The coalition may have fielded about 196 vessels against only eighteen Portuguese ships. Its total combined Mamluk carracks and galleys, Diu's carracks and galleys, and perhaps seventy to 150 Calicut war boats under Kunjali Marakkar. Portugal brought large Atlantic naus, smaller carracks and caravels, galleys, and a brigantine in a more balanced force. The comparison shows why counting hulls without considering construction, armament, endurance, and role can badly misrepresent naval power.
Notable Point · 1:24:42-1:28:03
Why 196 ships did not guarantee victory
The coalition's numerical superiority concealed major differences in ship type, command, and combat power.