Q&A · 2:31:48-2:32:08

Could Ottoman warships reach Istanbul before the war?

Ottoman construction times raise the possibility that deliberate delay could prevent faster delivery.

Question

Could the increased construction rate deliver the Ottoman ships to Istanbul before hostilities begin?

Short answer

Faster construction would not guarantee delivery, because the ships' build times suggest that a deliberate go-slow may have affected their schedule.

Notes

Higher British construction activity does not automatically put the Ottoman ships in Istanbul before war. Their build times need comparison with contemporary projects before assuming that greater capacity means earlier delivery. The proposed explanation is that a deliberate go-slow may already have affected their construction. That remains a suspicion rather than a demonstrated reason for the delay.