All the turning point battles of the sailing fleet. From the Great Armada to Trafalgar Sergey Petrovich Makhov

Battle of Cape Kaliakria (1791)

Admiral Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov

Whole late XVII and the beginning of the 18th century, Russia and Türkiye waged continuous wars. Russia rushed to the coast of the Black Sea, while the Ottoman Empire, for which the Black Sea was an inland lake, did not want to let it go there. By the next Russian-Turkish war (1787–1791), the situation was as follows: in 1783, Russia liquidated the Crimean Khanate and occupied the Crimean peninsula. The newly annexed possessions began to be called Tauris. The favorite of the Empress, Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin, the Most Serene Prince of Tauride, had to take care of their settlement, economic development, construction of cities, ports, fortresses. The Russians began to create a fleet in the Black Sea, the main base of which was Sevastopol. On July 24 (August 4), 1783, an agreement was concluded on the patronage and supreme power of Russia with the united Georgian kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti (otherwise the Kartli-Kakheti kingdom, Eastern Georgia), according to which Eastern Georgia came under the protectorate of Russia. The treaty sharply weakened the positions of Persia and Turkey in Transcaucasia, formally destroying their claims to Eastern Georgia.

In 1787, Empress Catherine II made a triumphant tour of the Crimea, accompanied by representatives of foreign courts and her ally, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, who was traveling. This event greatly stirred up public opinion in Istanbul, wild rumors arose from scratch: the empress wants the destruction of the Ottoman Empire and the creation of Byzantium on its ruins, for which Catherine's grandson Constantine is already predicted to be king. On the site of Wallachia, it is planned to create the kingdom of Dacia, where Potemkin will rule. In compensation for participation in the war, Austria will be given Bosnia and Dalmatia, and Venice - Morea, Cyprus and Crete. Revanchist sentiment was fueled by the British ambassador's statement that Britain would support the Ottoman Empire if it went to war against Russia.

In 1787, Turkey, with the support of Great Britain, France and Prussia, put forward an ultimatum Russian Empire demanding the restoration of the vassalage of the Crimean Khanate and Georgia, and also sought permission from Russia to inspect ships passing through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles. On August 13, 1787, the Ottoman Empire, having received a refusal, declared war on Russia.

The war for Turkey was unsuccessful: the Ottoman landing was repulsed near Kinburn, Russian troops took Ochakov, Bendery, and Khotyn, defeated the Muslim armies at Rymnik and Fokshtany, and in 1790, under the command of Suvorov, they stormed and captured the strongest fortress of Izmail. At sea, the Turks were defeated by Russian sailing and rowing fleets in Liman, near Fidonisi, in the Kerch Strait and at Cape Tendra. The Russians seized the initiative and confidently marched to victory. To turn the tide at sea from the end of April

In 1790, the Ottoman fleet was qualitatively and quantitatively increased, and a year later there were 19 battleships, 17 frigates, 43 small ships. In 1791 sailors from North Africa appeared in the Ottoman fleet. Russian historians have an opinion that they arrived "squadrons of ships from Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, etc.", however, this is fundamentally wrong. The Algerian fleet, the largest in North Africa, in 1787–90 had as many as ... nine shebeks (the armament of ships - from 10 to 36 light cannons) and as many as two row galliots, while in 1790 there were only 4 small ships armed, on which there were only there were 36 guns. Another frigate was under construction, the Sultan promised 2 more frigates; the rest of the "fleets" of North Africa were smaller than the Algerian. Only in 1792 did a squadron of Algerian ships go to Istanbul. However, in the fleet of 1791, 2 Algerian and 1 Tunisian shebeks are mentioned.

Large losses (and desertion) in the crews of the Ottoman ships in 1788–1790 forced the Sultan to turn to the Africans for help. It must be said that the Turks did this because of urgent need, the African corsairs were poorly disciplined, acted without permission, often rebelled and killed their officers.

In early May, the Muslim fleet (20 ships, 25 frigates, 6 shebeks, 5 bombing ships, 10 Kirlangichs, 15 transports) went to sea with the task of bringing reinforcements to Anapa, which was surrounded by Russian troops, and not blocking this fortress from the sea. In June, the Russian Black Sea Fleet received a message from General Gudovich, who was besieging Anapa, that a large Turkish fleet appeared near the Dniester Estuary, on June 10, Admiral Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov put the ships to sea (16 ships, 2 frigates, 3 bombardment ships, 9 cruising ships, 13 brigantines , 3 firewalls). Well, then the fun begins. The fact is that our reader is familiar in all details only with the Russian version of the events that took place near Anapa and at Cape Kaliakria. Turkish sources were either ignored completely or were not available. Now it is possible to use them thanks to the fact that in Turkey there are finally researchers studying the history of their fleet. Therefore, we will continue to give two versions of the state before the battle and the battle. The Turkish version that we present is based on the books of Turkish historians Bostan, Zorlu, Isipek. Russian data - on documents from the MIRF, books by Ovchinnikov, Anderson, articles from the Marine Atlas. So, let's begin.

Battle of Cape Kaliakiria

According to the Russian version, on June 11, 1791, Ushakov noticed the enemy fleet at Cape Aya, but the Turks did not accept the battle, and headed south, Ushakov chased them for four days, but did not catch up. According to Isipek, both sides began to prepare for battle, but a complete calm descended, which stood for four days. Then the wind blew from the Russian side, Ushakov had the opportunity to get close to the enemy, but did not dare (he estimated the enemy’s forces at 18 battleships, 10 heavy and 7 light frigates, 22 small ships - a total of 57 units). The Russian commander explains his decision by the fact that at that moment, after a four-day chase, he had only 10 battleships out of 16 (6 were carried to the sea due to breakdowns in the spars and overgrown bottoms). The Turks believe that the Russian fleet was scattered, while the Ottomans kept compact, which forced Ushakov to retreat.

On June 16, the Russians returned to Sevastopol, Ushakov unsubscribed to Potemkin about the campaign, saying that in 5–7 days he would repair the damage and again go out in search of the enemy. Repair meanwhile dragged on for a month. On July 23, Count Voinovich, commander-in-chief of the Black Sea Fleet and the port of Sevastopol, was dismissed, Ushakov became the sovereign leader of not only the squadron, but the entire fleet. On the 29th, Ushakov reports to Potemkin that the repair of the ships has been completed and he is ready to go to sea. In the morning, 16 ships of the line, 2 bombardment ships, 2 frigates, 1 fire ship, 1 repetitive ship and 17 cruisers left the port and went in search of the Ottoman fleet.

The Turks, after the maneuvers in June, withdrew to Cape Kaliakria, where they dropped anchor. At noon on July 31, Ushakov discovered the Turkish fleet. The Ottomans were commanded by Kapudanpasha Giritli Hussein, and Seydi-Ali (in Russian sources Said-Api) was appointed his assistant (the main "patron").

The first thing that can be noted looking at this list is that the collection of ships of different rank and different combat value is too large, moreover, flavored with a large number of irregular crews, who also conflict with regular sailors (Barbary pirates were Shiites, while the main population of the Ottoman Empire, from which was completed by the fleet - Sunnis).

This can be seen at least from the fact that the Turks themselves estimate their squadron at 20 ships, 25 frigates, 6 shebeks, 5 bombardment ships, 10 Kirlangichs, 15 transports, while Ushakov, in his report to Potemkin dated August 5, 1791, reports 18 ships , 17 frigates and many small craft. In principle, there is no particular discrepancy, given that the Turks refer to the Kelem-Bahri and Tunus Ibrahimkapudan as battleships, although most likely they were chartered large Turkish private ships.

