THE NAVAL BATTLE OF CAPE ECNOMUS 256 BC Following the victory at Agrigentum, the Roman Republic decided to build a fleet to challenge and destroy the Carthaginian naval dominance over the Western Mediterainian Sea. Rome constructed a fleet of 300 warships and placed them under the command of consuls Marcus Regulus and Lucius Longus. The Carthaginians, commanded by Admiral’s Hanno and Hamilcar, possessed an equally large force of 330 vessals. The Roman fleet advanced along the Sicilian coast deployed in three squadrons. I, (Left) led by Regulus and II, (Right) led by Longus sailed forward arrayed in a triangle wedge, III squadron comprised the supply transports which brought up the rear. Carthages battle fleet was disposed in a long straight line with the left commanded by Hamilcar and the right by Hanno. Both fleets encountered one another off the southern coast of Sicily near Mount Ecnomus. The Roman wedge continued forward against the enemy center. The Carthaginians were under Hamilcar’s orders to fall back once the Romans came with striking range. As they began this manouver, the Romans increased speed and pursued them vigorously. When the Carthaginians believed they had drawn the enemy vessels far enough away from their main body, Hamilcar ordered his warships to turn and face their pursuers. At the same time Hanno, with the right wing, fell upon the exposed Roman transports. After half a day of hard fighting the Carthaginian center finally broke. Marcus Regulus, observing the struggle in which the reserve III squadron was involved hastened to their assistance. When he reached Hannos ships and came into conflict, it was now the Carthaginian ships that were now exposed. After a further two hours of fighting Hanno’s squadrons began giving way and were pushed out to sea. At that same momment, Consul Longus and II squadron finally broke through and scattered the Carthaginian left. With no support forthcomming, Hamilcar had no choice but to order his remaining ships to retreat. The Battle of Ecnomus was now over. The Romans lost 25 ships in comparison to the much heavier Carthaginian losses of 35 ships sunk and 65 captured. Following the battle, the prows of the captured Carthaginian ships were sent to Rome to adorn the the Forum. Visit: greatmilitarybattles/html/the_roman_empire.html Show less
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 18:58:40 +0000
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