In order for Rome to defeat the powerful the Carthiginian Anvy in the Punic Wars it needed to become a naval power. The Roman Rpublic had few ships and was under-equipped to fight the better Navy of the Empire of Carthage, who dominated trade in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Fortunately they discovered a stranded Carthiginian warship and used it to make their own fleet. One of the cleverest weapons ever employed by the Navy was the corvus. An improved design on the Greek ram called the pentekonter, the corvus was both a ram and plank.  When the corvus was dropped onto an enemy ship Romans could utilize thier proud army and either cpture capure or destroy the enemy ship in question.