If this did in fact occur, one possible interpretation is that these ships had been a decoy sent to reconnoitre the northern exit from the straits, in case the arrival of the encircling Egyptian detachment was imminent (if indeed this also occurred).
Hvis dette rent faktisk skete, er en mulig forklaring, at disse skibe var blevet sendt af sted for at rekognoscere den nordlige udsejling fra stræderne, for det tilfælde, at den omkringsejlende ægyptiske eskadres ankomst var umiddelbart forestående (hvis den nu også faktisk skete).