Armenia (Empire Divided) Melee Ship

Assault Tetreres - Eastern Infantry

Ramming attacks from these ships inflict terrible damage.

Warriors of the east, used to fighting in difficult conditions.

There is a good deal of debate as to how large ancient warships worked; the principles are understood, but the details are not always so clear. A Roman 'quadreme' or Greek 'tetreres' would seem to have four rows of oars if the name is translated literally. However, it is unclear how four sets of oars each with one rower apiece could be used without them getting in a terrible tangle even with a magnificently trained crew, or how the top set of rowers would be able to handle the extremely long oars pitched at a steep angle and still produce any power. The chances are that the term 'oar' had become synonymous with 'rower' and that the lowest bank had more than one man per oar. The other option was to go back to a double row of oars, with two men apiece. Two banks of oars would also have made for a cheaper construction task for each ship. Either way, the result was a ship that could rival the lighter trireme in speed, yet had more deck space for a large fighting contingent or artillery pieces.

(Eastern Infantry)
In contrast to their European opponents, eastern armies generally had lighter equipment. This was a function of the terrain and climate of their homelands, which naturally favoured irregular combat. As a result, traditional Persian warfare favoured skirmishing with few close combat engagements. Heavy armour was impractical in such conditions, as the oppressive eastern heat hampered soldiers already weighed down by chainmail or scales. Also, the metal needed to produce it was not cheap at the time. As eastern forces encountered heavier European warriors for the first time, the difference in equipment had a large impact on their way of battle. Under Sassanid rule, the Persian army was properly prepared for the expansion into southern Europe, as the reconquest of this land was high on the Shah's list of priorities - he wished to wipe out the stigma of his ancestor Xerxes' defeat at Greek hands, almost 1000 years before. In order to fight Rome's Legions effectively, eastern warriors began to be equipped with bulkier armour and heavier weapons such as axes and longer metal swords, rather than spears and javelins.

Abilities

Assault Tetreres

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

Attributes

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

Assault Tetreres

• Average hull strength
• Medium crew
• Average speed
• Average ramming
• Average boarding

Eastern Infantry

• Average attack
• Weak defence
• Average damage but low armour penetration
• Poor morale

Armenia (Empire Divided) Units
General (5)
1.Azat Guard
2.Azat Knights Bodyguard
3.Noble Armenian Archers
4.Noble Cataphracts
5.Noble Horse Archers
Melee Infantry (4)
6.Armoured Axe Warriors
7.Eastern Axe Warriors
8.Eastern Infantry
9.Hillmen
Missile Infantry (7)
10.Armenian Archers
11.Armenian Slingers
12.Armoured Armenian Archers
13.Noble Armenian Archers
14.Noble Armenian Archers
15.Eastern Bowmen
16.Persian Skirmishers
Pike Infantry (2)
17.Armenian Pikemen
18.Armoured Armenian Pikemen
Spear Infantry (6)
19.Armenian Spearmen
20.Azat Guard
21.Azat Guard
22.Persian Spearmen
23.Eastern Spearmen
24.Noble Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (4)
25.Azat Knights
26.Azat Knights Bodyguard
27.Noble Armenian Cavalry
28.Eastern Cavalry
Missile Cavalry (5)
29.Armoured Horse Archers
30.Noble Horse Archers
31.Noble Horse Archers
32.Eastern Horse Archers
33.Eastern Horse Skirmishers
Shock Cavalry (3)
34.Noble Cataphracts
35.Noble Cataphracts
36.Eastern Cataphracts
Fixed Artillery (3)
37.Eastern Giant Ballista
38.Eastern Scorpion (Fixed)
39.Eastern Bastion Scorpion
Field Artillery (6)
40.Eastern Ballista
41.Eastern Bastion Ballista
42.Eastern Scorpion
43.Eastern Large Onager
44.Eastern Onager
45.Eastern Bastion Onager
Admiral (2)
46.Assault Tetreres - Eastern Infantry
47.Tower Penteres - Armoured Armenian Archers
Melee Ship (4)
48.Assault Dieres - Eastern Spearmen
49.Assault Tetreres - Eastern Infantry
50.Assault Tetreres - Eastern Infantry
51.Fire Pot Dieres - Eastern Spearmen
Missile Ship (8)
52.Missile Penteres - Armoured Armenian Archers
53.Missile Trieres - Armenian Slingers
54.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Persian Skirmishers
55.Raiding Hemiolia - Persian Skirmishers
56.Scorpion Penteres - Armoured Armenian Archers
57.Scorpion Trieres - Armenian Slingers
58.Tower Penteres - Armoured Armenian Archers
59.Tower Penteres - Armoured Armenian Archers
Artillery Ship (2)
60.Artillery Penteres - Eastern Onager (Ship)
61.Light Artillery Penteres - Eastern Ballista (Ship)