Below are some more PA reviews from Michael Fredholm, which you are welcome to use in SAGA. By the way notice that the letter 'c' has fallen out in the name Delbruck (in review). Michael originally spelled the name with the German 'u' (umlaut). Most likely this caused the problem, as I have noticed that non- English letters tend to disappear when sending e-mail. In Warre's article on "Ancient naval tactics" (on page 622), he mentions a curious experiment carried out by the Russian navy in the 1870s to recreate the tactics of ancient warships, but with steam launches! The results were apparently published in the same Journal in 1874. Have you seen it? Is it interesting? And if so, how about reprinting it?

The following titles are available from Gareth Simon, 98 Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 2BP, England.

Rev. Warre has in this paper, originally published in the Journal of the Royal United Service Institution in 1876, admirably summarised what in his day was known about ancient naval tactics, from the time of the Egyptians and Phoenicians (only briefly touched) to the battle of Actium in 31 BC. The emphasis is on the Greek and Punic wars. Beginning with a thorough and with few exceptions accurate description of the warship itself, Warre soon turns to the question of ship and fleet tactics. He describes the development of the ram, the Corinthian reply in the form of the reinforced bow, and the tactics used to make full use of this unique naval weapon (incidentally also much discussed in naval circles at the time when Warre wrote his paper).

He also outlines the well-known tactics known as diekplus and periplus. Warre then goes on to describe the other naval weapons used at the time: the Roman corvus or boarding bridge; the "dolphin," a heavy mass of metal hoisted by means of the yard-arm, swung round over the enemy vessel and suddenly dropped upon its deck; great beams swinging from the masts, used as rams or slung so as to sweep the decks of enemy ships; the towers, sometimes collapsible, from which marines could fire missile weapons; the Roman falces, great spars with curved steel heads like a reaper's sickle, used to cut enemy rigging at close quarters; and the (later) siphons for Greek fire.

Warre also offers a few remarks on the use of signals within ancient fleets. Warre points out that Rome had a fleet even before the First Punic War, a fact often forgotten by academics and wargamers alike, and gives a few details of its operations. Finally, Warre touches on the use of slave rowers in ancient times. Here his article conflicts with current thought. Slaves only seldom if ever served as rowers in the navies of ancient Greece and Rome.

The main point of contention regarding the ancient warship was always the arrangement of its oars. Numerous attempts to solve this question, whether through theories or actual reconstructions, have been made. Warre describes those that took place in and before his own time. Naval historians currently consider the question (finally?) resolved since a trireme was reconstructed in the 1980s and found to be in working order.

Warre and his source, the German Dr. Graser, wrote long ago. Nonetheless, they would no doubt be pleased to find that contemporary thought fundamentally follows their suggestions. Even so, I advise the current reader to treat this question with care when reading Warre's more than a century old treatise. Likewise, Warre's brief descriptions of ship masts and rigging have become obsolete in the light of later research.

The literature of ancient ships is enormous, but for the reader who wishes to delve further into the subject, I can recommend the following:

*Tarn, W. W. "The Greek Warship". Journal of Hellenic Studies, 1905. Currently out of favour but presenting a different view of the arrangement of oars.
*Morrison, John & J. Coates. The Athenian Trireme: The History and Reconstruction of an Ancient Greek Warship. 1986.
*Morrison, John. Age of the Galley: Mediterranean Oared Vessels since Pre-Classical Times. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.
*Morrison, John & R. T. Williams. Greek Oared Ships 900-322 BC. Oxbow, 1996. *Morrison, John. Greek and Roman Oared Warships 339-30 BC. Oxbow, 1996.
*Casson, Lionel. The Ancient Mariners. Seafarers and Sea Fighters of the Mediterranean in Ancient Times. Princeton University Press, 1959, reprinted 1991.
*Casson, Lionel. Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World. Johns Hopkins University Press, reprinted 1995. *Casson, Lionel. Ships and Seafaring in Ancient Times. University of Texas Press/British Museum Press.

With the few exceptions noted above, this booklet still offers an extremely useful introduction to the subject of ancient naval tactics. Although some will wish to consult the literature mentioned above (expensive and often hard to find), the low price of this booklet enables me to recommend it without hesitation. Moreover, for those who lack the time or energy to go through a number of academic works, Warre's booklet will bring more than a passing knowledge of ancient naval tactics.

More Reviews:

Ancient Naval Tactics
Importance of Sea Power
Roman Frontier History
Movements of Roman Legions
Campaign Against Paganism