Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:39:29-2:39:36

Did the French advisers accidentally help the Allies?

The horseshoe plan may have benefited the attackers by inviting superior Allied ships into the center of a rigid formation.

Egyptian NavyFleet FormationsFrench Military AdvisersNaval TacticsOttoman Navy
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Question

Did the French officers advising the Ottoman-Egyptian fleet end up helping the Allied fleet?

Short answer

Possibly in effect; their defensive formation created advantages the Allies could exploit.

Notes

The answer does not claim deliberate sabotage by the French advisers. Their three-line horseshoe was intended to protect smaller ships behind the heavy front line. In practice it admitted superior Allied crews into the center of the crescent and created confused firing lanes through moving friendly ships. The plan therefore helped the attackers in effect even though it had been offered as a defensive solution.