Projectile fire mattered alongside ramming and boarding. Medium ballistae are described as capable of penetrating most contemporary warship sides at around 200 yards. Their more practical aimed range was about 100 yards, still enough to punish ships during the approach and maneuver phases. The figures help explain why keeping Antony's heavy galleys at the wrong distance exposed them to damage without granting the close collision they needed.
Notable Point · 36:21-36:49
Ballista range and galley vulnerability at Actium
Medium ballistae could penetrate contemporary galley sides at about 200 yards and aim effectively at roughly half that distance.