Carthage Rebels (Rise of the Republic) Melee Ship

Assault Tetreres - Sacred Band

Ramming attacks from these ships inflict terrible damage.

The best and bravest of Carthage trained to fight as hoplites.

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.

(Sacred Band)
The Sacred Band were a phalanx of veteran spearmen, raised in Carthage, and trained and armoured in Greek hoplite fashion. They were unique in that they were drawn from the populace of the city itself, rather than being allies, levied subject peoples or mercenaries; these were the groups that normally made up Carthaginian armies. Chosen from the nobility and wealthy citizens, they were well trained and disciplined. Thanks to their social status they could afford the full panoply of hoplite armour: a bronze cuirass, greaves and helm, and a hoplon shield. In the case of the Sacred Band these were predominately white in colour. Armed with hoplite spears, tipped with an iron head and bronze butt-spike for balance, members of the Sacred Band also carried straight swords. Renowned for their valour, even in defeat, the Sacred Band was expected to fight to the last, and did so at the Battle of the Crimissus in 340BC. Their numbers never recovered and in time the pressure of Carthage’s wars with Rome meant that the Sacred Band was superseded by mercenary armies, paid for by Carthage's trading wealth. These armies still had small numbers of Carthaginian citizens and Liby-Phoenicians, but the Sacred Band of old was no more.

Abilities

Assault Tetreres

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

Sacred Band

• Hoplite Wall
  The unit moves into close wall formation.
  Bracing, melee defence, shield strength
  Acceleration, speed

Attributes

• Expert Charge Defence
  This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies.
• Disciplined
  This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
• Encourage
  This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies.
• 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

Sacred Band

• Very good defensive unit
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Average attack
• Good morale

Carthage Rebels (Rise of the Republic) Units
General (2)
1.Carthaginian Peltasts
2.Sacred Band
Melee Infantry (19)
3.Carthaginian Infantry
4.Sword Militia
5.Native Aequi Swordsmen
6.Native Bruttii Tribesmen
7.Native Gallic Axemen
8.Native Italian Hillmen
9.Native Italian Swordsmen
10.Native Latin Tribesmen
11.Native Ligurian Axe Warriors
12.Native Ligurian Swordsmen
13.Native Lucanian Warriors
14.Naked Native Warriors
15.Native Sabine Warriors
16.Native Samnite Infantryman
17.Native Sardi Hillmen
18.Native Sicilian Tribesmen
19.Native Tribeless Warriors
20.Native Umbrian Hillmen
21.Native Volsci Warriors
Missile Infantry (12)
22.Carthaginian Javelinmen
23.Carthaginian Peltasts
24.Native Iapygian Archers
25.Native Iapygian Javelinmen
26.Native Bruttii Slingers
27.Native Gallic Hunters
28.Native Greek Archers
29.Native Italian Skirmishers
30.Native Italian Slingers
31.Native Lucanian Ambushers
32.Native Sabine Skirmishers
33.Native Sardi Bowmen
Spear Infantry (8)
34.Citizen Militia
35.Carthaginian Hoplites
36.Sacred Band
37.Native Etruscan Spearmen
38.Native Greek Militia
39.Native Latin Spearmen
40.Native Umbrian Spearmen
41.Native Volsci Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (5)
42.Carthaginian Cavalry
43.Native Aequi Horsemen
44.Native Campanian Cavalry
45.Native Gallic Horsemen
46.Native Ligurian Horsemen
Missile Cavalry (2)
47.African Cavalry
48.Native Veneti Raiders
Elephant (1)
49.African Elephants
Field Artillery (2)
50.Carthaginian Ballista
51.Carthaginian Polybolos
Admiral (1)
52.Assault Tetreres - Sacred Band
Melee Ship (6)
53.Assault Tetreres - Carthaginian Hoplites
54.Assault Tetreres - Sacred Band
55.Assault Hexeres - Sacred Band
56.Assault Dieres - Carthaginian Infantry
57.Assault Dieres - Carthaginian Hoplites
58.Assault Dieres - Sword Militia
Missile Ship (1)
59.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Carthaginian Javelinmen