Inside the harbour, which was protected by minefields and coastal batteries, lay a handful of Ottoman vessels: aside from four tugboats, the only warship was the old ironclad Feth-i Bülend.

According to Votsis' own description, he evaded the searchlights of Karaburnu fortress which stood at the entrance of the harbour, and sighted the Feth-i Bülend at 23:20.

The sinking of the Feth-i Bülend may not have had much military significance, but it provided a great morale boost to the Greeks: it was the first of a series of naval successes in the war, and the Hydriot Votsis was propelled to the status of a national hero, readily associated with the legendary fireship captains of the Greek Revolution.

), he was appointed as Greece's High Commissioner to the Allied mission at Constantinople, a post he held until 22 February 1922 (O.S.

Disagreeing with the revolt of the Army, led by Venizelist officers, against the royalist government, he resigned in October and went into retirement with the rank of Rear Admiral.