PugJesusNo navy? No problem! Naval wars are all about FIGHTING SPIRIT anyway!
Explanation: During the First Punic War, Rome started a naval war against Carthage, one of the foremost naval powers in the Mediterranean, all whilst not having a fucking navy. Forethought is for Gr*ekoids!
In order to remedy this extreme imbalance, Rome created a navy, taking a Carthaginian shipwreck and copying the design 100 times over. Instant navy!
They would go on to win the First Punic War, inexplicably.
Franconian_NomadThe first fleet actually was soundly defeated, because it isn’t enough just to copy ship if you’re lacking any seafaring experience.
Rome found an solution: Put long drawbridge like planks at the tip of the ship and enter the enemy ships with legionnaires. That brought them the victory.
After the victory however the whole fleet was lost in a storm, the planks made the ships top heavy.
If I remember correctly.
Ah yes, defeat the enemy fleet, lose your fleet to a sudden storm and the enemy quickly got a new fleet. Sounds totally not as a cover up for a lost battle. They “won” like that a couple of times.