Taras (Rise of the Republic) Melee Ship

Assault Tetreres - Tarantine Hoplites

Ramming attacks from these ships inflict terrible damage.

Taras' finest soldiers, whose Spartan heritage make them nigh-on immovable on the battlefield.

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.

(Tarantine Hoplites)
Taranto, in Magna Graecia, has a rich history. Founded in 706BC as Taras, it began as the home of the Partheniae, Spartans exiled due to their impure bloodlines. Fortunately, the colony was able to breed superb warhorses, and so its warriors duly grew in reputation. Tarantine cavalry could be combined well with a slow-moving phalanx, providing a rapid and flexible defensive screen for the hoplites’ exposed flanks. Their suitability for such a role, in addition to a growing need for mercenaries in the armies of the Hellenistic world, saw that the Tarantines were much sought after. By the 3rd century BC there was some evidence to suggest that they no longer came exclusively from Taranto itself, the word 'Tarantine' referring more to the unit’s tactics and weaponry rather than its geographic origins.

Abilities

Assault Tetreres

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

Tarantine Hoplites

• 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.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Assault Tetreres

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

Tarantine Hoplites

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

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