What was the Roman naval strategy during the First Punic War?

Answer 1

They countered Carthaginian tactics of ramming with the Harpax - a ramp with a beak which when dropped in the opposing ship locked the ships together and allowed the superior Roman infantry to board and defeat the Cartaginian crews.

Answer 2

After a series of defeated earlier in Hannibal's invasion of Italy, Rome avoided direct battles and relied on harrassment to contai the Carthaginian force.

Thy then woke up to the obvious counterstroke by mirroring Hannibal's takung the war to Rome and alienating its Italian allies. They invaded North Africa, mobilised the North African kings and threatened Carthage.

Hannibal was recalled from Italy to protect Carthage.

Answer 3

First Punic War - Carthage attempted to use its naval dominance, Rome built a comparable navy and developed boarding tactics which outplayed the Carthaginian ramming tactics.

Second Punic War - Carthage carried the threat to Rome, invading Italy and gathering Italian allies. Rome countered by invading North Africa, threatening Carthage and causing them to withdraw from Italy, and finally defeating them in front of Carthage itself.

Third Punic War - Carthage, without allies, had to defend the city, while Rome used allies to harass Carthage, and finally besieged and took the city.

Then Rome imposed the 'final solution', selling the Carthaginians into slavery to prevent any resurgence, and established a colony for its retired military veterans on the site.