What can be said about the Turkish squadron and Turkish ships? By far the strongest in it were the 74-gun Mukkaddime-i Nusret and the 72- or 82-gun Bahr-i Zafer. The first of those mentioned was launched in Istanbul in 1787, built according to French drawings by French shipbuilders. It was a standard 74-gun, two-decker ship with (most likely) the standard armament of this type of battleship. The second was a completely new ship, launched in 1789, but its dimensions (first of all, the keel length given in Turkish sources is 42 meters) for some reason were less than the Mukkaddime-i Nusret (keel length 45.1 meters ), and corresponded to the length of the standard Turkish 72-gunner. For example, the 72-gun "Feyz-i Khuda" (built in 1789 in Sinop) - 41.7 meters, "Ankayi Bahri" - 41.7 meters. This suggests that the Bahr-i Zafer was either a 72-gunner, or it was overloaded with guns, making it an 82-gun flagship. Of the frigates, only the first six carried standard weapons, the rest had from 20 to 30 guns.

In general, despite a large number of ships, the real strength of the Hussein and Seydi-Ali squadron was small.

But back to the description of the battle. The north wind was blowing, Ushakov went backstay to the west in three marching columns, the Turks stood behind Cape Kaliakria with three columns from the southeast to the northwest.

The Russian admiral did not line up and at 14.45, having passed Cape Kaliakria, led his columns between the Turkish batteries on the coast and the Ottoman fleet still at anchor. This decision plunged the Turks into a panic - some of the ships began to cut the ropes and fall out into the wind, trying to build a line. Seydi-Ali's "Mukkaddime-i Nusret" was the first to follow, Hussein tried to hold on to him, but "Bahr-i Zafer" had a shortage in the crew and soon fell behind. Ushakov on the "Christmas of Christ" passed in front of the nose of the Algerian, fired a longitudinal volley, damaged the bowsprit of the enemy, went astern and smashed the rudder to smithereens. The two ships following the Mukkaddime-i Nusret covered their admiral and helped Seydi-Ali escape into the wind. Soon several more Ottoman ships approached, and the Nativity of Christ had to fight on both sides with four battleships. Gradually, other Russian ships entered the battle - "Saint Alexander Nevsky", "John the Baptist", "Fedor Stratilat". "Navarikhiya Ascension of the Lord" under the command of Senyavin kept a little distance, but hit three enemy frigates with full volleys. The 66-gun "Mary Magdalene" fought with two Turkish ships.

At about 15.15 Ushakov again attacked Mukkaddime-i Nusret, but he was able to leave. The Turks were still able to line up, the Russians also reorganized into a wake column by 16.30 and the battle flared up with renewed vigor. During this time, the "Christmas" tried to knock out the line and sink the "Mukkaddime-i Nusret", the most powerful ship of the Turkish fleet, which Ushakov considered the flagship ("kapudaniye"), By 20.30 on the "sultan" they were able to shoot down the fore topmast, grotto-ray , the Seydi-Ali ship fell out of the line, went under the protection of two frigates and began to move away from the battlefield, thereby giving a signal to the rest of the Turkish ships to flee; the Algerian admiral himself was badly wounded.

Ushakov, carried away by the battle, found himself with his ship in the middle of the Turkish fleet, with the left side he fought off two large frigates, and from the stern and starboard side he was attacked by two Turkish battleships, but soon lagging forward ships came to his rescue - "Saint Alexander Nevsky" , "John the Baptist" and "Theodore Stratilat". At 20.00 in the thickening darkness and smoke, the defeated Turkish squadron hastily left the battlefield. At 20.30 smoke enveloped the entire place of the battle, the battle stopped.

Well, now the Turkish version.

When Ushakov discovered the Ottoman fleet, he blew the NNE, which was unfavorable for the Turks. Hussein wanted to win the wind and ordered to cut the ropes, while Seydi-Ali with Tunisian and Algerian ships, not listening to the orders of Kapudan Pasha, drifted south, and thereby split the fleet into two groups. Hussein immediately raised a signal to the corsair, ordering him to return and attack the enemy together, but Seydi-Ali, most likely following the favorite tactics of the corsair, decided to attack the Russian vanguard and cut him off. But it turned out that the Russian avant-garde was made up of the strongest courts, and soon Seydi-Ali himself was surrounded and cut off from the main forces. Part of the Turkish ships came to the aid of the Algerian and were able to save him, however, due to the rash act of Hussein's “patron”, the Ottoman fleet broke the battle formation.

Nevertheless, by 15.00, they managed to build some semblance of a line, and although Ushakov, with the help of Seydi-Ali, cut the Ottoman squadron in two, none of the Turkish ships left the battlefield and they were able to repulse the Russian attack, albeit with heavy losses for themselves. Twilight parted the fleets, Hussein ordered to be repaired and the next day to continue the battle, but Seydi-Ali played a destructive role here too. The fact is that the Mukkaddime-i Nusret was seriously damaged, Seydi himself was seriously wounded, the loss of killed and wounded in the crew amounted to a third of the crew, and the captain of the ship (from Algerians) arbitrarily headed for Constantinople. The example of the "patron" was followed by 7 or 8 Ottoman ships, Hussein's attempts to stop them with signals and return them to the squadron were simply ignored. Nevertheless, Kapudan Pasha planned to attack the Russians with the remaining ships on August 1, believing that they were also badly damaged after the battle, but the storm that had begun prevented these plans. The Turkish squadron headed for Constantinople.

Sultan Selim III was furious with the results of the battle. In response to Hussein's request to put the ships out to sea again, he replied: “My fleet commander and the captains of my ships simply insulted me. I did not expect such behavior from them. Woe to my respect that I had for them!” Potemkin, having received news of this victory, tore up the already signed treaty and dictated to the Turks a new one, more beneficial for Russia.

After the battle at Kaliakria, the Ottoman Empire realized that the war was lost. Couriers were urgently sent to the Turkish representatives at the peace talks in Iasi to sign a truce with Russia on any terms. They frantically began to strengthen the approaches to the Bosphorus and the fortresses of the Straits - they were seriously afraid of Russian landings.

Turkish naval power was finally broken.

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Battle of Cape Kaliakria on July 31, 1791

Despite a number of heavy defeats on land and at sea in the campaign of 1790, the Ottoman Empire not only remained determined to continue the fight, but also accumulated significant reserves to replenish the army and navy. Back in the autumn of 1790, 14 ships arrived in Constantinople from Algeria and Tunisia, the rulers of which were vassals of the Turkish Sultan. By the spring of 1791, the Turkish fleet had been reinforced with three new ships of the line and two ships of the line converted from large Egyptian merchant ships. Kapudan Pasha Hussein united under his command four squadrons with special flagships: Constantinople, Algeria, Tunisia and Tripolitan. The Algerian squadron was commanded by the well-known flagship Seyit-Ali in the Mediterranean, who wore red and green flags on the front masts of his ship.

Having collected up to 60 pennants, including 18 battleships, Hussein Pasha left the Bosporus at the end of May 1791 with the aim of inflicting a decisive defeat on the Russian fleet and, having gained dominance in the Black Sea, to support ground troops in Rumelia (European Turkey) and on the Caucasian coast. According to the testimonies of the prisoners, the Turkish admirals, no longer relying on artillery, were going to solve the matter in their favor by boarding, for which there were from 800 to 1500 crew members on each battleship.

Kapudan Pasha led his fleet to Varna and Kaliakria, and after stopping off the Rumelia coast on June 28, he appeared in sight of Balaklava, at a distance of more than 15 miles from the coast. From here he went to Anapa, not knowing that on June 21 this seaside city was taken Russian troops. Convinced of this sad fact, Huseyin Pasha turned back, not yet suspecting that his fleet remained the last hope of the Ottoman Empire. It was on the day of the appearance of Turkish ships off the coast of Crimea - June 28, 1791 - that the main forces of the Sultan's army on the Danube were defeated in the Battle of Machinsk by the army of General-in-Chief Prince N.V. Repnin. The Grand Vizier, late for the battle, entered into peace negotiations with Repnin, but dragged them out in every possible way, hoping for the success of his fleet.

