The Greek fleet still included old coastal battleships, but its new Cammell Laird destroyers and fast armored cruiser supplied modern tactical tools. Averof could make roughly 20 knots normally and more under forced conditions, while the Ottoman battleships struggled to reach about 16.5 knots. An Ottoman purchase of the faster German battlecruiser SMS Blücher could have transformed the matchup, but it was not available at Elli. Averof's margin of roughly 3.5 to 6.5 knots gave Kountouriotis the practical ability to dictate whether and how the engagement developed.
Chapter · 42:33-46:33
Averof gives Greece a decisive speed option
Greece combines modern destroyers with Georgios Averof, whose large speed margin over Ottoman battleships creates the option for independent maneuver.