Defences of the western Roman empire in 5th century

[Theodosius the Great]

Maybe the roman fleet (if it stil existed?), wasn't big enouth to do much more than defend against a couple of pirates ships.

I've re-read parts of Vegetius and he seems to speak of the fleet in the present tense. He wrote his 'Epitome' just a few years before Constantius III so I'm not sure if this sheds any light on our discussion.

A thought :

• if a fleet is not in use (due to a shortage of marines / oarsmen, etc.) then wouldn't ships be dry-docked to shield them from the elements ? From my reading about the Battle of Lepanto, I know the Venetians did this in the 15th and 16th centuries because they lacked manpower to permanently man all their ships

wasn't big enouth to do much more than defend against a couple of pirates ships.

Yes, it may have been reduced to something like a modern 'coast guard.'

But by the way, even if Aetius had a fleet, since the vandals were invited by Bonifacius, i don't see why he should send the fleet to Hispania (where the vandals were) and let Italia without a fleet

Why would anyone use a fleet to reconquer Hispania when you have land routes ?

But getting back to the main issue :

• was it militarily, strategically unfeasible to transfer troops from Gaul to Africa ? Let's leave aside the political obstacles for a moment.

~Theo