Some Ottoman-Egyptian sailors were convicts, Greek prisoners, or other involuntary recruits, and some were reportedly chained at their stations. That evidence challenges the romantic image of coercion as an easy substitute for trained manpower. Strong workers who expect freedom from an attacker can become a liability during boarding rather than a reserve of defenders. A warship therefore needs skilled people with a reason to preserve the ship, rather than bodies kept at their posts by force.
Notable Point · 2:27:10-2:29:25
Why involuntary crews undermine a warship
Convicts, prisoners, and sailors chained to their posts weaken both combat motivation and a crew's ability to resist boarding.