Assassin's Creed Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Aquila

2012-12-17T17:54:57Z

217.85.145.24: /* Armaments */

{{Era|AC3}}
{{Spoilerhd}}
[[File:Aquila Edge Artwork.png|thumb|250px|Connor and his crew aboard the ''Aquila''.]]
The '''''Aquila''''' was a naval warship during the [[French and Indian War|Seven Years']] and [[American Revolutionary War]]s, which earned herself the nickname '''''"Ghost of the North Seas"'''''. During the American Revolution, the vessel was captained by the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]], with [[Robert Faulkner]] as his first mate.

Under their command, the ''Aquila'' helped to bring the rogue-[[Continental Army|Continental]] captain [[Nicholas Biddle]] to heel, who had been raiding locations along the coast. They also patrolled several trade routes along the Eastern Seaboard and the [[Caribbean Sea]].

==History==
The ''Aquila'' was constructed in Brest, [[France]], in the year 1749, and soon became the flagship of the Assassin navy. While small in design, the ''Aquila'' was able to carry a large variety of artillery.

In 1754, after suffering heavy damage pursuing a [[Templars|Templar]] [[The Providence|warship]] through a storm, the Assassins spread the word that the ''Aquila'' had been destroyed. In reality, she had only sustained minor damage, and was soon refitted for combat. Over the next decade, the ''Aquila'' plagued the Templar fleets, earning herself the moniker of ''"Ghost of the North Seas"''; an illusion spread both by the ship avoiding major harbors, and partially due to the exceptional sailing ability by her acting captain, Robert Faulkner.

Eventually, the Templars uncovered the fact that the ''Aquila'' had not been destroyed and, in 1768, three [[British Army|British frigates]] ambushed and nearly destroyed the ship. Both the ''Aquila'' and Faulkner survived however, and managed to escape to the [[Davenport Homestead]], where they would remain until the arrival of the Assassin Connor, who had decided to pay for the vessel's repairs.

Once repaired, Connor and Faulkner, who had found a crew for the ''Aquila'', sailed to Martha's Vineyard in search of cannons and officers. Faulkner recruited some of his old shipmates as gunnery officers, and also tutored Connor in how to sail the ''Aquila'' as captain. After practicing to fire the cannons at an old shipwreck, the ''Aquila'' saw her first fight in years, against a patrol of British gunboats and a frigate.

Following this, the ''Aquila'' went on to investigate an attack on Martha's Vineyard, which led to an eventual confrontation with the first Admiral of the Continental Navy; the Templar Nicholas Biddle. The ship also served as transport for her captain, when Connor sought out the [[Shards of Eden|hidden treasure]] of Captain [[William Kidd]]. The ship also engaged various English privateers, attempting to keep the trade routes secure.

==Armaments==
Although relatively well built, even when initially repaired by Connor, the ''Aquila'' underwent several major improvements during his captaincy. In addition to the warship's standard {{Wiki|round shot}} and {{wiki|swivel gun}}s, the ''Aquila'' was eventually upgraded to include several more projectile types; {{Wiki|chain-shot}} to destroy a ship's sails, disabling them; {{Wiki|grapeshot}} to target the crew; and {{Wiki|heated shot}} to start fires among the hull.

As well as the ability to be upgraded with new ammunition and an additional row of cannons, the ''Aquila'' also received improvements in her hull strength, an improved rudder for sharper turns and the addition of a naval ram.

Fully upgraded, the ''Aquila'' was armed with 60 main cannons, 30 on each side. This would have made her equivalent in firepower to a 4<sup>th</sup>-rate ship of the line (''i.e.'' amongst the smallest ships of the line, but larger than a frigate). Most contemporary 60-gun ships carried those guns on only two decks, but the ''Aquila'' carried them on three.

==Trivia==
*"Aquila", the Latin word for "eagle", is a reference to the eagle motif of the Assassins.
**Continuing the eagle theme, the ''Aquila'' has an eagle-shaped figurehead.
*"Aquila" is also the name of a {{Wiki|Aquila (constellation)|constellation}}, with its brightest star known as "{{Wiki|Altair|Altair}}"; which is also the namesake of [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]].
*In an interview, Mission Director [[Philippe Bergeron]] stated that Connor could freeroam the seas with the ship between missions. However, this is not possible in the final version of ''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''.
*The ''Aquila'' had lifts attached to her central mast, shaped as an [[Assassin insignia]].
*Faulkner stated the ''Aquila'''s top speed was 14 knots, but her actual in-game speed was closer to 60 knots, which was not reached by any real ship until 1911.

