 It would then embark much of the Carthaginian army stationed there to use as marines.It was intercepted by the Roman fleet under Gaius Lutatius Catulus and Quintus Valerius Falto, and in the hard-fought Battle of the Aegates Islands the better-trained Romans defeated the undermanned and ill-trained Carthaginian fleet.After achieving this decisive victory, the Romans continued their land operations in Sicily against Lilybaeum and Drepana.