The captured-ship story may exaggerate how little Rome already knew about shipbuilding. Rome possessed a smaller navy before the Punic Wars, so its wartime fleets did not emerge from complete ignorance of ships. One interpretation is that Rome's main difficulty lay in operating a large fleet. Its heavier, less maneuverable hulls could still suit Roman fighting methods, even when they lacked Carthaginian lightness and agility.
Notable Point · 1:42:14-1:43:29
Rome's naval learning was broader than copying one captured ship
Rome already operated a small navy; its wartime learning may have centered on handling much larger fleets.