A single light vessel could be crushed if trapped by a large quinquereme, but several fast ships could defeat an isolated heavy galley in detail. The account presents Antony's advance as stretching his line and giving Liburnians room to work around individual ships, attack their oars, and combine with missile fire. Cleopatra's squadron, positioned to the rear, is interpreted as finding an opening and breaking through when the battle was going badly. This reading challenges the simpler image of a disengaged force merely retreating into open water.
Chapter · 50:09-53:42
Liburnian manoeuvre and Cleopatra's escape
Smaller Liburnians could exploit gaps in Antony's line, while Cleopatra's rear squadron appears to have broken through a gap rather than simply fled.