Greek destroyers and Georgios Averof create a speed advantage

Greek destroyers purchased from an interrupted Argentine order were larger, faster, and more heavily armed than the German-built Ottoman torpedo boats. Their 31-knot speed exceeded the Ottoman boats' roughly 26 knots, and their four 4-inch guns and six torpedo tubes gave them a clear fighting advantage. The older Hydra-class coast-defense ships remained near 17 knots, making the Greek formation highly uneven. Georgios Averof supplied the decisive margin with a 20-knot practical speed, substantial armour, and a mixed battery of 9.2-inch and 7.5-inch guns. A common battle-line speed would prevent the fastest ships from fully exploiting their advantages.