On 2 February, Malik Ayyaz withdrew from Diu and left Amir Husayn in overall command. Coalition warships sallied to harass the Portuguese fleet, but stayed within range of the fort's guns and missed the chance to catch it while recovering from the journey. On 3 February, the defenders fastened their carracks and galleys together close to shore under Diu's fortifications. The posture offered shelter but repeated a problem seen at Sluys in 1340: an anchored fleet gives the attacker a choice of where and how to make contact. Almeida divided his force into boarding, flank-attack, bombardment, and command-support groups while retaining a small vessel for communications. His plan exploited the defenders' lost mobility before the first shot was fired.
Notable Point · 1:08:32-1:11:36
The defensive anchorage at Diu
On 3 February 1509, the coalition anchored its carracks and galleys under Diu's fortifications and surrendered the initiative to Almeida's approaching fleet.