Battle of Cape Kaliakra

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Part of the Russo-Turkish War, 1787-1792

Date	August 11, 1791
Location	Cape Kaliakra off the coast of northern Bulgaria in the Black Sea
Result	Inconclusive Russian victory

Belligerents

Russian Empire

Ottoman Empire/Algeria

Commanders

Admiral Fyodor Ushakov

Hussein Pasha,
Said Ali

Strength

15 battleships
2 frigates

18 battleships
17 frigates

Casualties and losses

17 killed and 28 wounded, and 1 ship damaged

Unknown

Russo-Turkish War (1787-1792) and Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791)

Kinburn – 1st Ochakov – Chocim – 2nd Ochakov – Fidonisi – Focşani – Rymnik – Kerch – Tendra – Izmail – Anapa – Măcin – Caliacria

The Battle of Cape Kaliakra was the last naval battle of the Russo-Turkish War of 1787-1792. It took place on 11 August 1791 off the coast of northern Bulgaria in the Black Sea. Neither side lost a ship, but the Ottomans retreated to Istanbul afterwards.

The Russian fleet under Fyodor Ushakov of 15 battleships and 2 frigates (990 guns) and some small craft sailed from Sevastopol on 8 August, and at midday on August 11 encountered the Ottoman-Algerian fleet under Hussein Pasha of 18 battleships and 17 frigates (1,500–1,600 guns) and some smaller craft at anchor just south of Cape Kaliakra. Ushakov sailed, in 3 columns, from the north-east, between the Ottomans and the cape, despite the presence on the cape of several guns. Said Ali, the commander of the Algerian ships, weighed anchor and sailed east, followed by Hussein Pasha with the 18 battleships. The Russians then turned around south to a parallel east-south-east course and formed up mostly into 1 line, with Ushakov in 3rd position and one ship out of line on the off-battle side. Said Ali, leading the line, turned north to try to double the Russian van, but Ushakov sailed out of the line and attacked him, as the rest of the Russian fleet approached. This was at 4.45 p.m.. Gradually the Turks turned to the south and when darkness put an end to fighting at 8.30 p.m. they were in full retreat to Istanbul. Russian casualties were 17 killed and 28 wounded, and Sv. Aleksandr Nevskii was damaged.

Ships involved:

[edit] Russia (Ushakov)

Rozhdestvo Christovo 84 (flag)
Ioann Predtecha 74
Maria Magdalina 66
Preobrazhenie Gospodne 66
Sv. Pavel 66
Sv. Vladimir 66
Leontii Mutchenik 62
Sv. Aleksandr Nevskii 50
Sv. Andrei Pervozvannyi 50
Sv. Nikolai 50
Feodor Stratilat 46
Ioann Bogoslov 46
Navarchia Vosnesenie Gospodne 46
Sv. Petr Apostol 46
Tsar Konstantin 46
Fanagoria 40
Makropolea Sv. Mark Evangelist 36
Rozhdestvo Christovo (bomb)
Sv. Ieronim (bomb)
? (fireship)
? (repeater ship)
Panagia Apotumengana (privateer) 14
16 privateers