rome (Samnite Wars) Rome (Samnite Wars)
Hannibal at the Gates	Rome (Hannibal at the Gates) Senate loyalists (Hannibal at the Gates)
Imperator Augustus	Antony's Rome (Imperator Augustus) Antony's Rivals (Imperator Augustus) Lepidus' Rome (Imperator Augustus) Lepidus' Rivals (Imperator Augustus) Octavian's Rome (Imperator Augustus) Octavian's Rivals (Imperator Augustus) Pompey's Rome (Imperator Augustus) Pompey's Rivals (Imperator Augustus) Latin Rebels (Imperator Augustus)