The crescent formation balances firepower and protection

What drove the use of a crescent formation, and was it meant as Islamic symbolism?

The formation followed operating doctrine: it concentrated defensive fire while sheltering less capable ships.

The crescent formation follows from operating doctrine rather than the shape's religious symbolism. It lets the ships bring substantial defensive fire to bear while keeping less capable vessels inside a protected part of the formation. The arrangement therefore balances the weapons available across the force with the need to shield its weaker members.