The significance of the fleet in the war was also understood by the Russian High Command. So, by order of May 11, 1791, Field Marshal G.A. Potemkin set Ushakov the task, after the end of the spring storms, to “go to sea”, find the Turkish fleet and gain dominance in the Black Sea, preventing the enemy from reaching his coast. “Ask for God's help,” wrote Potemkin, “direct to the Rumelian shores, and if you find an enemy anywhere, attack with God” (49). Thus, offensive tasks were assigned to the fleets of both opponents.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet under the command of Rear Admiral F.F. Ushakov, consisting of 16 battleships and 29 other ships, went to sea on July 10. Its exit was delayed by the poverty of supplies, the unavailability of several ships, especially the ship John the Baptist (formerly the Meleki-Bakhri), the lack of reliable information about the enemy, and after June 28, contrary winds. F.F. Ushakov led the fleet in search of the enemy towards Anapa and on July 12 met Hussein Pasha's fleet south of Balaklava. Despite the superiority of the enemy forces, the Russian commander, having given verbal instructions to his commanders, decided to attack.

Scheme 6. The battle at Cape Kaliakria on July 31, 1791. The scheme was compiled by the author based on the developments of Fr. Dmitry (Shmelev)

For three days, with variable low winds, the enemy fleets maneuvered, trying to take a windward position. F.F. Ushakov managed to win the wind three times and catch up with the Turks, but each time the admiral did not have time to join his lagging ships, of which the 58-gun "Leonty Martyr" (former Turkish) was so inferior to the best walkers - the ships "Christmas" and "John the Baptist" that it took him up to 7 hours to join the line. Seeing that the weather conditions (light wind) would not allow him to quickly collect the entire fleet, and not wanting to commit his forces to battle in parts, F.F. Ushakov returned to Sevastopol on July 15.

On July 29, 1791, the Russian Black Sea Fleet again went to sea and headed in search of the enemy to the shores of Rumelia. On July 31, the Turkish fleet was found anchored off the coast at Cape Kaliakria, where a coastal battery was built to cover its anchorage.

Kapudan Pasha had at his disposal 18 battleships (including 9 flagships, no less than 1240 guns in total), 10 large and 7 small frigates, 43 bombardment, small cruiser ships and floating batteries. The total number of guns on the ships of the Turkish fleet exceeded 2,000, the personnel reached 20,000 people, including 4,000 Algerian sailors. Three British artillery instructors were present on Hussein's flagship, and there were foreign gunners on other ships.

The Russian fleet consisted of 16 battleships (including two 80-gun ships, 920 guns in total), 2 frigates, 2 bombardment ships, 17 small cruisers, one rehearsal ship and a firewall. The Russians had some more than 1,000 guns and 9,500 personnel. Thus, the Turks had a significant overall superiority of forces with a battle line firepower ratio of 1.35:1.

Intending to win the wind blowing from the shore, and also to take full advantage of the suddenness of his appearance, F.F. Ushakov, in the march formation of three wake columns, headed between the coast and the enemy fleet. The Turkish ships hurriedly cut the ropes, set sail and descended into the wind. In the confusion, several ships collided, one of them collapsed the mizzen mast, and the other broke his bowsprit. The latter soon disappeared in the direction of Varna, weakening the Turkish line. Unable to wait for some of his teams sent ashore, Kapudan Pasha tried to build a battle line and soon gathered several ships of the line on the starboard tack. However, the more energetic and skillful Seyit-Ali, without losing hope of winning the wind again, took the opposite course and led most of the fleet on the left tack. Kapudan Pasha soon followed him.

F.F. Ushakov, passing under the shots of the coastal battery and finding himself in the wind, rebuilt his fleet in the battle line of the port tack, ordering with signals "add sails" and "carry all possible sails." To speed up the maneuver, the corps de battle lined up at the head of the column; behind it, following their squadron commanders, the vanguard and rearguard were built.

The battle line of the Russian fleet

1. 80-gun (actually 78 guns) "Christmas" (captain 1st rank M.M. Elchaninov), flag of the fleet commander Rear Admiral F.F. Ushakov.

2. 74-gun (82) "John the Baptist" (captain 1st rank A. G. Baranov).

3. 46-gun (46) "Fyodor Stratilat" (Captain 1st rank I.A. Selivachev).

4. 50-gun (50) "St. Andrew the First-Called" (Captain 2nd rank E.P. Sarandinaki).

5. 50-gun (50) "Saint Alexander Nevsky" (captain 1st rank N.L. Yazykov).

6. 66-gun (68) "Mary Magdalene" (Captain 1st Rank A. Ishin), the pennant of the vanguard commander, Captain Major General G.K. Golenkin.

7. 50-gun (50) "George the Victorious" (captain 1st rank M.I. Cefaliano).

8. 46-gun (44) "Navarchia Ascension of the Lord" (adjutant general D.N. Senyavin).

9. 46-gun (46) "Tsar Konstantin" (captain 2nd rank I.I. Oznobishin).

10.50-gun (50) "Saint Nicholas" (Adjutant General M.I. Lvov).

11.46-gun (46) "Peter the Apostle" (captain 1st rank F.Ya. Zaostrovsky).

12.66-gun (70) "Saint Vladimir" (braid pennant of the captain of the brigadier rank P.V. Pustoshkin).

13. 58-gun (58) "Saint Leonty the Martyr" (captain 1st rank A. Obolyaninov).

14. 66-gun (68) "Transfiguration of the Lord" (captain 1st rank N.P. Kumani).

15.66-gun (70) "St. Paul" (captain 1st rank K.A. Shapilov).

16.46-gun (46) "John the Theologian" (captain 2nd rank F.V. Shishmarev). Total: 16 battleships with 920 guns and more than 7,700 crew members.

When approaching, Ushakov noticed that Seyit-Ali, with the two ships following him, “hurried to separate forward, winning the wind” (that is, steeper to the wind, trying to take a windward position). To prevent this maneuver, the Russian commander on the ship "Rozhdestvo Khristovo" left the line at the head of the formation and from a distance of only half a cable (about 90 m) he himself attacked the Seyit-Ali ship, "bypassing it somewhat from the bow."

On the signals to “close the distance” and “go down to the enemy”, the entire line of battle of the Russian fleet approached the enemy and at about 1700 entered the battle. Under fire from the Nativity of Christ ship, Seyit-Ali's flagship soon lost its topmast and maintopsail and began to descend into the wind, evading the line of its fleet. Boarding ladders and gilded stern decorations, prepared for use, but shot down by cannonballs, flew overboard from it. Ushakov, forcing the vice admiral's ship and two frigates covering their flagship to retreat, pursued the Algerian admiral's ship and fought on both sides for some time. Here the commander of the fleet was supported by the commanders of the advanced ships of the corps debatalia, captains of the 1st rank N.L. Yazykov (“Alexander Nevsky”), A.G. Baranov ("John the Baptist") and I.A. Selivachev ("Fyodor Stratilat"), who "surrounded the advanced" in the Turkish line and hit them with fire from a short distance.

No longer thinking about boarding, the commanders of the ships of the Ottoman fleet, following the example of their admirals, at about 17:45 rushed into the wind and began a disorderly retreat. The Russian fleet pursued them, "constrained by a bunch", and ceased fire only at 20:30 in the evening. The onset of darkness and a change in the wind saved the Turks from complete defeat and capture of the most damaged ships. On the morning of August 1, Russian sailors observed the Turkish fleet running to the Bosphorus only from the Salings and F.F. Ushakov, taking into account the driving performance of the ships of his fleet and the need for minor repairs, refused to further pursue the enemy with the main forces. The Sevastopol fleet anchored under the shore to repair the damage. The 36-gun frigate Macroplia Saint Mark and cruisers were sent in pursuit, which drove ashore and sank several transports loaded with food and captured 4 Turkish cruisers, which, however, had to be flooded due to severe damage. On August 2, Lieutenant I. Zvorono, on the cruiser ship Panagia Apotumegany, forced her to throw herself ashore and sank a Turkish shebeka, removing two copper cannons and a stern flag from her.

