How smaller galleys could disable larger ones

The harpax was a heavy grappling device fired from a ballista, and it was already in use before Actium. It could help several smaller ships pull themselves into a position where a larger opponent could not ram freely. Ballista fire could then drive marines from exposed decks before boarding. In the earlier campaign against Sextus Pompey, the reported losses were dominated by capture and fire rather than ramming, which helps explain why Agrippa retained the system. The example connects Actium to tactics refined in earlier fighting and shows why close-combat capability alone was insufficient.