The Carthaginian naval victory over Pyrrhus in the Strait of Messina severely weakened his fleet and curtailed his ability to operate in the western Mediterranean.
Key Facts
- Year
- 276 BC
- Pyrrhus's fleet size
- 110 decked warships plus hundreds of transports
- Ships sunk by Carthage
- 70 Greek ships sunk
- Ships damaged
- 28 Greek ships damaged
- Surviving warships
- 12 warships reached Locri
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
After campaigning successfully in Sicily against Carthage from 278 BC, Pyrrhus of Epirus was compelled to return to Italy due to Roman military pressure on his Italian allies. He began transporting his army across the Strait of Messina, making his fleet vulnerable to interception.
A Carthaginian fleet intercepted Pyrrhus's crossing force of 110 decked warships and hundreds of transport vessels in the Strait of Messina. The Carthaginians sank 70 Greek ships and damaged 28 others, leaving Pyrrhus with only 12 surviving warships and his transports, which put in at Locri.
The catastrophic loss of ships severely diminished Pyrrhus's naval power, stripping him of the capacity to project force across the western Mediterranean. His surviving forces docked at Locri, where his son Alexander had been stationed, and his broader strategic position in Italy and Sicily was critically undermined.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Pyrrhus of Epirus.
Side B
1 belligerent