August 8, 1791 F.F. Ushakov, heading to Varna, received news of the conclusion of a truce with the Turks on July 31 (on the day of the battle!) And on August 12 he returned to Sevastopol.

At the Battle of Kaliakria Russian fleet lost 17 lower ranks killed and 28 people (including 3 officers) wounded. The ships received minor damage in the spars and rigging, only the 50-gun "Saint Alexander Nevsky" was pierced by cannonballs in the underwater part.

The losses of the Turkish fleet, except for the sunk 5 small cruisers and several transports, are not exactly known. Damaged Turkish ships and frigates dispersed and took refuge in various points of the Anatolian and Rumeli coasts. Only Seyit-Ali immediately reached the Bosphorus with six ships, the deplorable appearance of which immediately deprived Sultan Selim III of his last hope of winning the war. Kapudan Pasha Hussein appeared in the capital only after a long search. Considering that the 80-gun ship Seyit-Ali had 450 killed and wounded on board (information from the supreme vizier), the total loss of the Turkish fleet in personnel can be assumed to be at least 1300 people. The main thing is that the combat capability of the fleet and the morale of the sailors were finally undermined. G.A. Potemkin wrote after Kaliakria: “The fear of her weapons imperial majesty spread all over the coast to the Ottoman capital".

Dominance at sea passed to the Russian fleet, this determined the strategic importance of the victory on July 31, influencing the position of the Turks in peace negotiations. The Yassy peace treaty, concluded on December 29, 1791, “secured for Russia the possession of the entire northern Black Sea coast from the Dniester to the Kuban, including the Crimea, and strengthened its political positions in relations with Turkey” (50) .

As in the battle at Fr. Tendra August 28–29, 1790, F.F. Ushakov under Kaliakria had an active offensive character, and the originality of tactical methods extremely exactly corresponded to the situation. The maneuvers of passage between the shore and the enemy and the withdrawal of the corps de battle, and then the flagship itself, into the head of the fleet allowed the admiral to take advantage of surprise and win the wind, thereby retaining the initiative in attacking the enemy. Main blow F.F. Ushakov fell on the head of the Turkish fleet and, in particular, on the flagship of Seyit-Ali, the most capable and enterprising enemy admiral. The defeat of the latter predetermined the flight of the entire Ottoman fleet. The method of conducting combat by Russian ships is also noteworthy - an artillery attack from a windward position at a distance of about half a cable. This method made it possible to oppose the enemy forte- rely on the best training of commanders and avoid the desired boarding by the Turks.

After the battle in Constantinople, there were disturbing rumors about the possibility of the appearance of the formidable "Ushak Pasha" near the Bosphorus itself. One can only speculate why F.F. Ushakov really did not go to the strait, at least with the aim of intercepting the defeated enemy fleet. Perhaps he considered the strategic goal achieved in the battle itself, or did not want to expose his fleet to chance. It is possible that the admiral generally underestimated the blockade, or even considered it unbearable for his fleet, although the power of the Sevastopol fleet was now incomparably greater than at the beginning of the war. In any case, in the campaigns of 1790 and 1791, Ushakov strove to keep the fleet united, to go to sea only with confidence in the appearance of the main enemy forces and counting on a general battle in favorable conditions for himself.

For the victory at Kaliakria F.F. Ushakov was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. According to him, one of the junior flagships, foreman P.V. Pustoshkin - became a Knight of the Order of St. George 3rd degree. George of the 4th degree were awarded to distinguished ship commanders - captains of the 1st rank A.G. Baranov, I.A. Selivachev, M.I. Cefaliano ("St. George the Victorious"), captains of the 2nd rank F.V. Shishmarev ("John the Theologian"), I.I. Oznobishin (“Tsar Konstantin”), E.P. Sarandinaki ("St. Andrew the First-Called"). Five commanders and three other staff officers were awarded golden swords, a fleet veteran - captain 1st rank N.P. Kumani - Order of St. Vladimir 3rd degree. Vladimir of the 4th degree was awarded to the commanders of frigates and captain-lieutenants of battleships. The lower ranks, by decree of Catherine II, received one ruble each, and then oval silver medals with the inscription "To the winners at peace on December 29, 1791."

It is interesting to note that not without the influence of F.F. Ushakov, three of his commanders were “passed around” with orders. These were captains of the 1st rank F.Ya. Zaostrovsky ("Peter the Apostle"), A.A. Obolyaninov ("Leonty the Martyr") and Adjutant General D.N. Senyavin ("Navarchia Ascension of the Lord"). Although, judging by the admiral's report, these officers "also showed bravery and courage" (!), but "were not as close to the enemy line as the others" (?). Dissatisfaction with F.F. Ushakov as the youngest commander - D.N. Senyavin - is quite understandable in the light of the well-known conflict between these two outstanding sailors of our fleet. On the other hand, two other brave and courageous, according to Ushakov himself, commanders, "not so close to the enemy line", previously distinguished themselves as an admiral on the positive side: F.Ya. Zaostrovsky, for example, had an order for Tendra.

In turn, the sudden death of Prince G.A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky had a negative impact on the subsequent career of F.F. Ushakov. After the war, the winner of the Turks at Kerch, Tendra and Kaliakria, the most talented, energetic and independent of all Russian admirals of that time, not only did not receive the next rank (and seniority) for his distinctions, remaining "in the shadow" of his Baltic colleagues, but also became a subordinate of the returned to the Black Sea Fleet of Vice Admiral N.S. Mordvinova. True, F.F. Ushakov remained in Sevastopol at the head of the naval fleet, which allowed him to maintain the continuity of the traditions of his school, the school of naval training, which glorified the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean campaigns late XVIII - early XIX centuries.

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This day in history:

Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov about the naval battle at Cape Kaliakria.

July, 1791 ... July 29 with the fleet entrusted to me, I went to sea and among the sixteen ships, two bombardment, two frigates ... and seventeen cruisers, to search for the enemy fleet ... On the 31st I saw it anchored in line at Kaliakria * against Cape Kalerah-Burnu under the cover of a coastal battery made on it. I, with the fleet under the shots of it, passed near the very coast and, cutting it off from the coast, being in the wind, hastened to attack.

The enemy, frightened by the unexpected arrival of our fleet, having lost the wind, cut off the anchors, lay down on the sails, and, being in confusion, some ships converged with each other in a fairly strong wind and at two the same hour there was damage ... The enemy fleet was among eighteen large ships ..., ten large linear frigates, seven small and numerous small ships of various kinds ....

Our leading ships, which were behind me, "Alexander", "Forerunner" and "Fedor Stratilat", following my command, went down from the wind, surrounded the leading enemy ships and with great vivacity fired on them and along the entire fleet, uninterrupted fire, and between meanwhile, the ship "Christmas of Christ", descending behind the stern of the "Fyodor Stratilat", hurried to approach the ship Sait-Ali * running into the middle of the fleet, so as not to let it go, and fired heavily on it and along the entire enemy fleet. who, from following our entire line behind the advanced ones, was very beaten, mixed up and so constrained. that the enemy ships themselves beat each other with their shots. Our fleet, with its entire line of forward and rear ships, completely surrounded it and fired fierce fire with such excellent vivacity that ... forced many ships to take cover one after another, and the enemy fleet at the beginning of night darkness was already completely defeated to the extreme ..., and our fleet, having closed the distance, drove and beat him with continuous fire with bow guns ...

According to the reports of the commanders, during the battle, non-commissioned officers 1, privates 16, wounded captain-lieutenant Ganzer, lieutenant Golovachev, navigator warrant officer rank Zhmukhin, non-commissioned officers 2, privates 23, only 28 people were killed during the battle ...

