Design of an ancient Roman corvus - a device to allow men without steady sealegs to board enemy ships
9 comments
I do appreciate the Roman boat strategies
They are just like “okay fine, you’re better than us at boats, so we’re going to turn this sea battle into a land battle”
Ahh I see a meme theme going about!
I guess those with sea legs just take a running jump?!
Either hopping over to the other deck once the other ship is immobilized and pulled against your own, or a boarding plank laid down across the gap.
Instead of being limited to whatever boarding plank can be hoisted across by a gang of burly marines, the corvus made it easier by being a fixed installation - very sturdy, very heavy. The siding helps too. Since it was dropped into the enemy deck, the 'beak' would lodge itself in the wood, minimizing how much the corvus shakes or shifts further.
If you're a fellow who can't walk a straight line on choppy seas even if your life literally depends on it, the corvus is your lifeline.
To say the Carthaginians were better than the Romans at boats is an understatement. Carthage was the mediterranean world's top naval power, while Rome had no navy.
Caw. Caawwwww!
[plays a million shiv cards]
That spike on the end is both terrifying and fascinating. When that thing slams down into your deck, you're not going anywhere. Really cool!
I do appreciate the Roman boat strategies
They are just like “okay fine, you’re better than us at boats, so we’re going to turn this sea battle into a land battle”
Ahh I see a meme theme going about! I guess those with sea legs just take a running jump?!
Either hopping over to the other deck once the other ship is immobilized and pulled against your own, or a boarding plank laid down across the gap.
Instead of being limited to whatever boarding plank can be hoisted across by a gang of burly marines, the corvus made it easier by being a fixed installation - very sturdy, very heavy. The siding helps too. Since it was dropped into the enemy deck, the 'beak' would lodge itself in the wood, minimizing how much the corvus shakes or shifts further.
If you're a fellow who can't walk a straight line on choppy seas even if your life literally depends on it, the corvus is your lifeline.
To say the Carthaginians were better than the Romans at boats is an understatement. Carthage was the mediterranean world's top naval power, while Rome had no navy.