Catapult Trireme

Catapult Trireme
Unit information
Introduced in	Age of Empires
Type	Military Vessel
Civilization	See table
Age	Iron Age
Training
Trained at	Dock
Wood	135
Gold	50
Statistics
Hit points	135
Attack	35
Rate of Fire	5.3
Range	9
Melee armor	0
Pierce armor	0
Speed	1.45
Unit evolution
Upgrades to	Juggernaught
Upgrade cost	2,000 food, 900 wood

The Catapult Trireme is a large naval unit with a catapult mounted on top of the deck in Age of Empires. It fires every 3 seconds and throws large rocks and boulders toward enemy targets at a long distance. Once the Trireme has been upgraded, the technology which enables Catapult Trireme becomes available at the Dock. Like all stone throwing heavy siege weapons, Catapult Triremes deal 28 bonus damage against buildings after accounting for building armor.

They are the very first Siege Naval unit to appear in Age of Empires series and are the predecessor of the Cannon Galleon of Age of Empires II and the Monitor of Age of Empires III.

Availability

Available	Unavailable
Egyptians Greeks Macedonians Minoans Persians Phoenicians Romans Yamato	Assyrians Babylonians Carthaginians Choson Hittites Palmyrans Shang Sumerians

Strategy

It has fewer hit points and fires slower than its original counterpart, but more than makes up for it with damage per projectile, more range and doing damage to a certain location rather than a single unit. Because of its relative low amount of hit points compared to other units, a successful naval victory through a full-scale assault can be obtained by escorting them with a large group of Triremes.

Being a Trireme, it is not an upgrade to Trireme itself, but a separate unit. It can be upgraded into a Juggernaught once Engineering is researched. It benefits from such researches as Alchemy for its attack strength, Ballistics for its accuracy and Engineering for its range.

Upgrades

Iron Age

•  Alchemy: Increases attack by 1.
•  Ballistics: Increases accuracy.
•  Engineering: Increases range by 2.
• Catapult Triremes can be upgraded to Juggernaughts.

Dock Tree
Stone Age Dock Fishing Boat Trade Boat Tool Age Light Transport Scout Ship Bronze Age Fishing Ship War Galley Merchant Ship Iron Age Heavy Transport Fire Galley Trireme Catapult Trireme Juggernaught

Civilization bonuses

• Greek: Catapult Triremes move 20% faster.
• Phoenicians: Catapult Triremes have -24% reload time.
• Minoan: Catapult Triremes are 30% cheaper.
• Yamato: Catapult Triremes have 20% more HP.
• Macedonians: Catapult Triremes are four times more resistant against conversion.

History

“	The ultimate warships of antiquity were advances on the trireme that occurred after the death of Alexander the Great.  These ships were first broadened so that multiple rowers could apply power to each oar.  Based on limited descriptions and detailed figures from crew and rowers, it is believed that the largest ships of this period may have had catamaran hulls.  The broadening of ships and decks added weight and further reduced speed and maneuverability, but increased stability.  Decks supported catapult artillery and large marine contigents.  Ships engaged each other primarily with missile fire and boarding.	”
—Age of Empires manual

Gallery

A group of Catapult Triremes, facing all possible directions.