==Gallery==
<tabber>
Development=
<gallery widths="180" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center">
AC3 naval ships.jpg|Naval battle concept art.
Naval Battle concept illistration by Max Qin.jpg|Naval battle concept art.
Aquila Cannons.jpg|Concept art of ''Aquila'''s cannons firing.
AC3 CA SP 29 Naval Mines.jpg|Concept art of the ''Aquila'' navigating through [[Naval mines]].
AC3 CA SP 30 Naval TropicalStorm.jpg|Concept art of the ''Aquila'' navigating a tropical storm.
AC3 CA SP 28 Naval HidingInTheMidstOfEnemyShips(Night).jpg|Concept art of the ''Aquila'' hiding from enemy ships in the mist.
Aquila Caribbeann concept.jpg|''Aquila'' Caribbean concept.
AC3 CA SP 31 RescueBoat.jpg|Concept art of a rescue boat leaving the ''Aquila''.
North America Stormy Day by max qin.jpg|North America Stormy Day by Max Qin.
Tropical Storm by max qin.jpg|Tropical Storm by Max Qin.
Naval Battle by max qin.jpg|Naval Battle by Max Qin.
The Perfect Storm by max qin.jpg|The Perfect Storm by Max Qin.
AC3 CA SP 27 Naval NorthAmericanLandscape.jpg|The ''Aquila'' docked off the North American coastline.
Aquila passage concept.jpg|The ''Aquila'' entering a narrow passage.
Aquila lower decks concept art.jpg|Concept art of the ''Aquila'''s lower decks.
AC3 Render SP 22 Aquila Crew.jpg|The crew of the ''Aquila''.
Aquila concept model.jpg|Concept model of the ''Aquila''.
</gallery>
|-|Screenshots=
<gallery widths="180" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center">
ACIII-TrainingBegins 3.png|The ''Aquila'', wrecked in the bay of the Davenport Homestead.
AC3 storm naval warfare.jpg|The ''Aquila'' at sea.
Connor steering ship.jpg|Connor at the helm of the ''Aquila''.
AC3 NavalBattle Morning.png|Connor calling an attack on enemy vessels.
AC3 Native on the Aquila.png|Connor's crew preparing for battle.
Boarding Action.jpg|Connor boarding an enemy vessel.
Chain Shots.jpg|The ''Aquila'' firing several chain-shots.
AC3 SC SP 50 HD Naval Chesapeake.jpg|The Battle of Chesapeake Bay.
AC III Aquila Firing.jpg|The ''Aquila'' firing on a British fort.
</gallery>
</tabber>

==References==
*''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''
{{AC3}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed III gameplay]]
[[Category:Ships]]

Aquila

2012-12-17T17:48:44Z

217.85.145.24: /* History */

{{Era|AC3}}
{{Spoilerhd}}
[[File:Aquila Edge Artwork.png|thumb|250px|Connor and his crew aboard the ''Aquila''.]]
The '''''Aquila''''' was a naval warship during the [[French and Indian War|Seven Years']] and [[American Revolutionary War]]s, which earned herself the nickname '''''"Ghost of the North Seas"'''''. During the American Revolution, the vessel was captained by the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]], with [[Robert Faulkner]] as his first mate.

Under their command, the ''Aquila'' helped to bring the rogue-[[Continental Army|Continental]] captain [[Nicholas Biddle]] to heel, who had been raiding locations along the coast. They also patrolled several trade routes along the Eastern Seaboard and the [[Caribbean Sea]].

==History==
The ''Aquila'' was constructed in Brest, [[France]], in the year 1749, and soon became the flagship of the Assassin navy. While small in design, the ''Aquila'' was able to carry a large variety of artillery.

In 1754, after suffering heavy damage pursuing a [[Templars|Templar]] [[The Providence|warship]] through a storm, the Assassins spread the word that the ''Aquila'' had been destroyed. In reality, she had only sustained minor damage, and was soon refitted for combat. Over the next decade, the ''Aquila'' plagued the Templar fleets, earning herself the moniker of ''"Ghost of the North Seas"''; an illusion spread both by the ship avoiding major harbors, and partially due to the exceptional sailing ability by her acting captain, Robert Faulkner.

Eventually, the Templars uncovered the fact that the ''Aquila'' had not been destroyed and, in 1768, three [[British Army|British frigates]] ambushed and nearly destroyed the ship. Both the ''Aquila'' and Faulkner survived however, and managed to escape to the [[Davenport Homestead]], where they would remain until the arrival of the Assassin Connor, who had decided to pay for the vessel's repairs.

Once repaired, Connor and Faulkner, who had found a crew for the ''Aquila'', sailed to Martha's Vineyard in search of cannons and officers. Faulkner recruited some of his old shipmates as gunnery officers, and also tutored Connor in how to sail the ''Aquila'' as captain. After practicing to fire the cannons at an old shipwreck, the ''Aquila'' saw her first fight in years, against a patrol of British gunboats and a frigate.

