Battle of Cape Ecnomus The Battle of Cape Ecnomus or Eknomos ( ) ( 256 BC ) was a naval battle , fought off Cape Ecnomus ( modern day Poggio di Sant ' Angelo , Licata , Sicily ) , between the fleets of Carthage and the Roman Republic , during the First Punic War . Due to the number of ships and crews involved ( about 300 rowers and 120 combat troops per ship ) , this battle was one of the largest naval battles of the ancient Mediterranean world , and is a candidate for the largest naval battle in history . Prelude . Following the conquest of Agrigentum , the Roman Republic decided to build a fleet and threaten Carthage ' s supremacy in the Mediterranean Sea . Rome ' s initial disadvantage in experience was compensated for by the use of the " corvus " in the ship ' s prows . The resulting series of Roman victories in naval battles such as Mylae , inspired an attempt to invade the Carthaginian lands in North Africa . Such an operation demanded an enormous number of ships to transport the legions and their equipment to Africa . To complicate the logistical problem , Carthage ' s fleet was patrolling the coasts of Sicily which forced Rome to transport its army in military vessels like trireme s and quinquereme s which had little space for cargo . Therefore Rome built a large fleet , of about 200 ships , to make the crossing of the Mediterranean with safety . The two consuls of the year , Marcus Atilius Regulus and Lucius Manlius Vulso Longus , were given command of the fleet . But the Carthaginians were not going to let this threat pass unchallenged and launched an equally large fleet to intercept the Romans , commanded by Hanno the Great and Hamilcar the later victor of Drepanum ( not to be confused with Hamilcar Barca ) . Battle . By this time , Roman naval tactics had improved . The fleet advanced along the Sicilian coast in battle formation , with the military ships deployed in three squadrons ( see figure ) . Squadrons I and II , commanded by the consuls , led the way arrayed in a wedge . The bulk of the transport ships were right behind them and the third squadron protected the rear . The Carthaginians expected them and the two fleets met in the southern coast of Sicily off Mount Ecnomus . Carthage ' s fleet was disposed in the traditional long line , with the centre commanded by Hamilcar . The right flank commanded by the Hanno defeated in Agrigentum was slightly advanced . Facing the foe , the two Roman leading squadrons advanced on the Carthaginian centre . Admiral Hamilcar then faked a retreat to allow the creation of a gap between the Roman vanguard and the transport ships that were his main target . Following this manoeuvre , both Carthaginian flanks advanced on the ships left behind , attacking from the side to avoid the effect of the " corvus " boarding mechanism . The transports were forced against the Sicilian coast and the reinforcements forced to enter the battle to face Hanno ' s attack . The Carthaginian centre was defeated after a long fight and escaped the battle scene . Then the two leading Roman squadrons turned to relieve the situation in the rear . Consul Vulso ' s first squadron pursued the Carthaginian left which was pushing the transports to disaster and Regulus ' ships , with the third squadron , launched an attack against Hanno . Without the support of the rest of their fleet , the Carthaginians were heavily defeated . In consequence of this battle , about half of Carthage ' s fleet was captured or sunk . Aftermath . Following the battle , the Romans landed in Sicily for repairs and to rest the crews . The prows of the captured Carthaginian ships were sent to Rome to adorn the " rostra " of the Forum , according to the tradition initiated at Mylae . Not long afterwards , the Roman army landed in Africa and began its punitive expedition against Carthage led by Atilius Regulus . The following battles of the First Punic War were therefore fought on Carthaginian soil , with victories ascribed to both sides .