Command losses, smoke, and Ottoman collapse

The Algerian wing remained comparatively intact, but Ottoman command in the center and landward wing broke down after senior leaders were killed. A reserve of centrally controlled Ottoman ships does not appear to have been committed when it was most needed. The reasons remain uncertain because command casualties and the reserve's exact position complicate the record. The wind drove cannon and musket smoke back through the Ottoman formation, further obscuring signals and events. Leadership losses, uncertain reserve control, and poor visibility together turned local setbacks into fleet-wide collapse.