Battle of Sinop war. A victory that neither Russia nor Turkey should forget

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Battle of Sinop November 18 (30), 1853

A.P. Bogolyubov. Destruction of the Turkish fleet in the Battle of Sinop. 1854

The Crimean (Eastern) War, the reason for which was the conflict between Russia and Turkey for political influence in the Holy Land, led to global confrontation in the Black Sea basin. The Anglo-French squadron entered the Dardanelles. Fighting began on the Danube and in Transcaucasia.

In the fall of 1853, it became known that preparations were being made to transfer a large landing of Turkish troops to the eastern coast of the Black Sea in the area of ​​Sukhum-Kale (Sukhumi) and Poti to help the highlanders. Given the current situation, the Black Sea Fleet was in a state of combat readiness. He was tasked with monitoring enemy actions in the Black Sea and preventing the transfer of Turkish troops to the Caucasus. The commander of the squadron of the Black Sea Fleet gave an order to the detachment: “The Turkish fleet went to sea with the intention of occupying the port of Sukhum-Kale that belongs to us... the enemy can only fulfill his intentions by passing us by or giving us a battle... I hope to accept the battle with honor.”

On November 11 (23), Nakhimov, having received information that the enemy squadron had taken refuge from the storm in Sinop Bay, decided to thwart the enemy’s plans by defeating it near Sinop.

The Turkish squadron, stationed in the roadstead in Sinop, had 7 frigates, 3 corvettes, 2 steam frigates, 2 brigs and 2 military transports (510 guns in total) and was protected by coastal batteries (38 guns).

The day before, a severe storm caused severe damage to the Russian squadron, after which Nakhimov was left with only three battleships, and two ships and a frigate had to be sent to Sevastopol. In addition, the steamer Bessarabia also headed to Sevastopol to replenish coal reserves. The brig Aeneas was also sent to the main base with a report from Nakhimov.

Having assessed the situation and, in particular, the possibility of an Anglo-French fleet appearing on the Black Sea, Nakhimov decided to lock the Turkish squadron in Sinop Bay until reinforcements arrived. In his report, he wrote about this: “I positively remain here cruising and will block them until the arrival of 2 ships that I sent to Sevastopol to repair the damage; then, despite the newly installed batteries... I will not think about attacking them.”

On November 16 (28), the rear admiral's squadron consisting of three ships and one frigate approached Sinop to help Nakhimov, and the next day another frigate, the Kulevchi, approached. As a result, under the command of Nakhimov there were 6 battleships and 2 frigates (720 guns in total). Of these, 76 guns were bomb guns, firing explosive bombs that had great destructive power. Thus, the Russians had the advantage. However, the enemy had a number of advantages, the main of which were parking in a fortified base and the presence of steamships, while the Russians only had sailing ships.

Nakhimov’s plan was to simultaneously and quickly enter the Sinop roadstead in a two-wake column, approach the enemy ships at a distance of 1-2 cables, stand on the spring (a method of anchoring a ship, in which you can turn the ship side in the desired direction) against Turkish ships and destroy them with naval artillery fire. Arranging ships in a two-wake column reduced the time they passed under fire from enemy ships and coastal batteries and improved the tactical position of the squadron.

The attack plan developed by Nakhimov contained clear instructions for preparing for battle and conducting artillery fire, which was supposed to destroy the enemy fleet in the shortest possible time. At the same time, commanders were given a certain independence depending on the specific situation while strictly observing the principle of mutual support. “In conclusion, I will express the idea,” Nakhimov wrote in the order, “that all preliminary instructions under changed circumstances can make it difficult for a commander who knows his business, and therefore I leave everyone completely independently to act at their own discretion, but will certainly fulfill their duty.”

On the morning of November 18 (30), 1853, the Russian squadron, in the formation of two wake columns, entered Sinop Bay. At the head of the right column was Nakhimov’s flagship Empress Maria, and the left column was Novosilsky’s Paris. The squadron stood in a semicircle near the city's embankment, covering part of the coastal batteries. The ships were positioned in such a way that one side of them was facing the sea, and the other was facing the city. Thus, the effect of enemy fire was weakened. At 12:30 a.m., the first salvo of the Turkish flagship Avni-Allah was fired, opening fire on the approaching Russian squadron, followed by the guns of other ships and coastal batteries.

Under heavy crossfire from the enemy, the Russian ships took up positions in accordance with the attack plan and only then opened fire back. Nakhimov's flagship went first and was closest to the Turkish squadron and coastal batteries. He concentrated fire on the enemy admiral's frigate Avni-Allah. Half an hour later, the Avni-Allah and the frigate Fazly-Allah, engulfed in flames, washed ashore. Other Turkish ships suffered the same fate. The control of the Turkish squadron was disrupted.

