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HomeHome / Total War: Rome II / Seleucid / Units / Raiding Hemiolia - Light Peltasts
Raiding Hemiolia - Light Peltasts SeleucidSeleucid Missile Ship

Raiding Hemiolia - Light Peltasts

These swift, manoeuvrable ships are a useful scouting force for any admiral.

These skirmishers harass the enemy with their javelins before sensibly withdrawing out of range.

The 'one-and-a-half' or 'hemiolia' was a light galley which was much favoured by pirates in the ancient world. It developed from the bireme, a ship that had two full decks of oars along its entire length. The hemiola reduced the number of oars on the upper level, leaving roughly half the number of oars and rowers in the midship section. The smaller number of rowers had little effect on overall speed because the laden weight of the vessel also dropped. Because it used both oars and sails, and the crew could rapidly change propulsion method, it was an ideal vessel for chasing down fat, wealthy merchant ships. Boarding attacks were mounted from hemiolas; ramming was not a useful tactic as loot ended up with the fish rather than enriching the pirates! The speed and handiness of hemiolas made them useful as scouts, supply boats and vessels used to pick off damaged enemies at the edge of battles.

(Light Peltasts)
These skirmishers were named for their small crescent-shaped leather or wicker shields or 'peltai'. It was a common habit to name troops for their shield style in the Greek world. They wore little or no armour and carried three javelins. After harassing the enemy by flinging javelins, they would hastily retreat before any counter-charge or flanking move could be carried out. As armies developed and tactics became more complex, peltasts were expected to take part in hand-to-hand combat: with such expectation they were given stiffened linen cuirasses and short swords. They were still expected to use javelins, but could then join in the close fighting. Eventually, peltasts even exchanged their characteristic shield for the heavier thureos. Their name and battlefield function remained unchanged.

Raiding Hemiolia - Light Peltasts

Unit Name

Raiding Hemiolia - Light Peltasts

Main Unit Key

Gre_Light_Peltasts_One_Halfer

Land Unit Key

Gre_Light_Peltasts

Naval Unit Key

greek_one_halfer

Soldiers

80

Category

Light Ship

Class

Missile Ship

Custom Battle Cost

500

Recruitment Cost

500

Upkeep Cost

100

Missile Damage

32

├ Missile Weapon

rome_javelin

├ Projectile

javelin_normal

├ Missile Damage

20

├ Missile Ap Damage

12

└ Base Reload Time

10

Accuracy

5

Range

80

Reload

23

Shots Per Minute

8

Ammunition

10

Ship Health

402

└ Ship

greek_one_halfer

Ship Speed

6

Melee Attack

18

Weapon Damage

24

├ Melee Weapon

rome_shortsword

├ Melee Damage Base

20

├ Melee Damage Ap

4

├ Armour Piercing

No

├ Bonus vs. Large

0

├ Bonus vs Elephants

0

└ Bonus vs Infantry

0

Charge Bonus

10

Melee Defence

40

├ Base Defence

15

├ Shield

peltast_thureos

└ Shield Defence

25

Armour

40

├ Armour

cloth

├ Armour Defence

10

└ Shield Armour

30

Health

50

├ Man Entity

rome_infantry_very_light_fast

├ Man Health

40

└ Bonus Hit Points

10

Base Morale

45

Abilities

Raiding Hemiolia
  • Row Hard 10
    Increases speed for 10 strokes.
    Ship speed
Light Peltasts
  • Quick Reload
    Improved reloading for an extended time.
    Shots per minute
    Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

  • Resistant to Fatigue
    Fatigue has less of an effect on this unit.
  • Hide (scrub & forest)
    This unit can hide in scrub and forest until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Raiding Hemiolia
  • Very poor hull strength
  • Light crew
  • Very fast speed
  • Weak ramming
  • Very poor boarding
  • Poor missile combat
Light Peltasts
  • Short range
  • Fast rate of fire
  • Very good damage and armour penetration
  • Large shield
  • Very weak in melee
  • Poor morale
Recuitment Requirement
Required Technology Mercenaries Cost 150 Upgrade From Raiding Hemiolia - Peltasts