A large fleet with divided command

The opposing force mixed ships of the line, many large double-decked frigates, corvettes, brigs, and fire ships. Its formal naval commander struggled to exercise authority while Ibrahim Pasha dominated the wider expedition, and even the Egyptian component had multiple flag officers. The Egyptian ships appear to have carried their full gun complements because they had been campaigning continuously, while the armament of several Ottoman and Turkish ships remained uncertain. That distinction makes the impressive aggregate totals less reliable as a measure of what could actually be brought into action. The fleet looked formidable on paper but lacked the allies' cohesion and consistent readiness.