By 17:00, Russian sailors destroyed 15 of the 16 enemy ships with artillery fire and suppressed all of their coastal batteries. Random cannonballs also set fire to city buildings located in close proximity to the coastal batteries, which led to the spread of fire and caused panic among the population. Subsequently, this also gave Russia’s opponents a reason to talk about the allegedly inhumane conduct of the war.

Battle of Sinop Raid

Of the entire Turkish squadron, only one high-speed 20-gun steamer Taif managed to escape, on board of which was the chief adviser to the Turks on maritime issues, the Englishman Slad, who, having arrived in Istanbul, reported on the destruction of Turkish ships in Sinop.

In this battle, Russian sailors and officers, following Nakhimov’s instructions, provided mutual support. Thus, the ship “Three Saints” had a broken spring, and it began to fall under heavy fire from coastal batteries. Then the ship "Rostislav", which itself was under enemy fire, directed fire at the Turkish battery, which was firing at the "Three Saints".

Towards the end of the battle, a detachment of ships approached Sinop under the command, hurrying to the aid of Nakhimov from Sevastopol. Participant in these events B.I. Baryatinsky, who was in Kornilov’s squadron, wrote: “Approaching the ship “Maria” (Nakhimov’s flagship), we boarded the boat of our steamer and went to the ship, which was all pierced by cannonballs, the shrouds were almost all broken, and with a fairly strong swell, the masts swayed so much, that they threatened to fall. We board the ship, and both admirals rush into each other’s arms, we all also congratulate Nakhimov. He was magnificent, his cap on the back of his head, his face stained with blood, new epaulettes, his nose - everything was red with blood, sailors and officers... all black with gunpowder smoke... It turned out that on the "Maria" there were the most killed and wounded, as Nakhimov was walking the lead in the squadron and from the very beginning of the battle became closest to the Turkish firing sides. Nakhimov’s coat, which he took off before the battle and immediately hung on a nail, was torn by a Turkish cannonball.”

N.P. Honey cakes. P.S. Nakhimov during the Battle of Sinop November 18, 1853 1952

In the Battle of Sinop, the Turks lost over 3 thousand people killed and wounded: 200 people were taken prisoner, including the squadron commander Osman Pasha and the commanders of three ships. The Russian squadron had no losses in ships, but many of them, including Nakhimov’s flagship Empress Maria, were seriously damaged. Russian losses were 37 killed and 235 wounded. “The flagships and captains showed both knowledge of their business and the most unshakable courage, as well as the officers subordinate to them, while the lower ranks fought like lions,” Nakhimov reported to Kornilov.

In the order for the squadron, Nakhimov wrote: “The extermination of the Turkish fleet in Sinop by the squadron under my command cannot but leave a glorious page in the history of the Black Sea Fleet.” He thanked the personnel for their bravery and courage. “With such subordinates, I will proudly face any enemy European fleet.”

The victory was won as a result of the high professional skill of the Russian sailors, heroism, courage and bravery of the sailors, as well as thanks to the decisive and skillful actions of the command and, above all, Nakhimov.

The defeat of the Turkish squadron in Sinop significantly weakened Turkey's naval forces and thwarted its plans to land troops on the Caucasus coast. At the same time, the destruction of the Turkish squadron led to a change in the entire military-political situation. After the Battle of Sinop, Great Britain, France and the Sardinian Kingdom entered the war. On December 23, 1853 (January 4, 1854), a united Anglo-French squadron entered the Black Sea.

The Battle of Sinop was the last major battle of the era of the sailing fleet. “The battle is glorious, higher than Chesma and Navarino!” — this is how Vice Admiral V.A. assessed him. Kornilov.

During the years, the Soviet government established an order and medal in honor of Nakhimov. The Order was received by officers of the Navy for outstanding success in the development, conduct and support of naval operations, as a result of which an offensive operation of the enemy was repelled or active operations of the fleet were ensured, significant damage was inflicted on the enemy and their forces were preserved. The medal was awarded to sailors and foremen for military merits.

According to the Federal Law “On the Days military glory Russia" dated March 13, 1995. December 1 is celebrated in Russian Federation as “Victory Day of the Russian squadron P.S. Nakhimov over the Turkish squadron at the cape (so in Federal law. In fact, in Sinop Bay) Sinop (1853).”

