h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi bob. Are you still around? I've finally had a chance to look at your Classis Britannica entry. I have to admit I'm puzzled by it. It starts off being about a Fleet of Ships, but then it starts talking about a load of forts along the shore. Were these anything to do with the Fleet of Ships, or is this something else?

Would it be a good idea to split it into two entries, one about the fleet and one about the forts?

Gnomon

Gnomon thank you for your comments

The problem is the Classis Britannica was an organic unit of a fleet and land based shoreforts I did however try to proceed as you suggessted but the subject is so interconnected that I decided to write the entry as you see it.

I feel that two entries would require constant cross referancing. However I am open to any suggestions that will enable the problems I highlighted to be overcome.

Your ideas please on an ammended layout.

I think this will get very confusing if you start changing things. Better to keep it the way it is. If there are bits I don't understand, I'll just ask.

Thanks just remember when reading that all fleets were a branch of the army, it will help when understanding how the thing worked and why the reliance on land bases

How are things going now

Hi Bob. I'm still having difficulty figuring out what this entry is about. The classis was a fleet, but it was also a set of forts, yes? And there was also another set of forts called the Saxon Shore? Could you perhaps write something about what it all means here, without cutting and pasting from anywhere? I Want it in your own words, so that I can figure it out.

Once I've figured this out, the actual subediting shouldn't take too long.

Simply put they were originaly bases for the classis britanica but over the four centuries of Roman occupatoin the focus of thair purpose changed.In the later years they became the first line the defence against the raders from northern europe (saxons jutes etc) they became known then as the saxon shore forts (or more correctly forts of the saxon shore) and provided a measure of security against raids upto the withdrawal of the roman military, and some speculate they saw service up to and during the period of the saxon heptarcy and beyond. Potrchester saw active service up to and during the Napolonic war ending as a POW camp and military hospital.

I hope that helps

Thanks, Bob. I am actually still working on this, but it is slow work. I tweak a sentence here or there, and suddenly it will all fall into place. The present version is at: A85981161

I hope you like what I have done with it.

To a point yes very I will have 1 or 2 suggestions but well done very nicely done thank you

Make your suggestions, because I am really struggling to make this entry into something interesting and readable.

OK will do asap

Did you get my first comment on review page

Sorry bob, I don't know which comment you are talking about here.

I replied on this thread http://www.h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/brunel/F21591723?thread=8298592 first amendment

>As the invasion progressed< the Classis Britannica started to establish >fortified< bases around Britain such as Portus Adurni - Portchester, Anderida - Pevensey, Portus Lemanis - Lympne and a fleet anchorage at each end of Hadrian's Wall: at Maia - Bowness and Arbeia - South Shields. In the push north of 83 AD, the fleet carried out raids along the eastern coast of Scotland in support of the advancing legions.

Sorry I replied on thread for A85981161 sorry you missed it

1st amendments in brackets in GML to make it easier I hope

The Romans appear to have first developed (an efficient) Navy in response to the threat from Carthage which, being in North Africa, was only accessible to Rome by sea. Great Britain, however, gave a greater challenge, because the Atlantic Ocean was a much more serious body of water than the Mediterranean Sea. To invade Britain, the Romans had to set up a complete new ocean-worthy fleet, the Classis Britannica, which was subsequently used for the protection of Roman Britain from invasion. In addition, a series of Roman Forts were built along the coasts of Britain, which are known as the Saxon Shore Forts. This Entry gives what little is known about both the fleet and the forts.

The fleet also accomplished the first (recorded) circumnavigation of Britain, discovering the Orkneys in the process.


Thanks for all the good work happy new year

And another just small alterations/suggestions at the moment

The Classis Britannica started to establish fortified bases around Britain such as Portus Adurni - Portchester, Anderida - Pevensey, Portus Lemanis - Lympne and (eventually) a fleet anchorage at each end of Hadrian's Wall: at Maia - Bowness and Arbeia - South Shields. In the push north of 83 AD, the fleet carried out raids along the eastern coast of Scotland in support of the advancing legions.

There were also forts located at Bradwell, Caister and Walton situated at the mouths of the Rivers Orwell, Deben and Stour off Felixstowe. All three forts are now lost due to coastal erosion. Further forts were at Carisbrooke and possibly at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight as this provides a fine sheltered anchorage on the eastern side of the island. There was also a base at Clausentum near Bitterne on the outskirts of Southampton, Cardiff, Holyhead and Topsham [what is meant here?].

Should be


There were also forts located at Bradwell, Caister and Walton situated at the mouths of the Rivers Orwell, Deben and Stour off Felixstowe. All three forts are now lost due to coastal erosion. Further forts were at Carisbrooke and possibly at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight as this provides a fine sheltered anchorage on the eastern side of the island. There was also a base at Clausentum near Bitterne on the outskirts of Southampton. There is also evidence of bases in Wales at Cardiff and Holyhead and in Devon in Topsham.