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nalivayko -> RE: "Punic" Tricks (2/18/2011 11:37:33 PM)
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Just pulled another one off...
Denial of ports
Just what the name says. After skirmishing with Macedonian ships Romans ended up with 2 ship squadrons in the Adriatic. Their much larger navy (15 squadrons) was blocking combined Carthago-Syracusan fleet at Messana Strait. I controlled all of Sicily, Romans retained control of Rhegium.
Seeking to drive the Roman navy off, I stormed Rhegium, expecting the enemy ships to retreat north. Instead, they decided to consolidate with Adriatic detachment in the east. It did help the Romans to transport the armies between Cis. Gaul and Umbria, they controlled Ancona, Patavium and Brundisium, so the move looked rather logical at first.
Umbria, at the time, served home to the largest Roman army, usually under command of either promoted Africanus or Nero. The army was too large to attack at camp, but did not pose a threat to Hannibal, who was operating out of Etruria. Hadsrubal hanged back in Genoa, while Himilco held Tarentum.
Naturally enough, a thought creeped into my mind... what if? I send Hadsrubal to take Patavium, Hannibal - Ancona and Ariminium, Himilco - Brundisium. The Romans are neutralized in Umbria by Hannibal's presence, their other, much smaller army remaining at Rome. Well, the cities are taken, the storm doesn't come, but the loss of all ports prompts Roman expedition from Rome to Brundisium, which is taken with minimal loss. Africanus also attempts to take Ariminium and is intercepted and heavily defeated, forced to take shelter at Asculum. I retake Brundisium and next turn the entire Roman navy is sunk by the storm.
Alexander would be so proud :)
I did not understand why the Romans chose to linger at Adriatic, but were they to move to Messana Strait, I still would have a chance to see their navy sunk there, since all the ports of Sicily and Bruttium were in my hands.
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