Against the Brandenburg-class battleships' roughly 16.5 knots, Averof could make about 20 knots in normal service and theoretically 23.5. About three knots of superiority lets a commander choose the range and angle of a naval engagement. Three and a half knots is a strong margin; seven makes pursuit or escape overwhelmingly one-sided. At Elli that speed advantage gave Kountouriotis the freedom to turn a material difference into positional control.
Notable Point · 1:16:32-1:17:41
Why a three-knot advantage can decide a gunfight
Averof's speed margin over the Brandenburg-class battleships let Kountouriotis choose the range and angle of engagement.