Corvus (Raven)
Corvus was only used by the Romans against the Carthaginians during the First Punic War (264BC to 241BC), and then only used for around 5 years from its introduction in 264 BC to around 269 BC. Corvus was never used again. Only Roman Quinqueremes were equipped with Corvus, which was the main Roman warship during this period. Corvus worked as an assault ramp against enemy ships. The Roman Quinquereme closed in on its target, and then when in range, the Corvus ramp was dropped and because it had long metal spikes protruding from its tip, Corvus literally stuck into the enemy ship's deck. Then the Roman marines stormed across the ramp and took the enemy ship on mass using shock tactics. Against the Carthaginians, it was quick and deadly.

Roman Seas provides a separate PDF file containing the Corvus models. Corvus models may be mounted permanently onto the deck of your ship model, or, like in the photographs below, may be placed onto its stand so that it may be placed and/or removed during the course of a game.


"Corvus mounted onto the bow deck area of a Roman Quinquereme"


"Corvus mounted onto the bow deck area of a Roman Quinquereme"



Send questions, comments or suggestions to: Eric Hotz