Material prepared by the Research Institute
(military history) Military Academy of the General Staff
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

Battle of Sinop- the defeat of the Turkish squadron by the Russian Black Sea Fleet on November 18 (30), 1853, under the command of Admiral Nakhimov. Some historians view it as the "swan song" of the sailing fleet and the first battle of the Crimean War. The Turkish fleet was destroyed within a few hours. This attack was the reason for Britain and France to declare war on Russia.

The statement that this was the first battle of the Crimean War is incorrect: on November 5 (17), that is, 13 days before the Battle of Sinop, a battle took place between the Russian steam frigate "Vladimir" (at that moment Admiral V.A. Kornilov was on it) and Turkish armed steamship "Pervaz-Bahri" (Lord of the Seas). The three-hour battle ended with the surrender of the Turkish steamer.

Progress of the battle

Approaching Sinop, Nakhimov saw a detachment of Turkish ships in the bay under the protection of 6 coastal batteries and decided to closely blockade the port in order to attack the enemy with the arrival of reinforcements from Sevastopol.

It was decided to attack in 2 columns: in the 1st, closest to the enemy, the ships of Nakhimov’s detachment, in the 2nd - Novosilsky, the frigates were supposed to watch the enemy steamers under sail; It was decided to spare the consular houses and the city in general if possible, hitting only ships and batteries. For the first time, 68-pounder bomb guns were proposed to be used.

Among the prisoners were the commander of the Turkish squadron, Vice Admiral Osman Pasha, and 2 ship commanders.

At the end of the battle, the ships of the Russian fleet began to repair damage to the rigging and spars, and on November 20 (December 2) they weighed anchor to proceed to Sevastopol in tow of steamers. Beyond Cape Sinop, the squadron encountered a large swell from NO, so the steamships were forced to give up tugs. At night the wind grew stronger, and the ships headed further under sail. On the 22nd (December 4), around noon, the victorious ships entered the Sevastopol roadstead amid general rejoicing.

Order of battle

Battleships

• Grand Duke Constantine 120 guns
• Three Saints 120 guns
• Paris 120 guns (2nd flagship)
• Empress Maria 84 guns (flagship)
• Chesma 84 guns
• Rostislav 84 guns

Frigates

• Kulevchi 54 guns
• Cahul 44 guns

Steam frigates

• Odessa 12 guns
• Crimea 12 guns
• Chersonesos 12 guns

Frigates

• Aunni Allah 44 guns - washed ashore
• Fazli Allah 44 guns (former Russian Rafail, captured in 1829) - caught fire, washed ashore
• Nizamiye 62 guns - washed ashore after losing two masts
• Nesimi Zefer 60 guns - washed ashore after the anchor chain was broken
• Forever Bahri 58 guns - exploded
• Damiad 56 guns (Egyptian) - washed ashore
• Kaidi Zefer 54 guns - washed ashore

Corvettes

• Nezhm Fishan 24 guns
• Feize Meabood 24 guns - washed ashore
• Gyuli Sefid 22 guns - exploded

Steam frigate

• Taif 22 guns - went to Istanbul

Steamboat

• Erkile 2 guns

Notes

One of the documented early manifestations propaganda, when immediately after the Battle of Sinop, English newspapers wrote in reports about the battle that the Russians were finishing off the wounded Turks floating in the sea.

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Categories:

• Battles in alphabetical order
• Russian naval battles
• Turkish naval battles
• Events of November 30
• November 1853
• Crimean War
• Battles in the Black Sea
• 19th century battles

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See what the “Battle of Sinop” is in other dictionaries:

November 18 (30), 1853, in Sinop Bay (on the northern coast of Turkey), during the Crimean War of 1853 56. The Russian squadron of Vice Admiral P. S. Nakhimov destroyed the Turkish squadron of Osman Pasha. The Battle of Sinop is the last battle of the era of the sailing fleet... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

BATTLE OF SINOPE, naval battle 18(30). 11.1853 in Sinop Bay (on the northern coast of Turkey) during the Crimean War 1853 56. The Russian squadron of Vice Admiral P. S. Nakhimov destroyed the Turkish squadron of Osman Pasha. S. s. the last battle... ...Russian history

150 years ago, at the very beginning of the Crimean War, the attention of the whole world was attracted by the glorious feat of Russian sailors, which became one of the brightest pages in the naval chronicle of Russia.

In October 1853, Turkey, incited by England and France, opened military operations in the Caucasus and the Danube. Thus began the Crimean War of 1853-1856.

