Kartli (Empire Divided) Melee Ship

Assault Tetreres - Eastern Axe Warriors

Ramming attacks from these ships inflict terrible damage.

The axe is an effective weapon, albeit unfamiliar to eastern armies.

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 Axe Warriors)
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

• Disciplined
  This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
• Formation Attack
  The unit will try to stay in formation when in melee.
• 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 Axe Warriors

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

Kartli (Empire Divided) Units
General (2)
1.Eastern Cataphracts
2.Eastern Nobles
Melee Infantry (3)
3.Eastern Axe Warriors
4.Eastern Infantry
5.Hillmen
Missile Infantry (3)
6.Eastern Bowmen
7.Eastern Javelinmen
8.Eastern Slingers
Pike Infantry (1)
9.Eastern Pikemen
Spear Infantry (2)
10.Eastern Spearmen
11.Noble Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (4)
12.Eastern Armoured Cavalry
13.Eastern Cavalry
14.Eastern Nobles
15.Eastern Nobles
Missile Cavalry (2)
16.Eastern Horse Archers
17.Eastern Horse Skirmishers
Shock Cavalry (2)
18.Eastern Cataphracts
19.Eastern Cataphracts
Fixed Artillery (3)
20.Eastern Giant Ballista
21.Eastern Scorpion (Fixed)
22.Eastern Bastion Scorpion
Field Artillery (6)
23.Eastern Ballista
24.Eastern Bastion Ballista
25.Eastern Scorpion
26.Eastern Large Onager
27.Eastern Onager
28.Eastern Bastion Onager
Admiral (1)
29.Assault Tetreres - Eastern Axe Warriors
Melee Ship (3)
30.Assault Dieres - Eastern Spearmen
31.Assault Tetreres - Eastern Axe Warriors
32.Assault Tetreres - Eastern Axe Warriors
Missile Ship (2)
33.Raiding Hemiolia - Eastern Slingers
34.Missile Trieres - Eastern Bowmen