Final answer:
During the First Punic War, the Romans used a strategy of dropping a hooked plank ('corvus') onto enemy ships to board them, turning sea battles into land battles where they had the advantage. This strategy led to their victory over Carthage and the annexation of Sicily.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the First Punic War, the Romans used a unique method to convert battles at sea into battles on the land. Recognizing that they were at a disadvantage in naval warfare against Carthaginians, the Romans used innovative war strategies. They dropped a hooked plank, essentially a bridge known as corvus, on the deck of an opposing ship and used it as a causeway to cross over. This allowed them to transform a sea battle into a land battle where their might and tactics could dominate.
The First Punic War was fought between Rome and Carthage from 264–241 BCE, mainly for the control of the island of Sicily. Despite Carthage having the largest fleet at the time, Rome's creative strategy led to their victory at sea, and they ultimately annexed Sicily after the destruction of the Carthaginian fleet.
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