In November 1853, a Turkish squadron under the command of Osman Pasha left Istanbul and embarked on a raid in the Black Sea port of Sinop. She had to cover the movement of 250 ships with troops assembled in Batum for landing in the area of ​​Sukhum-Kale (Sukhumi) and Poti. The squadron consisted of 7 high-speed frigates, 3 corvettes, 2 steam frigates, 2 brigs and 2 military transports, which carried a total of 510 guns. The parking lot of Osman Pasha's ships in Sinop Bay was protected by coastal batteries (44 guns) equipped with earthen parapets. The cannons installed behind them could fire hot cannonballs, which were extremely dangerous for ships built entirely of wood. Easily breaking through the sides, they instantly caused a fire. It was very difficult to destroy coastal batteries with naval artillery fire; from the point of view of European maritime experts, it was almost impossible. Osman Pasha was assured of this by the chief English adviser Adolf Slade, who arrived at his squadron and received the rank of admiral and the title of Mushaver Pasha from the Sultan.

After the aggravation of relations with Turkey, but even before the outbreak of hostilities, a Russian squadron under the flag of Vice Admiral Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov left Sevastopol to cruise in the eastern part of the Black Sea. The purpose of cruising, as stated in the instructions, was only to observe the Turkish fleet in anticipation of a break with Turkey. Nakhimov was strictly punished “without a special order - not to start a battle,” since at the time the Russian ships went to sea, the command of the Black Sea Fleet had not yet received news of the Turkish attack. The squadron that left Sevastopol included the battleships Empress Maria, Chesma, Brave, Yagudil, the frigate Cahul and the brig Jason. Two days later, the steamship Bessarabia joined the squadron. Russian ships arrived in the designated cruising area on October 13.

The campaign of Nakhimov’s squadron did not go unnoticed by the enemy. The sea was empty - all Turkish ships took refuge in their ports, navigation off the Anatolian coast temporarily stopped. Plans to transfer Ottoman troops by sea to the Caucasus were thwarted, but the Turkish command hoped to implement them later, after Nakhimov’s squadron had left for Sevastopol. At the same time, Istanbul was counting on the approaching time of autumn storms, which were extremely dangerous for sailing ships. But, contrary to the expectations of the enemy, the Russian squadron continued cruising. On October 26, a messenger ship (the corvette Calypso) that arrived at Nakhimov delivered the long-awaited permission from the commander-in-chief of the Russian troops and fleet in Crimea, Alexander Sergeevich Menshikov, to begin military operations against the enemy at sea. A few days later, the squadron commander received accurate information about the results of reconnaissance carried out by the chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral Vladimir Alekseevich Kornilov, near the Bosporus. At the same time, he was delivered the text of the manifesto of Emperor Nicholas I on the beginning of the war with Turkey. Turning to Nakhimov, Kornilov informed him of the enemy’s intention to send a flotilla to the Caucasus coast to land troops there. In this regard, on November 3, 1853, Nakhimov transmitted the following order to the ships of the squadron: “I have news that the Turkish fleet has gone to sea with the intention of occupying the port of Sukhum-Kale, which belongs to us, and that the adjutant general has been sent from Sevastopol with six ships to find the enemy fleet Kornilov. The enemy can only fulfill his intentions by passing us by or by giving us battle. In the first case, I hope for the vigilant supervision of the commanders and officers; in the second, with God's help and confidence in my officers and commands, I hope with honor accept the battle. Without expounding on instructions, I will express my idea that in naval affairs close distance from the enemy and mutual assistance to each other is the best tactic." Further, in another order of the same date, Nakhimov informed his subordinates: “Having received the order to begin military operations against Turkish military ships, I consider it necessary to notify the commanders of the ships of the detachment entrusted to me that in the event of meeting with an enemy exceeding us in strength, I will attack him, being absolutely sure that each of us will do his part."

On November 4, the steamship Bessarabia, sent by Nakhimov on reconnaissance to Cape Kerempe off the coast of Turkey, captured the enemy transport Medjari-Tejaret. From a survey of prisoners, previously received information was confirmed that the Turkish squadron of Osman Pasha was gathering in Sinop, intended to carry out a large landing operation off the Russian coast.

In addition to Nakhimov’s squadron, which blocked the coast of Eastern Anatolia, Kornilov’s squadron, cruising off the western coast of Turkey, went to sea. She failed to detect enemy warships, but from a survey of the crews of merchant ships it turned out that the Anglo-French squadron continued to stand in Bezik Bay (Beshik-Kerfez), in the Dardanelles Strait, and that on October 31, three large steamships with troops left Constantinople for Trebizond. Kornilov went to Sevastopol on the ship "Vladimir", ordering Rear Admiral Fyodor Mikhailovich Novosilsky to follow the squadron to Nakhimov and tell him this news. On the morning of November 6, Novosilsky reported to Nakhimov about the results of cruising in the western part of the Black Sea.