Following this, the ''Aquila'' went on to investigate an attack on Martha's Vineyard, which led to an eventual confrontation with the first Admiral of the Continental Navy; the Templar Nicholas Biddle. The ship also served as transport for her captain, when Connor sought out the [[Shards of Eden|hidden treasure]] of Captain [[William Kidd]]. The ship also engaged various English privateers, attempting to keep the trade routes secure.

==Armaments==
Although relatively well built, even when initially repaired by Connor, the ''Aquila'' underwent several major improvements during his captaincy. In addition to the warship's standard {{Wiki|round shot}} and {{wiki|swivel gun}}s, the ''Aquila'' was eventually upgraded to include several more projectile types; {{Wiki|chain-shot}} to destroy a ship's sails, disabling them; {{Wiki|grapeshot}} to target the crew; and {{Wiki|heated shot}} to start fires among the hull.

As well as the ability to be upgraded with new ammunition and an additional row of cannons, the ''Aquila'' also received improvements in her hull strength and the addition of a naval ram.

Fully upgraded, the ''Aquila'' was armed with 60 main cannons, 30 on each side. This would have made her equivalent in firepower to a 4<sup>th</sup>-rate ship of the line (''i.e.'' amongst the smallest ships of the line, but larger than a frigate). Most contemporary 60-gun ships carried those guns on only two decks, but the ''Aquila'' carried them on three.

==Trivia==
*"Aquila", the Latin word for "eagle", is a reference to the eagle motif of the Assassins.
**Continuing the eagle theme, the ''Aquila'' has an eagle-shaped figurehead.
*"Aquila" is also the name of a {{Wiki|Aquila (constellation)|constellation}}, with its brightest star known as "{{Wiki|Altair|Altair}}"; which is also the namesake of [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]].
*In an interview, Mission Director [[Philippe Bergeron]] stated that Connor could freeroam the seas with the ship between missions. However, this is not possible in the final version of ''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''.
*The ''Aquila'' had lifts attached to her central mast, shaped as an [[Assassin insignia]].
*Faulkner stated the ''Aquila'''s top speed was 14 knots, but her actual in-game speed was closer to 60 knots, which was not reached by any real ship until 1911.

==Gallery==
<tabber>
Development=
<gallery widths="180" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center">
AC3 naval ships.jpg|Naval battle concept art.
Naval Battle concept illistration by Max Qin.jpg|Naval battle concept art.
Aquila Cannons.jpg|Concept art of ''Aquila'''s cannons firing.
AC3 CA SP 29 Naval Mines.jpg|Concept art of the ''Aquila'' navigating through [[Naval mines]].
AC3 CA SP 30 Naval TropicalStorm.jpg|Concept art of the ''Aquila'' navigating a tropical storm.
AC3 CA SP 28 Naval HidingInTheMidstOfEnemyShips(Night).jpg|Concept art of the ''Aquila'' hiding from enemy ships in the mist.
Aquila Caribbeann concept.jpg|''Aquila'' Caribbean concept.
AC3 CA SP 31 RescueBoat.jpg|Concept art of a rescue boat leaving the ''Aquila''.
North America Stormy Day by max qin.jpg|North America Stormy Day by Max Qin.
Tropical Storm by max qin.jpg|Tropical Storm by Max Qin.
Naval Battle by max qin.jpg|Naval Battle by Max Qin.
The Perfect Storm by max qin.jpg|The Perfect Storm by Max Qin.
AC3 CA SP 27 Naval NorthAmericanLandscape.jpg|The ''Aquila'' docked off the North American coastline.
Aquila passage concept.jpg|The ''Aquila'' entering a narrow passage.
Aquila lower decks concept art.jpg|Concept art of the ''Aquila'''s lower decks.
AC3 Render SP 22 Aquila Crew.jpg|The crew of the ''Aquila''.
Aquila concept model.jpg|Concept model of the ''Aquila''.
</gallery>
|-|Screenshots=
<gallery widths="180" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center">
ACIII-TrainingBegins 3.png|The ''Aquila'', wrecked in the bay of the Davenport Homestead.
AC3 storm naval warfare.jpg|The ''Aquila'' at sea.
Connor steering ship.jpg|Connor at the helm of the ''Aquila''.
AC3 NavalBattle Morning.png|Connor calling an attack on enemy vessels.
AC3 Native on the Aquila.png|Connor's crew preparing for battle.
Boarding Action.jpg|Connor boarding an enemy vessel.
Chain Shots.jpg|The ''Aquila'' firing several chain-shots.
AC3 SC SP 50 HD Naval Chesapeake.jpg|The Battle of Chesapeake Bay.
AC III Aquila Firing.jpg|The ''Aquila'' firing on a British fort.
</gallery>
</tabber>

==References==
*''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''
{{AC3}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed III gameplay]]
[[Category:Ships]]