Battle of Phintias

Battle of Phintias
Part of the First Punic War
Date 249 BC Location Off Phintias (modern Licata), Sicily 38°01′00″N 12°31′00″E / 38.0167°N 12.5167°E / 38.0167; 12.5167 Result Carthaginian victory
Belligerents
Carthage	Roman Republic
Commanders and leaders
Carthalo	Lucius Junius Pullus
Strength
120 warships	120 warships, 800 transports
Casualties and losses
None	17 ships sunk, 13 damaged, all but 2 destroyed in storm

The naval Battle of Phintias took place in 249 BC during the First Punic War near modern Licata, southern Sicily between the fleets of Carthage under Carthalo and the Roman Republic under Lucius Junius Pullus. The Carthaginian fleet had intercepted the Roman Fleet off Phintias, and had forced it to seek shelter. Carthalo, who heeded the warning of his pilots about impending storms, retired to the east to avoid the coming weather. The Roman fleet did not take any precautions and subsequently was destroyed with the loss of all but two ships. The Carthaginians exploited their victory by raiding the coasts of Roman Italy until 243 BC. The Romans did not mount a major naval effort until 242 BC.