After this, Novosilsky's squadron, leaving Nakhimov with the battleships "Rostislav" and "Svyatoslav", the brig "Aeneas" and taking with it the battleship "Yagudiil" and the brig "Yazon" from Nakhimov's squadron, headed for Sevastopol. Vice Admiral Nakhimov, seeking a decisive meeting with the Turkish fleet, decided to check the information received. On November 6, despite the beginning of the excitement, his ships headed for Sinop Bay. On November 8, a strong storm began. However, the squadron did not lose its course, thanks to the skill of the flagship navigator I.M. Nekrasova. Nevertheless, after the end of the storm, the admiral was forced to send two ships to Sevastopol for corrections - “Brave” and “Svyatoslav”. On November 11, Nakhimov, with only three 84-gun ships ("Empress Maria", "Chesma" and "Rostislav"), approached two miles to Sinop Bay. There, Russian sailors actually discovered enemy ships anchored, but due to the advancing darkness could not determine the composition of the Turkish squadron.

Sinop Bay is a very convenient harbor, well protected from northern winds the high Bostepe-Burun peninsula, connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. Before the start of the Crimean War, 10-12 thousand people lived in Sinop, mostly Turks and Greeks. On the shore of the bay there was an admiralty with good shipyards, port facilities, warehouses, and barracks. The Turks, being under the cover of coastal batteries and having a double superiority in forces, considered themselves safe and did not believe in the seriousness of the threat from a small Russian squadron. In addition, from hour to hour they expected the blockade to be broken from outside by the forces of a huge Anglo-French fleet.

On the night of November 8-9, a severe storm began, because of which Nakhimov was unable to carry out a detailed reconnaissance of the Sinop Bay the next day.

On November 10, the storm subsided, but on all ships many of the sails were torn by the wind, and on the battleships Svyatoslav and Brave and on the frigate Cahul the damage was so serious that urgent repairs were required at the base. On the evening of November 10, the damaged ships left for Sevastopol for repairs, and the Bessarabia steamer went for coal.

The next day, the Russian squadron consisting of the battleships "Empress Maria", "Chesma", "Rostislav" and the brig "Aeneas" again approached Sinop Bay and discovered a Turkish squadron consisting of seven frigates anchored in the roadstead under the protection of six coastal batteries. three corvettes, two steamships, two military transports and several merchant ships. The Turkish forces clearly outnumbered the Russian squadron, which had 252 cannons (the Turks had 476 cannons on ships and 44 on coastal batteries). These were the ships of the Turkish squadron of Osman Pasha, sheltered from the storm, heading to the Caucasian coast to participate in the landing in the Sukhum area; in mid-November, the landings, according to Turkish calculations, were supposed to facilitate the offensive of Turkish ground forces in the Caucasus. In addition to Osman himself, his chief adviser, the Englishman A. Slade, and the second flagship, Rear Admiral Hussein Pasha, were on the squadron.

Nakhimov established a blockade of Sinop Bay and sent a messenger ship, the brig Aeneas, to Sevastopol with a report of the detection and blocking of the enemy. In it, he wrote to Menshikov: “According to the review of a detachment of Turkish ships located in Sinop under the protection of 6 coastal batteries, I decided with the 84-gun ships “Empress Maria”, “Chesma” and “Rostislav” to closely blockade this port, waiting for ships from Sevastopol.” Svyatoslav" and "Brave"<...>in order to attack the enemy together with them." The 84-gun battleships "Empress Maria", "Chesma", "Rostislav" stood at the entrance to the bay, blocking the exit from it. The frigate "Kahul" took up an observation post a few miles from the bay .

On November 16, Nakhimov was joined by the squadron F.M. Novosilsky (battleships "Paris", "Grand Duke Constantine", "Three Saints"), and a little later the frigates "Kahul" and "Kulevchi" arrived. Now Nakhimov had at his disposal a squadron of eight warships with 720 guns on board. Thus, in terms of the number of guns, the Russian squadron surpassed the enemy squadron.

Since the Turkish squadron on the high seas could be reinforced by ships of the allied Anglo-French fleet, Nakhimov decided to attack and defeat it directly at the base.

His plan was to quickly (in a two-wake column) bring his ships into the Sinop roadstead, anchor them and resolutely attack the enemy from a short distance of 1-2 cables.

