The corvus was a boarding ramp roughly 1.2 metres wide, with a beak-shaped spike that fastened onto an opposing ship. Its width allowed Roman soldiers to cross in a compact formation compared with a naval version of the testudo. Rome could use it to turn a manoeuvring contest into close combat, exploiting its heavier ships and the strength of its troops. The device later disappeared as Roman ships improved and confidence in maritime operations grew. For the earlier fighting, it provided a way to bring Roman infantry strength directly into a naval engagement.
Notable Point · 29:18-30:18
The corvus and Rome's boarding solution
Rome used the corvus boarding bridge to exploit the strength of its soldiers when its ships were less agile than Carthaginian opponents.