Raw totals - roughly 78 ships against 22 - hide a large difference in combat function and readiness. The Ottoman-Egyptian force was structured for presence and regional control, whereas the Allies brought a concentrated battle fleet. Ottoman and Egyptian crews included impressed, imprisoned, and otherwise involuntary personnel facing veterans of recent European wars. French advisers withdrew immediately before battle, leaving Egyptian captains who had depended on that shadow command structure to fight without it. The advisers transferred to a neutral Austrian brig that was also supporting Ottoman logistics, a reminder that European governments did not share one policy toward the crisis.
Chapter · 2:25:15-2:30:45
Allied crew quality outweighed Ottoman-Egyptian numbers
The larger Ottoman-Egyptian fleet was built for presence, while the Allied force brought battle-fleet hulls, experienced crews, and faster accurate gunnery.