Kartli Melee Ship

Assault Tetreres - Kartli Axemen

Ramming attacks from these ships inflict terrible damage.

The axemen of Kartli are fierce fighters, eager to protect their homeland.

There is a good deal of debate as to how large ancient warships worked; the principles are understood, but the details are not always so clear. A Roman 'quadreme' or Greek 'tetreres' would seem to have four rows of oars if the name is translated literally. However, it is unclear how four sets of oars each with one rower apiece could be used without them getting in a terrible tangle even with a magnificently trained crew, or how the top set of rowers would be able to handle the extremely long oars pitched at a steep angle and still produce any power. The chances are that the term 'oar' had become synonymous with 'rower' and that the lowest bank had more than one man per oar. The other option was to go back to a double row of oars, with two men apiece. Two banks of oars would also have made for a cheaper construction task for each ship. Either way, the result was a ship that could rival the lighter trireme in speed, yet had more deck space for a large fighting contingent or artillery pieces.

(Kartli Axemen)
These fierce axemen came from the ancient Georgian kingdom of Kartli, a region that sat on the divide between east and west. The kingdom of Kartli remained mostly independent until its association with both Pontus and Armenia led it into direct conflict with Rome during Pompey’s eastern campaigns. They were then treated as a subject state, eventually becoming formally allied to Rome following the disputes between Emperor Hadrian and Pharasmanes, the king of Kartli. Kartli did supply axemen as both mercenaries and auxiliaries to the Romans. In battle these axemen used one-handed axes that could inflict horrible wounds, and carried round shields. They also wore helmets, scale shirts and, later, chainmail. They were, by the standards of the day, rather well equipped.

Abilities

Assault Tetreres

• Row Hard 20
  Increases speed for 20 strokes.
  Ship speed

Kartli Axemen

• Shieldwall
  The unit moves into a close formation and raises shields.
  Armour strength, bracing, melee defence, shield strength
  Limited 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.
• Resistant to Heat
  This unit tires less quickly in the desert.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Assault Tetreres

• Average hull strength
• Medium crew
• Average speed
• Average ramming
• Average boarding

Kartli Axemen

• Good attack
• Average defence
• Low damage but good armour penetration
• Good morale

Kartli Units
General (2)
1.Kartli Axemen
2.Noble Blood Cavalry
Melee Infantry (4)
3.Axemen
4.Hillmen
5.Kartli Axemen
6.Mob
Missile Infantry (3)
7.Eastern Archers
8.Eastern Javelinmen
9.Eastern Slingers
Spear Infantry (2)
10.Noble Spearmen
11.Eastern Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (1)
12.Noble Blood Cavalry
Missile Cavalry (2)
13.Horse Archers
14.Horse Skirmishers
Fixed Artillery (3)
15.Eastern Giant Ballista
16.Eastern Bastion Scorpion
17.Eastern Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (6)
18.Eastern Bastion Ballista
19.Eastern Ballista
20.Eastern Scorpion
21.Eastern Large Onager
22.Eastern Bastion Onager
23.Eastern Onager
Admiral (2)
24.Scorpion Penteres - Eastern Archers
25.Light Artillery Penteres - Eastern Ballista (Ship)
Melee Ship (3)
26.Assault Tetreres - Kartli Axemen
27.Fire Pot Dieres - Eastern Spearmen
28.Assault Dieres - Eastern Spearmen
Missile Ship (7)
29.Scorpion Penteres - Eastern Archers
30.Tower Penteres - Eastern Archers
31.Missile Penteres - Eastern Archers
32.Raiding Hemiolia - Eastern Javelinmen
33.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Eastern Javelinmen
34.Scorpion Trieres - Eastern Slingers
35.Missile Trieres - Eastern Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
36.Light Artillery Penteres - Eastern Ballista (Ship)
37.Artillery Penteres - Eastern Onager (Ship)