''Navis actuaria'' (plural: ''naves actuariae'') was a type of transport ship used by the Roman navy. The ship had sails and up to 30

oar An oar is an implement used for water-borne propulsion. Oars have a flat blade at one end. Rowers grasp the oar at the other end. The difference between oars and paddles is that oars are used exclusively for rowing. In rowing the oar is connecte ...

s (15 on each side). They were short, narrow at bow and stern and wider

midships __NOTOC__ M ...

. They were one of the fastest ships and they were very easy to maneuver. They had a flat hull, so that they could run aground without being damaged. Furthermore, the ''navis actuaria'' could go ashore both forwards and backwards, since it was equipped with

rudder A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, aircraft, or other vehicle that moves through a fluid medium (generally air or water). On an aircraft the rudder is used primarily to counter adve ...

s fore and aft. The ship could run aground on a beach, unload, and depart without damage. When they took damage they did not sink into the water. The ship was therefore suitable for the transport of supplies and horses. It is believed that a ''navis actuaria'' was long and wide. The ship's draft was low (about ). Most of the ''naves actuariae'' were not armed. However, ships that were used in 16 CE under general Germanicus, carried light weaponry. The ''navis actuaria'' should not be confused with the ''

navis lusoria A ''navis lusoria'' (, plural ) is a type of a small military vessel of the late Roman Empire that served as a troop transport. It was powered by about thirty soldier- oarsmen and an auxiliary sail. Nimble, graceful, and of shallow draft, such a ...

'', which was a small patrol boat used in

Late Antiquity Late antiquity is the time of transition from classical antiquity to the Middle Ages, generally spanning the 3rd–7th century in Europe and adjacent areas bordering the Mediterranean Basin. The popularization of this periodization in English ha ...

References

*Emil Luebeck : Actuariae . In: Pauly Real encyclopedia of classical archeology (RE). Volume I, 1, Stuttgart 1893, Sp. 331st *Hans DL Viereck: The Roman fleet. Classis romana. Nikol, Hamburg 1996 (Herford 1975), . Navy of ancient Rome Ancient Roman ships {{Water-transport-stub