THE BATTLE OF CAPE ECNOMUS 256 BC

Following there victory at Agrigentum in 262 BC, the Roman republic decided to build an armada that would challenge and destroy Carthaginian naval dominance over the western Mediterranean Sea. 

Rome constructed a fleet of three hundred warships and placed them under the command of consuls Marcus Regulus and Lucius Longus. 

The Roman fleet sailed along the Sicilian coast arrayed in a triangle wedge deployed into three squadrons. The left was commanded by Regulus and the right was under Longus with the supply transports following close behind in the center.

The Carthaginians, commanded by Hanno and Hamilcar, possessed an equally large force of three hundred and thirty vessels.

Carthage’s battle fleet was disposed in a long straight line with the center and left commanded by Hamilcar and the right by Hanno. Both fleets converged upon one another off the southern coast of Sicily near Mount Ecnomus.

The Romans now rearranged there fleet into a wedge formation and continued forward against the enemy center. The Carthaginian captains were under strict orders to fall back once the Romans came with striking range. As they began this manoeuvre the Romans believed the enemy fleet was retreating and continued to pursue them vigorously.

When the Carthaginians felt they had drawn the forward enemy vessels far enough from their main body, Hamilcar ordered his warships to reverse oars and confront their pursuers. At the same moment Hanno’s right wing fell upon the exposed Roman transports.

After a half day of close quarter fighting, the Carthaginian center finally broke. Marcus Regulus, observing the struggle in which the reserve squadron was involved, hastened to their assistance. 

When he began to engage Hanno's ships, it was now the Carthaginian’s which were now completely exposed. After a further two hours fighting Hanno’s squadrons lost formation, gave way and were pushed out to sea.

At that same moment, Consul Longus and II squadron finally broke through and scattered the Carthaginian left. With no support forth coming, Hamilcar had no choice but to order his remaining ships to retreat back to Carthage.

The Battle of Ecnomus was now over. The Romans lost 25 ships and 10,000 men killed and wounded in comparison to the much heavier Carthaginian losses of 35 warships sunk, 60 captured and 40,000 sailors killed, wounded or captured .

Following the battle, the bronze ramming prows of the captured Carthaginian warships were sent back to Rome and place on display to adorn the the Forum.