Number of legions at Zama

[Hanny]

So how safe is it now to use Caesar’s fleet of 80 ships for two legions as a comparison for Scipio’s fleet of 204 BC?

Plutarch (Pompey 11 2) has Pompey, with a fleet of 120 warships, and 800 transports conveying six full legions to Africa (1). Appian (BC 5 98) has Lepidus with a fleet of 70 warships and 1,000 transports, conveying 12 legions and 500 Numidian cavalry. (2)Here we find 6 legions require 120 warships and 800 transports, while 12 legions require 70 warships and 1,000 transports, a disparity of 50 warships and 200 transports. If six legions require 800 transports, then surely 12 legions would require 1,600 transports?

In 54 BC, Caesar has 5 legions and 2,000 cavalry conveyed to over 800 ships including those built by individuals.(4) This would allocate each legion 160 ships. Pompey needs 800 transports for six legions, whereas Caesar needs 800 transports for five legions.

In 55 BC, Caesar (BG 4 22) (BG 4 28) has about 80 ships and 18 horse transports conveying over two legions to Britain.(3)Caesar (BG 4 37) also mentions from two ships about 300 soldiers were drawn. 80 ships multiplied by 300 soldiers per ship would produce 24,000 soldiers. 80 ships multiplied by the lower figure of 200 soldiers per ship would produce 16,000 soldiers. Both figures do not conform to an army of two legions (around 10,000 men). However, to upset the apple cart, in 37 BC, Appian (The Civil War 5 25) has Murcus joined Sextius Pompeius’ with two legions and 80 ships, which concurs with Caesar. Appian (The Civil War 5 26) has Domitius Ahenobarbus with two legions and 70 ships.(5) In 25/26 BC, Strabo (16 4 23) has Aelius Gallus sailed to Arabia Felix with no less than 80 biremes, triremes and phaseloi ships, 130 transports to convey about 10,000 Roman infantry, 500 Jews and 1,000 Nabataeans.(6) The 10,000 Roman infantry would equate to two legions, with the total of 11,500 men requiring 210 vessels.

1 30000/920=32 a ship.
2 60500/1070 =56
3 27000/800=33
4 12000/98=122
5 10000/70=142
611500/210=154

7 is Scipio 40 warships and 400 transports. 27200/400=68 a transport ship. 4 is Caeser, 12000/98=122 a ship.

Warship 15t cargo capacity.Transport 80t capacity. Combined mount of tonnage used for manpower. 210lbs a man.
1 5%
2 8%
4 2%
3 16%
5 18%
6 9%
7 10%.

They are all on transport fleets.
1 4t of manpower a ship.
2 6t
4 13t
4 4t
5 15t
6 9t
7 7t


So the comparison between Caeser  and Scipio is that Caeser used 12 t a ship expedition 1, and 4 t a ship expedition 2, while scipio used 7 t a ship. Caeser had 33 manpower a ship expedition 1 and 122 expedition 2, Scipio 154 a ship.

Its not safe for you bacause you dont know what to count or how to count it.