Crews were typically recruited locally and drawn from the poorer classes (the proletarii) but could also include recruits from allied states, prisoners of war, and slaves. Indeed, they are typically referred to as miles (soldiers) in documents and funeral monuments, and they also received the same pay as infantry auxiliaries and were similarly subject to Roman military law. Crews of Roman military vessels could be trained in such ports, but they were, in reality, more soldiers than sailors as they were expected to act as light-armed land troops when necessary. Fleets were based at fortified ports such as Portus Julius in Campania which included artificial harbours and lagoons connected by tunnels.
The captain of a vessel held centurion rank or the title of trierarchus. Personnelįleets came to be commanded by a prefect ( praefectus) appointed by the emperor, and the position required someone with great skill and leadership qualities to successfully marshal a fleet of sometimes unwieldy vessels. Fireballs (pots of burning pitch) could also be launched at the enemy vessel to destroy it by fire rather than ramming. Such logistical purposes were better achieved using troop carrier vessels and supply ships under sail.Īside from the bronze-covered battering ram below the waterline on the ship's prow, other weapons included artillery ballista which could be mounted on ships to provide lethal salvoes on enemy land positions from an unexpected and less protected flank or also against other vessels. Built for speed, most warships were lightweight, cramped, and without room for storage or even a large body of troops. Ships could also be fitted with a platform via which marines could easily board enemy vessels - a device known as the corvus (raven). The largest ships were the quinqueremes, with three banks of rowers, two each for the upper two oars and one rower on the lower oar (around 300 in total). Ships with multiple levels of rowers, such as the trireme, were fast and manoeuvrable enough to attack enemy vessels by ramming. Ships & WeaponsĪncient naval vessels were made of wood, water-proofed using pitch and paint, and propelled by both sail and oars. Naval warfare had its own unique dangers, though, with adverse weather being the biggest threat to success, which is why naval campaigns were largely limited to between April and November. A powerful navy was also indispensable to deal with pirates, who wreaked havoc with commercial sea-traders and even, on occasion, blockaded ports. Naval vessels could also supply beleaguered ports under enemy attack and, in turn, blockade ports under enemy control.
Military supremacy of the seas could be a crucial factor in the success of any land campaign, and the Romans well knew that a powerful naval fleet could supply troops and equipment to where they were most needed in as short a time as possible.
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