The Battle of Kaliakria is the last naval battle of the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791 between the fleets of Russia and the Ottoman Empire, which took place on July 31 (August 11), 1791 in the Black Sea near Cape Kaliakra (northern Bulgaria). The Russian fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Fyodor Fyodorovich Ushakov, consisting of 15 battleships, 2 frigates and 19 smaller ships (990 guns) met with the combined Turkish-Algerian fleet (Kapudan Pasha Hussein and Algerian Pasha Said-Ali) consisting of 18 battleships , 17 frigates (1500-1600 guns) and a large number of smaller vessels. The Ottoman fleet, after a short cruising in the Black Sea, concentrated near Varna in early July, and then moved on to Kaliakria, where it anchored. July 31 was the holiday of Ramadan, and part of the ship's crews were released ashore. Suddenly, quite unexpectedly, the Russian fleet appeared on the horizon (left Sevastopol on July 28 (August 8)), under full sail, rapidly descending (under the north wind) on the Turks.

Ushakov had 15 battleships, 2 frigates and 2 bombardment ships (about 1000 guns) in the line; the fleet was in the march formation of 3 wake columns; seeing the Turks, Ushakov did not even give himself time to reorganize into the battle line, thus retreating from the traditionally sanctified receptions, passed around 14:45, from the northeast between the Ottoman fleet and the cape, despite the fact that Turkish batteries were located on the cape , under the fire of these batteries and swiftly attacked the Turks. Signals fluttered on the admiral's ship: "add sails", and then "carry all kinds of sails."

The Turks (18 battleships, 10 battleships and 7 small frigates), who did not expect an attack at all and lost, thanks to Ushakov's maneuver, the wind, hastily cut the ropes and tried to build a battle line on the left tack; at the same time, some ships piled on top of each other, and on one ship the mizzen mast collapsed, and the other tore off its bowsprit.

Meanwhile, the Russian fleet also reorganized into a battle line on the port tack. The advanced Turkish ships and ahead of all the Algerian Admiral Said-Ali, having the best move, deviated somewhat to the left, apparently intending to go to the wind. Ushakov guessed this maneuver, on his flagship "Christmas Christ" (the best walker) left the line, overtook the head of his squadron and attacked Said-Ali from a distance of about half a cable; at the same time, the signal was given to the fleet to "go down to the enemy", and the battle began at the closest distances. At this time it was about 17 hours.

Said-Ali's ship soon lost the fore-topmast, main topsail, sails were knocked down on it, and he was forced to go down the line. Ushakov, carried away by the attack, found himself in the middle of the Turkish fleet; on the left side, he fought off 2 large frigates, and from the stern and from the starboard side he was attacked by 2 ships; Ushakov's position was very dangerous for some time, but soon the lagging advanced ships, Alexander, Forerunner and Fedor Stratilat, came to his rescue. By 20 o'clock the Turks were already completely defeated and, without any order, according to their ability, they fled with the wind. By 8:30 p.m., smoke covered the entire battlefield; the wind gradually died down, and the battle ceased.

After about 2 hours, the wind blew from the north-north-west, the Russian fleet lay on a course to the north-east and at midnight turned to another tack, hoping to go to the enemy's wind. They carried all possible sails, but at dawn on August 1, the enemy, retreating to Constantinople, was visible only from the Salings. All the shortcomings of the construction affected here Russian courts, from which the Turks, badly beaten, nevertheless left without difficulty (the French engineers built ships for the Turks). Having no hope of catching up with the enemy, Ushakov approached the shore and set about repairing the damage; after 2 days, he was already reporting to Potemkin that “the broken yardarms, topmasts, saddings were replaced with new ones, the holes were patched up, and the fleet is again in good condition.” On August 8, approaching Varna, Ushakov received a notice of a ceasefire and on August 12 returned to the Sevastopol raid.

In the battle, 17 lower ranks were killed on the Russian side, 3 officers and 25 lower ranks were wounded; the losses of the Turks are unknown, but the accurate shooting of Russian ships (Ushakov specially trained them for this) and a large number landing troops, planted on the ships of the Turkish fleet to rescue Anapa, allow us to conclude that these losses must be very high (on the ship Said-Ali - 450 people were killed and wounded). Part of the Turkish fleet scattered along the Anatolian and Rumeli coasts; one Algerian squadron was able to reach Constantinople and entered there at night: at the same time, the flagship Said-Ali began to sink and demanded help with cannon shots. The fate of Kapudan Pasha was unknown for a long time. Rumors spread about Ushakov's readiness to attack Constantinople. All this made a very painful impression on the Ottoman government and hastened the end of the Russian-Turkish war, which ended with the signing of the Iasi peace treaty.

Throughout the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries, Russia and Turkey waged uninterrupted wars. If Russia was rushing to the coast of the Black Sea, then the Ottoman Empire, for which the Black Sea was an inland lake, did not want to let it go there. The Iasi Peace Treaty, signed by representatives of the two empires at the end of Russian-Turkish war 1787–1791. And the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Rear Admiral Fyodor Ushakov, managed to put a bullet in this conflict, who gave the enemy a decisive battle at Cape Kaliakria on July 31, 1791.

Before and at the beginning of the war

By the beginning of the next Russian-Turkish war (1787–1791), the following situation had developed. In 1783, Russia liquidated the Crimean Khanate and occupied the Crimean peninsula. The newly annexed possessions began to be called Tauris. The favorite of the Empress Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin, the Most Serene Prince of Tauride, had to take care of the settlement of these lands, the development of the economy, the construction of cities, ports and fortresses. The Russians began to create a fleet in the Black Sea, the main base of which was Sevastopol.

On July 24 (August 4, according to the new style), 1783, an agreement was concluded on the patronage and supreme power of Russia with the united Georgian kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti, according to which Eastern Georgia came under the protectorate of Russia. The treaty sharply weakened the positions of Persia and Turkey in Transcaucasia, formally destroying their claims to Eastern Georgia.

In 1787, Empress Catherine II, accompanied by representatives of foreign courts and her ally, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, made a triumphant trip to the Crimea. This event stirred up public opinion in Istanbul. From scratch, wild rumors arose: they say that the empress wants to destroy the Ottoman Empire and create Byzantium on its ruins, in whose kings Catherine's grandson Constantine was already predicted. On the site of Wallachia, it was allegedly supposed to create the kingdom of Dacia, where Potemkin would rule. In compensation for participation in the war, Austria will be given Bosnia and Dalmatia, and Venice - Morea, Cyprus and Crete.

Revanchist sentiment in Istanbul was fueled by the British ambassador's statement that Britain would support the Ottoman Empire if it started a war against Russia. In the same year, Turkey, with the support of Great Britain, France and Prussia, put forward an ultimatum to the Russian Empire, demanding the restoration of the vassalage of the Crimean Khanate and Georgia. Also, the Ottoman Empire sought permission from Russia to inspect ships passing through the Bosporus and Dardanelles. On August 13, 1787, Türkiye, having received a refusal, declared war on Russia.

The war turned out to be unsuccessful for the initiator: the Ottoman landing was repulsed near Kinburn, Russian troops took Ochakov, Bender and Khotyn, defeated the Muslims at Rymnik and Fokshtany, and in 1790, under the command of Suvorov, they stormed and captured the strongest fortress Izmail. At sea, the Turks were defeated by the sailing and rowing fleets of the Russian Empire at Liman, near Fidonisi, in the Kerch Strait and at Cape Tendra. The Russians seized the initiative and confidently marched to victory.

Ottoman fleet preparing for action

To turn the tide at sea, from the end of April 1790, the Ottoman fleet was increased and a year later it consisted of 19 battleships, 17 frigates and 43 small ships. In 1791 sailors from North Africa arrived here. Russian historians have an opinion that squadrons of ships arrived from Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, etc., but this is fundamentally wrong. The largest fleet in North Africa, the Algerian, in the years 1787-1790 had as many as nine shebeks (the armament of the ships consisted of 10 to 36 light guns) and as many as two rowing galliots. At the same time, in 1790, only four small ships were armed, on which there were 36 guns in total. One frigate was under construction, and two more were promised by the Sultan. The remaining "fleets" of North Africa were smaller than the Algerian. Only in 1792 did a squadron of Algerian ships go to Istanbul. However, two Algerian and one Tunisian xebecs are mentioned in the 1791 fleet.

