Sparta Melee Ship

Assault Hexeres - Spartan Hoplites

These magnificent ships are both intimidating and extremely dangerous.

These men know nothing but war, and are rightly feared by all.

As centuries passed, naval tactics and needs changed across the Mediterranean. There was a move towards larger ships, partly as an expression of national or dynastic power: the Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt were particularly fond of large ships to show their wealth and influence in a physical way. These 'polyremes', a term meaning many oared, were not suitable for ramming work in battle. In practice many of them had no more oars than smaller ships; what they had were more rowers per oar than smaller ships. A Roman hexareme or Greek hexeres would have a couple of banks of oars with three men per oar, and appear to be an over-sized version of a smaller ship. Even so, thanks to being tremendously heavy and strongly constructed, they were slow moving, and hardly capable of the quick turns needed to take advantage of enemy mistakes. Instead the large ships made use of their wide decks and plentiful carrying capacities and became fighting platforms for infantry and artillery. Boarding or long-range bombardment were the methods to be used to defeat the enemy; naval warfare had come full circle in terms of fighting methods, even if ships had grown significantly.

(Spartan Hoplites)
Conditioned from the age of seven for a life on campaign, and dedicated to full-time military training, the Spartans were exceptionally well drilled and masters of their weaponry and equipment. Anyone who lost their shield in battle was dishonoured: while cuirass and helmet were for protecting the individual, the shield was seen as protection for the entire phalanx. As such, the Spartans were a highly-disciplined and co-ordinated force, largely superior to any other on the battlefield. It was the Spartans who led the defence of the Peloponnese against the Persians in 480BC and, after two full days of battle, fought the famous last stand at Thermopylae. 300 Spartans and their Greek allies blocked the tiny pass between the cliffs and the sea, forcing the Persians to attack their deadly phalanx head on. When a Greek traitor eventually caused the Spartans to be outflanked, they fought to the very last man. The time spent defeating the Spartans was just enough for the remaining Greek allies to prepare a fleet to defeat the Persian navy decisively near the island of Salamis, ending the war.

Abilities

Assault Hexeres

• Row Hard 30
  Increases speed for 30 strokes.
  Ship speed

Spartan Hoplites

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

Assault Hexeres

• Very good hull strength
• Heavy crew
• Slow speed
• Strong ramming
• Very good boarding

Spartan Hoplites

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

Sparta Units
General (1)
1.Royal Spartans
Missile Infantry (5)
2.Gorgo's Skirmishers
3.Helot Archers
4.Helot Javelinmen
5.Helot Slingers
6.Perioikoi Peltasts
Pike Infantry (2)
7.Perioikoi Pikemen
8.Spartan Pikemen
Spear Infantry (6)
9.Heroes of Sparta
10.Perioikoi Hoplites
11.Perioikoi Spears
12.Royal Spartans
13.Spartan Hoplites
14.Spartan Youths
Melee Cavalry (1)
15.Citizen Cavalry
Missile Cavalry (2)
16.Skirmisher Cavalry
17.Tarantine Cavalry
Fixed Artillery (4)
18.Greek Giant Ballista
19.Greek Polybolos
20.Greek Bastion Scorpion
21.Greek Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (7)
22.Greek Bastion Ballista
23.Greek Ballista
24.Greek Beehive Onager
25.Greek Scorpion
26.Greek Heavy Onager
27.Greek Bastion Onager
28.Greek Onager
Admiral (2)
29.Scorpion Trieres - Helot Slingers
30.Assault Hexeres - Spartan Hoplites
Melee Ship (4)
31.Assault Tetreres - Perioikoi Hoplites
32.Fire Pot Dieres - Perioikoi Hoplites
33.Assault Dieres - Perioikoi Hoplites
34.Assault Hexeres - Spartan Hoplites
Missile Ship (7)
35.Scorpion Penteres - Helot Archers
36.Missile Penteres - Helot Archers
37.Tower Penteres - Helot Archers
38.Raiding Hemiolia - Helot Javelinmen
39.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Helot Javelinmen
40.Scorpion Trieres - Helot Slingers
41.Missile Trieres - Helot Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
42.Light Artillery Penteres - Greek Ballista (Ship)
43.Artillery Penteres - Greek Onager (Ship)