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Roman ships are named in different ways, often in compound expressions with the word Latin: navis, lit. 'ship'.These are found in many ancient Roman texts, and named in different ways, such as by the appearance of the ship: for example, navis tecta (covered ship); or by its function, for example: navis mercatoria (commerce ship), or navis praedatoria (plunder ship).
A lusoria was crewed by the steersman, two men to handle the sail, and about 30 soldiers who manned the oars. [ 4 ] [ dead link ] It has been calculated that the narrow and relatively long lusoria could attain a travel speed of 11 to 13 km/h (6 to 7 kn) and a maximum speed of 18 km/h (10 kn).
Larger ships also had wooden castles (xylokastra) on either side between the masts, similar to those attested for the Roman liburnians, providing archers with elevated firing platforms. [25] The bow spur (peronion) was intended to ride over an enemy ship's oars, breaking them and rendering it helpless against missile fire and boarding. [26]
Roman as coin of the second half of the 3rd century BC, featuring the prow of a galley, most likely a quinquereme. Several similar issues are known, illustrating the importance of naval power during that period of Rome's history. After the Roman victory, the balance of naval power in the Western Mediterranean had shifted from Carthage to Rome. [15]
The ship also had two masts, a main (histos megas) and a small foremast (histos akateios), with square sails, while steering was provided by two steering oars at the stern (one at the port side, one to starboard). Classical sources indicate that the trireme was capable of sustained speeds of ca. 6 knots at relatively leisurely oaring. [33]
This is a list of Roman army units and bureaucrats. Accensus – Light infantry men in the armies of the early Roman Republic, made up of the poorest men of the army. Actuarius – A soldier charged with distributing pay and provisions. Adiutor – A camp or headquarters adjutant or assistant. Aeneator – Military musician such as a bugler
Ships operating in the geographical area of the Roman Empire, from the foundation of the Republic in 509 BC to the end of the Imperial period in the 5th century AD. Pages in category "Ancient Roman ships"
They could assist damaged ships out of the line, but generally only in very calm weather, as was the case at the Battle of Málaga in 1704. [84] They could also defeat larger ships that were isolated, as when in 1651 a squadron of Spanish galleys captured a French galleon at Formentera. For small states and principalities as well as groups of ...