The sultan was forced to turn to the Africans for help by heavy losses and desertion in the crews of Ottoman ships in 1788-1790. The Turks took this step only because of urgent need: African corsairs were poorly disciplined, acted without permission, often rebelled and killed their officers.

At the beginning of May 1791, the Muslim fleet: 20 ships, 25 frigates, six shebeks, five bombing ships, ten Kirlangichs and 15 transports - went to sea. He was supposed to deliver reinforcements to Anapa, which was surrounded by Russian troops, and not allow this fortress to be blocked from the sea. In June, the Russian Black Sea Fleet received a message from General Gudovich, who was besieging Anapa, that a large Turkish fleet had appeared near the Dniester estuary. On June 10, Rear Admiral Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov launched a squadron into the sea: 16 ships, two frigates, three bombardment ships, nine cruisers, 13 brigantines and three fireships. Well, then the fun begins.

The fact is that our reader is familiar in all details only with the Russian version of further events. Turkish sources in the studies were either ignored completely or were not available. Now there is an opportunity to get acquainted with them. Therefore, below we will give two versions of events. The Turkish one is based on the books of historians Idris Bostan, Tunj Zorlu and Ali Riza Isipek, while the Russian data is based on documents from the MIRF (Materials for the History of the Russian Navy in 17 volumes), books by Vladimir Ovchinnikov, Roger Charles Anderson and articles from the Marine Atlas.

Meeting of two fleets

According to the Russian version, on June 11, 1791, Ushakov spotted an enemy fleet at Cape Aya on the southern coast of Crimea. The Turks did not accept the battle and headed south. Ushakov chased them for four days, but did not overtake them. According to the Turkish historian Isipek, both sides began to prepare for battle, but they were prevented by a complete calm that lasted four days. Then the wind blew from the Russian side. Ushakov estimated the enemy forces at 18 battleships, ten heavy and seven light frigates, as well as 22 small ships - a total of 57 units. The rear admiral had the opportunity to get close to the Ottomans, but did not dare. The Russian commander explained his decision by the fact that after a four-day chase he had only ten battleships out of sixteen (six were carried to the sea due to breakdowns in the spars and overgrown bottoms). The Turks believe that the Russian fleet was scattered, while the Ottoman one kept compact, which forced Ushakov to retreat.

On June 16, the Russians returned to Sevastopol. Ushakov unsubscribed to Potemkin about the campaign, saying that in five to seven days he would repair the damage and again go out in search of the enemy. Repair meanwhile dragged on for a month. On July 23, Count Voinovich, commander-in-chief of the Black Sea Fleet and the port of Sevastopol, was dismissed. Ushakov became the sovereign leader of not only the squadron, but the entire fleet. On July 29, he reported to Potemkin that the repair of the ships was completed and he was ready to go to sea. In the morning, 16 ships of the line, two bombardment ships, two frigates, one fireship, one repetitive ship and 17 cruisers left the port and went in search of the Ottoman fleet.

The composition of the Ushakov squadron:

Name	guns	Notes
"Nativity"		Flag of Rear Admiral Ushakov
"John the Baptist"
"Mary Magdalene"		Flag of Brigadier Golenkin
"Saint Vladimir"		Flag of Brigadier Captain Pustoshkin
"Saint Paul"
"Transfiguration"
"Saint George the Victorious"
"Saint Alexander Nevsky"
"Saint Andrew the First-Called"
"Saint John the Evangelist"
"Saint Peter the Apostle"
"King Constantine"
"Theodore Stratilat"
"Saint Leonty the Martyr"
"Navarchia Ascension of the Lord"
"St Nicholas"
"Saint Nestor the Reverend"
"Macroplius of Saint Mark"
One replica ship, two bombardment ships, 17 cruisers

The Turks, after maneuvers in June, withdrew to Cape Kaliakria on the modern Bulgarian Black Sea coast, where they dropped anchor. At noon on July 31, Ushakov discovered the Turkish fleet. The Ottomans were commanded by Kapudan Pasha Giritli Hussein, and the Algerian admiral Seydi-Ali (in Russian sources Said-Ali) was appointed his assistant, the main "patron".

The composition of the Ottoman squadron:

Name	guns(approximate number according to Turkish historians)	Notes
Battleships and lined up
"Mukkaddime-i Nusret"		Flag of Seydi Ali
"Bahr-i Zafer"		Flag of Kapudan Pasha Giritli Hussain
"Anka-yi Bahri"
"Feyz-i Huda"		Flag of the Turkish "patron" (vice admiral)
"Nuwied-i Futtuch"		The flag of the Turkish "riyal" (rear admiral)
"Hilal-i Zafer"
"Fethul-Fettah"
"Messudiyeh"
"Inayat-i Hakk"
"Ukab-i Bahri"
"Bed-i Nusret"
"Burj-i Zafer"		Flag of the "Patron Tunus" (Tunisian Vice Admiral)
"Shehbaz-i Bahri"
"Tevfik-ul Ilah"
"Fatih-i Bahri"		Flag of "Riyale Jezair" (Algerian Rear Admiral)
"Beshir-i Zafer"
"Feda-i Nusret"		chartered ship
"Umman-i Bahri"		chartered ship
"Kelem-Bahri"		Privatir, Flag of the "Patron Jezair" (Algerian Vice Admiral)
"Tunus Ibrahim-kapudan"		Privateer with Tunisian crew
Frigates and privateers
"Bulad-i Bahri"
"Jeyran-i Bahri"
"Dad-i Haqq"
"Mazhar-i Saadet"
"Mazhar-i Hidayet"
"Bais-i Nusret"


"Tevfik-i Khuda"
"Khediye-i Hakimi Fas"
"Rehber-i Nusret"
"Khediye-i Devlet"
"Bidat-ul Futuh"
"Nedjm-i Zafer"
"Sayyad-i Bahri"
"Berid-i Futukh"
"Kaid-i Zafer"
"Kaplan-Bashly"
Peik-i Nusret
"Tujar"		Firkata (frigate; used in the meaning of a privateer or cruising ship, that is, a ship intended for robbery and privateering)
"Eski Moskov Aktarmasi"



"Midilli"
"Yeni Tylsym-Bakhri"		Bombardier ship
"Berk-i Hafiz"		Bombardier ship
"Rad-i Bahri"		Bombardier ship
"Shihab-i Hafiz"		Bombardier ship
"Sagir Kuchuk"		Bombardier ship
Algerian and Tunisian xebek squadrons
Peik-i Zafer
"Hisn-i Ghazat"
"Merich-i Bahri"
"Tunus Riyale"		Tunisian xebec
"Jezair Patrona"		Algerian xebec
"Jezair Riyaleh"		Algerian xebec
Five bombing vessels, ten kirlangichs, 15 small vessels

Turkish squadron

The first thing that catches your eye in the above list is an overly large collection of ships of different ranks and different combat values, spiced with a large number of irregular crews who clashed with regular sailors: the Barbary pirates were Shiites, while the main population of the Ottoman Empire, from which the fleet was completed, adhered to Sunnism. The Turks themselves estimate their squadron at 20 ships, 25 frigates, six shebeks, five bombing ships, ten Kirlangichs and 15 transports, while Ushakov, in a report to Potemkin dated August 5, 1791, reported 18 ships, 17 frigates and many small ships. In principle, there is no particular discrepancy, given that the Turks refer to the Kelem-Bakhri and Tunus Ibrahim-Kapudan as battleships, although, most likely, they were chartered large Turkish private ships.