The day before the Sinop battle, Nakhimov gathered all the ship commanders and discussed the action plan with them. Let's quote him.

“Designing, at the first opportunity, to attack the enemy stationed in Sinop among 7 frigates, 2 corvettes, one sloop, two steamships and two transports, I have drawn up a disposition for attacking them and ask the commanders to anchor there and keep in mind the following:

1. When entering the roadstead, throw lots, because it may happen that the enemy will cross into shallow water, and then stand as close as possible to him, but at a depth of at least 10 fathoms.

2. Have a spring on both anchors; if, during an attack by the enemy, the wind N is the most favorable, then etch out 60 fathoms of chains, and have the same amount of springa previously laid on the bitenge; when sailing in a gybe in wind O or ONO, in order to avoid dropping the anchor from the stern, also stand on the spring, having it up to 30 fathoms, and when the chain, etched up to 60 fathoms, pulls, then veer out another 10 fathoms; in this case, the chain will weaken, and the ships will stand with their stern to the wind, on the cable; In general, be extremely careful with springs, because they often remain invalid due to the slightest inattention and delay of time.

3. Before entering the Gulf of Sinop, if the weather permits, in order to save the rowing ships on the rostra, I will make a signal to launch them at the side on the opposite side of the enemy, having on one of them, just in case, cables and a rope.

4. When attacking, be careful not to fire in vain at those ships that lower their flags; to send to take possession of them no other than on a signal from the admiral, trying to better use the time to defeat opposing ships or batteries, which, no doubt, would not stop firing if the matter with the enemy ships was over.

5. Now inspect the rivets of the chains; in case of need, rivet them

6. Open fire on the enemy at the second admiral’s shot, if before that there is no resistance from the enemy to our attack on them; otherwise, fire as best you can, taking into account the distance to enemy ships.

7. Having anchored and settled the spring, the first shots must be aimed; at the same time, it is good to note the position of the cannon wedge on the chalk cushion so that afterward the enemy will not be visible in the smoke, but you need to maintain rapid battle fire. It goes without saying that it should be aimed at the same position of the gun as during the first shots.

8. When attacking the enemy at anchor, it is good to have, as under sail, one officer on the main top or salinga to observe the direction of his shots during battle fire, and if they do not reach their target, the officer reports this to the quarterdeck for direction springa.

9. The frigates “Kahul” and “Kulevchi” will remain under sail during the operation to observe enemy steamers, which, without a doubt, will come under steam and harm our ships at their own discretion.

10. Having started business with enemy ships, try, if possible, not to harm the consular houses on which their consular flags will be raised.

In conclusion, I will express my idea that all preliminary instructions under changed circumstances can make it difficult for a commander who knows his business, and therefore I suggest that everyone completely independently act at their own discretion, but will certainly fulfill their duty. The Sovereign Emperor and Russia expect glorious exploits from the Black Sea Fleet. It's up to us to live up to expectations."

On the night of November 17-18, preparations began on the squadron for the upcoming battle. They ended at dawn. Despite the extremely unfavorable weather - rain and strong south-east wind, Nakhimov did not change his decision to attack the enemy in his harbor. At half past nine, a signal was raised on the flagship Empress Maria: “Prepare for battle and go to the Sinop roadstead.”

The battle itself began on November 30 (November 18), 1853, at 12:30 p.m. and lasted until 5:00 p.m. His squadron moved in two wake columns. The windward column included the battleships "Empress Maria" (84-gun) under the flag of Nakhimov, "Grand Duke Konstantin" (120-gun), "Chesma" (84-gun), in the leeward - the battleship "Paris" (120- cannon) under the flag of Novosilsky, "Three Saints" (120-gun), "Rostislav" (84-gun). Turkish naval artillery and the coastal batteries subjected the attacking Russian squadron, which was entering the Sinop roadstead, to heavy fire. The enemy fired from a distance of 300 fathoms or less, but Nakhimov’s ships responded to the fierce enemy fire only by occupying advantageous positions. It was then that the complete superiority of Russian artillery became clear.

The battleship "Empress Maria" was bombarded with cannonballs - a significant part of its mast and rigging was destroyed, but the flagship went ahead, firing at the enemy and dragging the rest of the ships of the squadron with it. Directly opposite the Turkish flagship 44-gun frigate "Auni-Allah", at a distance of about 200 fathoms from it, the ship "Empress Maria" anchored and increased fire. The battle between the admiral's ships lasted for half an hour. Osman Pasha could not stand it: "Auni-Allah", having riveted the anchor chain, drifted to the western part of Sinop Bay and ran aground near coastal battery No. 6. The crew from the Turkish flagship fled to the shore. With the failure of the flagship frigate, the enemy squadron lost control.

