Roman Warship "Imperator" -- Top View

Roman Warship "Imperator"

The Roman Warship "Imperator" is now under construction at a shipbuilding yard along the Rhine River in Germania.  The Trireme will be the "mother ship" for three fast-moving smaller armed vessels, the four ships making up the Rhine River Pirate Patrol Command.  The Pirate Patrol Command will patrol the extensive shallows at the mouth of the Rhine River as well as along its length so far as is navigable.  The story "Rhine River Patrol"  is a story of the political and social situations related to the construction of these vessels.  The construction of these vessels is going slowly as materials for this effort are being brought in from distant ports of call.
Respectfully Submitted
Marcus Audens

Ballistae and Mantlet (more detailed)

Here you can see the large arrow that is ready to launch.  The Mantlet in this case is protecting both the operating crew as well as the weapon itself from attack.

Catapult and Two Mantlets (more details)

This is a more detailed view of the Catapult and the two covering Mantlets that protect the men and machine from the besieged attackers.
Note the ball of stone in the "throwing pan" of the catapult.

Ballistae and protecting Mantlet

The Ballistae is designed to be able to raise or lower it's aiming point, and it can shoot large arrows or medium sized rock balls.  Smaller Ballistae are nick-named "scorpions."  These would be used against armed enemy trops, and could easiy put a stout arrow through a shield or a body.  The Mantlet is utilized to protect the men working the Ballistae.

Catapult and Two Mantlets

The catapult could throw large stones at the wall of a fortification in order to break the wall and cause a breach for the siege army to surge through.  The two mantlets were portable and could be placed to protect the men on the ground working the catapult.

Ballistae, Capult, and Mantlets

This photo is the same as the preceding one but more enlarged.