By far the strongest in the Turkish squadron were the 74-gun Mukkaddime-i Nusret and the 72- or 82-gun Bahr-i Zafer. The first of the mentioned battleships, built by French shipbuilders according to French drawings, was launched in Istanbul in 1787. It was a standard 74-gun, two-decker ship with, most likely, the standard armament of this type of battleship. The second, the Bahr-i Zafer, was a completely new ship launched in 1789. Its dimensions - first of all, the length along the keel, given in Turkish sources as equal to 42 m - for some reason were less than the "Mukkaddime-i Nusret" (length along the keel 45.1 m) and corresponded to the length of the standard Turkish 72-gunner. For example, the 72-gun Feyz-i Huda, built in 1789 in Sinop, and the Anka-yi Bahri had a length of 41.7 m. This suggests that the Bahr-i Zafer was still either 72 -gunner, or it was overloaded with guns, making it an 82-gun flagship.

Of the frigates, only the first six carried standard weapons, while the rest had from 20 to 30 guns. In general, despite the large number of ships, the real strength of the Hussein and Seydi-Ali squadron was small.

But back to the description of the battle. The north wind was blowing. Ushakov went backstay to the west in three marching columns. The Turks stood behind Cape Kaliakria in three columns from the southeast to the northwest.

Battle of Kaliakria: Russian version

Rear Admiral Ushakov did not line up. At 14:45, passing Cape Kaliakria, he led his columns between the Turkish batteries on the coast and the Ottoman fleet still at anchor. This act threw the enemy into a panic. Some Turkish ships began to cut ropes and fall out into the wind, trying to build a line. Seydi-Ali's "Mukkaddime-i Nusret" was the first to follow, Hussein tried to hold on to him, but "Bahr-i Zafer" had a shortage in the crew and soon fell behind. Ushakov on the battleship "Christmas of Christ" passed in front of the nose of the Algerian, fired a longitudinal salvo, damaged the enemy's bowsprit, went astern and smashed his rudder to smithereens. The two ships following the Mukkaddime-i Nusret covered their admiral and helped Seydi-Ali to go downwind.

Soon several more Ottoman ships approached, and the Nativity of Christ had to fight on both sides with four battleships. Gradually, other Russian ships entered the battle: "Saint Alexander Nevsky", "John the Baptist" and "Theodore Stratilat". "Navarchia Ascension of the Lord" under the command of Dmitry Senyavin kept a little distance, but hit three enemy frigates with full volleys. The 66-gunner "Mary Magdalene" fought with two Turkish ships.

At about 15:15 Ushakov again attacked Mukkaddime-i Nusret, but he was able to leave. The Turks still lined up. By 16:30, the Russians also reorganized into a wake column, and the battle flared up with renewed vigor. During this time, the "Christmas" tried to knock out of the line and sink the "Mukkaddime-i Nusret" - the most powerful ship of the Turkish fleet, which Ushakov considered the flagship ("kapudaniye"). By 20:30, they managed to shoot down the fore-topmast and the main-rai. The Seydi-Ali ship fell out of the line, went under the protection of two frigates and began to move away from the battlefield, thereby giving a signal to the rest of the Turkish ships to flee. The Algerian admiral himself was seriously wounded.

Ushakov, carried away by the battle, found himself with his ship in the middle of the Turkish fleet. On the left side, he fought off two large frigates, and from the stern and starboard side he was attacked by two Turkish battleships. But soon the lagging forward ships St. Alexander Nevsky, John the Baptist and Theodore Stratilat came to the rear admiral's rescue. At 20:00, in the thickening darkness and smoke, the defeated Turkish squadron hastily left the battlefield. At 20:30, smoke enveloped the battlefield. The fight has stopped.

Battle of Kaliakria: Turkish version

When Ushakov discovered the Ottoman fleet, a north-north-east wind was blowing, unfavorable for the Turks. Hussein ordered the ropes to be cut. However, Seydi-Ali with Tunisian and Algerian ships, not listening to the orders of Kapudan Pasha, drifted south and thereby split the fleet into two groups. Hussein immediately gave the corsair a signal, ordering him to return and attack the enemy together. However, Seydi-Ali, most likely following the favorite tactics of the corsairs, decided to attack Ushakov's vanguard and cut it off. But it turned out that the Russian avant-garde consisted of the strongest ships, and soon Seydi-Ali himself was surrounded and cut off from the main forces. Part of the Turkish ships came to the aid of the Algerian and were able to save him, however, due to the rash act of the "patron" Hussein, the Ottoman fleet broke the battle formation.

By 15:00, the Turks were able to build some semblance of a line. Although Ushakov, with the help of Seydi-Ali, cut the Ottoman squadron in two, none of the Turkish ships left the battlefield. They repulsed the Russian attack, albeit with heavy losses for themselves. Twilight parted the fleets. Hussein ordered to repair and continue the battle the next day, but Seydi-Ali played a destructive role here too.

"Mukkaddime-i Nusret" was heavily damaged, Seydi himself was seriously wounded, the loss of killed and wounded in the crew amounted to a third of the team. The captain of the ship, an Algerian, arbitrarily headed for Constantinople. The example of the "patron" was followed by seven or eight Ottoman ships. Hussein's attempts to stop them with signals and return them to the squadron were simply ignored. Nevertheless, Kapudan Pasha planned to attack the Russians with the remaining ships on August 1, believing that they were also badly damaged after the battle. However, the onset of a storm interfered with these plans. The Turkish squadron headed for Constantinople.

Sultan Selim III, having learned the results of the battle, became furious. In response to Hussein's request to once again put the ships out to sea, he replied:

“My fleet commander and the captains of my ships simply insulted me. I did not expect such behavior from them. Woe to my respect that I had for them!”

Potemkin, having received news of this victory, tore up the already signed treaty and dictated to the Turks a new one, more beneficial for Russia.

After the battle at Kaliakria, the Ottoman Empire realized that the war was lost. Couriers were urgently sent to the Turkish representatives at the peace talks in Iasi with an order to sign a truce with Russia on any terms. The Ottomans, seriously fearing Russian landings, frantically began to strengthen the approaches to the Bosphorus and the fortresses of the Straits.

Turkish naval power was finally broken.

Russian victory Imperial Army near Izmail on December 11, 1790 was of great military and political importance. Turkey, under the influence of major defeats, began to lean towards the need for peace negotiations with Russia. Empress Catherine II also took measures to conclude peace, since Russia bore the heavy burden of the war in two theaters, about half a million recruits were taken into the army, and unrest broke out among the peasantry. Part of the British public, in order to prevent the further strengthening of Russia on the Black Sea, urged the government to take "effective measures against Russia, burn the Russian shipyards in Arkhangelsk, sink the Russian fleet in Sevastopol." William Pitt the Younger - the head of the British government demanded loans from Parliament for the war with Russia.

In England, they began equipping the fleet with 36 battleships, Prussia announced mobilization, preparing to seize the moment to occupy Thorn and Danzig. But Pitt's policy was rejected in parliament by the opposition, which was against a break with Russia.

In May 1789, a revolution broke out in France.

In this difficult political situation, neither Prussia, which had already concluded an alliance treaty with Turkey, nor England, dared to start an open war against Russia. But they still managed to disrupt the Russian-Turkish negotiations ...

From Mount Aya, near Balaklava, on June 28, 1791, a Turkish fleet consisting of 50 pennants was discovered by Russian observation posts far from the coast.

A few days later, a message was received from Feodosia in Sevastopol that an enemy fleet had been seen in the sea, heading towards Anapa. Admiral Ushakov, at the first favorable wind, led the Sevastopol squadron into the sea. On the 12th of July, west of Balaklava, at noon the two fleets met. Ushakov informed Potemkin about this meeting:

“For four days in a row I walked with the fleet together and made every possible effort to attack him ... I repaired him many times with all the possibility of chasing, but when I was in the wind, he always tried to lean away from our fleet and looked for an opportunity to win the wind.”

Despite the numerical superiority of the forces, the Turkish admiral Hussein Pasha avoided battle in every possible way.

After four days of maneuvering, the fleets dispersed. Expecting every minute of the battle, the crews of the Russian squadron did not leave their posts for 96 hours and were very tired.