After the defeat of the frigate "Auni-Allah", the flagship transferred its fire to the 44-gun Turkish frigate "Fazli-Allah" ("Given by Allah" - the Russian frigate "Raphael" captured in 1829). Soon this ship also caught fire and washed ashore not far from the central coastal battery No. 5. The Empress Maria turned around on the spring and began to fire at other Turkish ships that were fiercely resisting the Russian squadron.

On the battery decks of Russian ships, artillerymen acted harmoniously and skillfully, accurately hitting enemy ships. “The thunder of shots, the roar of cannonballs, the rollback of guns, the noise of people, the groans of the wounded,” recalled one of the participants in the battle, “everything mixed into one common hellish hubbub. The battle was in full swing.” The battleship "Grand Duke Konstantin", showered with a hail of cannonballs and grapeshot, anchored and, turning on the spring, opened strong fire on two 60-gun Turkish frigates "Navek-Bahri" and "Nesimi-Zefer". 20 minutes later the first frigate was blown up, and a friendly Russian “hurray” thundered over the bay. Once again turning around on the spring, the Grand Duke Konstantin opened fire on the Nesimi-Zefer and the 24-gun corvette Najimi-Feshan, and both of these ships, engulfed in flames, jumped ashore.

The battleship Chesma fired mainly at coastal batteries No. 3 and 4, which covered the left flank of the Turkish battle line. The gunners of the Russian ship accurately covered the targets and, one after another, disabled the guns on these batteries. Soon the artillery duel between the Russian battleship and two Turkish coastal batteries ended complete defeat enemy: both batteries were destroyed, and some of their personnel were destroyed, and some fled to the mountains. The ships of the left column of the Russian squadron stood on the spring, matching the flagship and the battleship Paris. The commander of "Paris" is captain 1st rank Vladimir Ivanovich. Immediately after setting up the spring, Istomin opened heavy fire on the central coastal battery No. 5, on the 22-gun corvette Guli-Sefid and the 56-gun frigate Damiad. At 1 p.m. 15 minutes. As a result of well-aimed hits from Russian shells, the Turkish corvette took off into the air. The frigate Damiad, unable to withstand a fierce firefight with the battleship Paris, ran ashore. A long artillery duel took place between the gunners of the Paris and the gunners of the Turkish 64-gun, two-deck frigate Nizamiye, on which Rear Admiral Hussein Pasha, the second flagship of the enemy squadron, was located. At 2 p.m., the foremast and mizzen masts of the Nizamiye were shot down. Having lost many guns, the Turkish frigate left the battle line and stopped resistance.

Admiral Nakhimov closely monitored the actions of his ships, observing the excellent combat work of the personnel battleship“Paris,” the admiral ordered the signal to be raised to him with an expression of gratitude. However, it turned out to be impossible to carry out the order, since all the halyards on the flagship were broken. Then Nakhimov sent a boat with an adjutant under enemy fire. The battleship Rostislav, having taken a favorable position, opened fire on coastal battery No. 6, as well as on the frigate Nizamiye and the 24-gun corvette Feyzi-Meabud. After a heavy firefight, the Turkish corvette ran ashore, and the enemy battery was destroyed. The Three Saints fought with the 54-gun frigate Kaidi-Zefer, but in the midst of the battle on the Russian ship, one of the enemy shells broke the spring and the Three Saints began to turn into the wind with its stern towards the enemy. At this time, the enemy coastal battery intensified its fire, causing serious damage to the battleship. It was necessary to restore the spring at all costs. Midshipman Varnitsky rushed into the boat to repair the damage, but the boat was smashed by an enemy cannonball. The midshipman and the sailors jumped into another boat and, under continuous enemy artillery fire, corrected the spring and returned to the ship.

On the battleship Rostislav, one of the enemy shells hit the battery deck, tore apart the gun and caused a fire. The fire gradually approached the crew chamber, where the ammunition was stored. It was impossible to lose a single second, since the battleship was in danger of an explosion. At that moment, Lieutenant Nikolai Kolokoltsev rushed into the crew chamber, quickly closed the doors and, disregarding the danger, began to extinguish the fire of the curtain covering the hatches of the crew chamber exit. Kolokoltsev’s dedication saved the ship. Not only the gunners, but also all the other sailors of the Russian squadron played a huge role in achieving victory. Observers who were on the mars monitored the adjustment of fire, the hold workers and carpenters quickly and promptly sealed holes and corrected damage, shell carriers ensured an uninterrupted supply of ammunition to the guns, doctors bandaged the wounded on the battery decks, etc. The inspiration of all sailors during the battle was extremely great. The wounded refused to leave their combat posts.

