In later years, the First Imperial Fleet, which mainly consisted of river patrol boats, would be no challenge for Marienburg’s navy of seafaring warships, but at present, both fleets were more or less evenly matched.
At that time, Marienburg had at its disposal only the few major warships which had survived the destruction of the Second Imperial Fleet in the Waaagh, and, as we have seen, these had been sent as protection on the Groote Vaert. The city could rely only on its river patrol boats and merchant ships they equipped with guns. Marienburg had an intimate knowledge of the local waters, but this was counterbalanced by the combat experience of the First Imperial Fleet, which had played no small part in preventing the Orcs crossing the Reik during the Waaagh.
Nevertheless, Dietrich von Bernau had decided to take no risks, and had given orders to disrupt the supply lines of Marienburg, whike avoiding a pitched battle with the Marienburg fleet, withdrawing instead towards the shore, where they could be supported by coastal batteries.
1. The Marienburg fleet leaving port to face the First Imperial Fleet
1. Diebold Schilling, Die Amtliche Berner Chronik II, p.294 (1483), Mss.h.h.I.2, Burgerbibliothek, Bern