Two weeks after arriving in Sevastopol, the Russian fleet again went to sea and headed southwest. Using a fair wind, under full sail, for two days of non-stop sailing, he reached the Turkish coast. Admiral Ushakov led the squadron along the coast to the south.

The Turkish fleet at that time was stationed at Cape Kaliakria. It consisted of four squadrons that arrived from Constantinople, Algiers, Tunisia and other Turkish ports. mediterranean sea. It consisted of 18 battleships, 17 frigates and 43 small ships. Its artillery armament exceeded 1,500 guns, and there were eight more admirals led by the Commander-in-Chief Hussein Pasha. Being not far from the Bosporus and hiding under the protection of coastal batteries, Hussein Pasha felt completely safe. On the occasion of the Mohammedan holiday "Ramadan", some of the teams were released ashore.

Quite unexpectedly, on the morning of July 31, the Sevastopol squadron appeared on the horizon, consisting of 16 battleships, only two frigates, two bombing ships and 19 cruisers. The closer the Russian squadron approached, the clearer became the determination of its flagship to attack the Turkish fleet.

Having carefully studied the location of the enemy fleet, Admiral Ushakov made an extremely bold decision: he sent a squadron between the coast and the Turkish fleet. In order not to lose wind and time to rebuild the formation, the Black Sea squadron, in three columns, confidently went in close proximity to the coast.

Fired from coastal batteries, she continued to move forward. Having cut off enemy ships from the coast, depriving them of part of the crews and maintaining a windward position, the Russian squadron took an advantageous position. The Turkish coastal batteries were soon forced to fall silent, since the Russian ships were between them and the Turkish fleet, and, continuing to fire, they fell into their own.

Having perfectly used the moment of surprise, Admiral Ushakov caused confusion and panic in the Turkish fleet.

“The enemy,” Ushakov wrote in his report to Potemkin, “frightened by the accidental arrival of our fleet, having lost the wind, cut off the anchors, lay down on the sails and was confused ...” At the same time, their ships collided and suffered accidents. Trying to build a line of battle, the senior flagship Hussein Pasha led the ships either to the right or to the left tack.

One of the junior flagships, Seid-Ali, seeing how confused Hussein Pasha commanded the vanguard, he himself began to build a battle line, lay down on the port tack and the rest of the ships followed him.

In order to make better use of all his artillery and prevent the Turks from putting the fleet in order, Admiral Ushakov rebuilds his squadron from a three-keel column into one column and raises signals one by one: “Add sails!”, “Carry all possible sails!”. The Black Sea squadron was catching up with the enemy at maximum speed, reorganizing itself into a combat wake line on the move. Ushakov himself, without waiting for his ships to build a wake column, takes his flagship "Christmas of Christ" out of it in order to catch up with the flagship of Seid-Ali, the head of the Turkish avant-garde.

He approaches him at a distance of half a cable (cables - 185.2 meters) and, bypassing him from the nose, resolutely attacks him. Having received serious damage, Seyid-Ali's ship bowed to take cover behind other ships. Ushakov, pursuing him, approached him right at the stern and hit him with a destructive longitudinal volley (with a longitudinal volley, the cannonballs and buckshot are hit along the diametrical plane of the vessel, increasing the defeat). In order to achieve a decisive result, Ushakov signaled the entire squadron to descend to the enemy at the closest distance.

One of the following signals was: "Fight with the whole line!"

The battleships "Alexander", "John the Baptist" and "Fyodor Stratilat", following him and being closer than others to the enemy, Ushakov ordered: "Surround the advanced fleeing ships!"

To attack them, a reserve was also used, consisting of 2 frigates and 2 bombing ships. The Black Sea Fleet drove the Turkish and as a result successful actions against the leading fugitives, as well as the flagships, the enemy fleet became even more upset. According to Ushakov, he was “very broken, mixed up, constrained so that the enemy ships themselves hit each other with their shots, but our fleet, with the entire line of forward and rear ships, completely surrounded it and produced fierce fire with excellent liveliness ...” By the dark, the enemy was completely broken and thought only of salvation.

When pursuing the enemy, Ushakov also used light cruising ships. They formed the second reserve detachment. He forced many light Turkish ships to throw themselves ashore, burned and flooded.

Only the darkness of the night and low wind saved the Turkish fleet from capture.

The next morning he was scattered between Varna and the Bosporus.

“The Turks don't even know,” Potemkin wrote to Empress Catherine, “where their scattered ships have gone; many were thrown onto the Anatolian coast. Six entered the Constantinople Canal (Bosporus) at night, very damaged. The admiral's ship (the flagship of Admiral Seid-Ali) was sinking and asking for help. Their cannon shots alarmed the Sultan and the whole city. In the afternoon, the Sultan saw their broken ships without masts, with many wounded.

The successful actions of the Russian army and the defeat of the Turkish fleet at Kaliakria hastened the decision of the Sultan to start peace negotiations with Russia.

When Ushakov's squadron, after the battle, went to Constantinople to look for the enemy fleet, a messenger ship was met at sea from the commander of the Russian troops, General Repnin, with the news of a truce with Turkey and the cessation of hostilities.

Noting this good news with an artillery salute, Ushakov headed for Sevastopol.

Peace between Russia and Turkey was signed in Iasi on December 29, 1791. The battle of Kaliakria on July 31, 1791 was the final chord of a number of other previous battles: July 3, 1788 - at the island of Fidonisi; May 16, 1790 - cruising in the Sinop-Karasu area; June 5, 1790 - cruising in the area of Sinop, Karasu, Anapa; July 8, 1790 battle in the Kerch Strait; August 28-29, 1790 - Battle of Tendra (between Akkerman and Tendra).

In all these battles, the young Sevastopol squadron won brilliant victories over an enemy that was superior in numbers, possessed more powerful artillery and faster ships.

In 1790, it was headed, at the age of 48, by Rear Admiral Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov. The victory at Fidonisi was won only thanks to the courage and initiative of Ushakov, who at the time of the battle was the rank of captain-brigadier, commander of the battleship St. Pavel "and at the same time, as a junior flagship, led the vanguard of the Sevastopol squadron.

Rear Admiral Voinovich, commander of the Sevastopol squadron, was so confused in front of the numerically superior Turkish squadron that he begged Ushakov to take responsibility for the battle.

The size of the article does not allow tactical analysis of all the above naval battles, each separately.

The stubborn and tense war with Turkey, saturated with many battles at sea, reconnaissance near the Anatolian coast of the Sevastopol squadron and the actions of the Dnieper-Bug (Liman) river flotilla on the coast of the Dnieper and Liman, near Kinburn, Ochakov and Izmail, were the first baptism of fire of the young Black Sea Fleet. The shores of the vast Akhtiar (Sevastopol) bay in the 80s of the 18th century were deserted and deserted. From time to time Turkish ships appeared here. The last time they came here was in 1778 to land troops on the Crimean coast. But General A.V. Suvorov, who commanded the Russian troops in the Crimea, by this time had already built the first batteries on the shores of the Akhtiar Bay and did not allow the landing. Only at the beginning of May 1783 did the first ships under the St. Andrew's flag appear in front of her. It was the squadron of Vice Admiral F. A. Klokachev, consisting of the frigates "Victory", "Crimea", "Hasty", the schooner "Izmail" and other ships of the Azov flotilla. They were the basis of the Black Sea Fleet.

The name "Ushak Pasha", given by the Turks to Ushakov, made Turkish sailors tremble, and among the Russians he was nicknamed "sea Suvorov", especially for his actions in the Mediterranean Sea in 1798-1800.

Perhaps the best assessment of Ushakov and the Black Sea Fleet was the words of congratulations sent by Suvorov to Ushakov on the occasion of the capture of the island of Corfu with its hitherto considered an impregnable fortress:

“Our Great Peter is alive! What he, after the defeat of the Swedish fleet at the Aland Islands in 1714, said, namely: nature produced only one Russia, it has no rival, and now we see. Hurray for the Russian fleet! Now I say to myself: why was I not at Corfu, although a midshipman!