The warships of the Turkish squadron stubbornly resisted, but not one of them could withstand the blow of the Russian squadron. Many Turkish officers shamefully fled from their ships during the battle (commander of the steamship Erekli Izmail Bey, commander of the corvette Feyzi-Meabud Itset Bey, etc.). An example was given to them by the chief adviser to Osman Pasha, the Englishman Adolph Slade. At about 2 p.m., the Turkish 22-gun steamer Taif, on which Mushaver Pasha was, broke away from the line of Turkish ships, which were suffering a severe defeat, and fled. Meanwhile, in the Turkish squadron, only this ship had 2 ten-inch bomb guns. Taking advantage of the Taif's speed advantage, Slade managed to escape the Russian ships and report to Istanbul about the complete destruction of the Turkish squadron. At 15 o'clock the battle ended. “The enemy ships thrown ashore were in the most disastrous condition,” reported Nakhimov. “I ordered to stop firing at them, although they did not lower their flags, as it turned out, from panic fear, which enveloped the crews"

In this battle, the Turks lost 15 of 16 ships and over 3 thousand people killed and wounded (out of 4,500 who took part in the battle); About 200 people were captured, including Osman Pasha, who was wounded in the leg, and the commanders of two ships. Admiral Nakhimov sent a truce to the shore to announce to the governor of Sinop that the Russian squadron had no hostile intentions towards the city, but the governor and the entire administration had long fled from the city. The losses of the Russian squadron amounted to 37 people killed and 233 wounded, 13 guns on the ships were hit and disabled, and there was serious damage to the hull, rigging and sails. "Empress Maria" received 60 holes, "Rostislav" - 45, "Three Saints" - 48, "Grand Duke Constantine" - 44, "Chesma" - 27, "Paris" -26.

After 16 hours, a detachment of steamers under the command of Vice Admiral Kornilov entered the bay. When approaching Sinop, Kornilov noticed the departing steamship Taif and ordered it to be intercepted. The steamship "Odessa" lay at the intersection of the "Taifa" course, but the latter did not accept the battle, despite the overwhelming superiority in artillery. Russian steamships entered the Sinop roadstead; their crews were entrusted with the task of towing Russian sailing ships away from the burning Turkish ships. The defeat of the Turkish squadron in the Battle of Sinop significantly weakened Turkey's naval forces and thwarted its plans to land its troops on the Caucasus coast.

Congratulating the squadron personnel on their victory, Admiral Nakhimov wrote in his order:

“The extermination of the Turkish fleet in Sinop by the squadron under my command cannot but leave a glorious page in the history of the Black Sea Fleet. I express my sincere gratitude to the second flagship, the commanders of the ships for the composure and precise ordering of their ships according to this disposition during strong enemy fire, and and for their unshakable courage in continuing the work itself. I address my gratitude to the officers for the undaunted and accurate performance of their duty, I thank the teams who fought like lions."

Having repaired the damage, the victors left deserted Sinop and headed for their native shores. However, some of the ships participating in the battle had to be towed all the way to Sevastopol by steamships that were part of Kornilov’s squadron. On November 2, 1853, the heroes were solemnly greeted by Sevastopol. The Nakhimov sailors were honored on the square near the Grafskaya pier, and the officers were honored at the Maritime Club. “The battle is glorious, higher than Chesma and Navarino... Hurray, Nakhimov! M.P. Lazarev rejoices at his student!” - another Lazarev student, Kornilov, wrote enthusiastically in those days. For the Sinop victory, Emperor Nicholas I awarded Vice Admiral Nakhimov the Order of St. George, 2nd degree, writing in a personal rescript: “By the extermination of the Turkish squadron, you adorned the chronicle of the Russian fleet with a new victory, which will forever remain memorable in naval history.”

The Sinop naval battle was the last major battle in history of the era of the sailing fleet. Sailing ships began to be replaced by ships with steam engines. In the Battle of Sinop, the naval leadership talent of the outstanding Russian naval commander Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov clearly manifested itself. This is evidenced by the decisive actions of his squadron in destroying the enemy fleet in his base, the skillful deployment of ships and their use of 68-pound “bomb” guns installed on the lower battery decks of Russian battleships. The high moral and combat qualities of Russian sailors and the skillful management of combat operations by ship commanders are also indicative. Greater efficiency"bomb" guns subsequently accelerated the transition to the creation of an armored fleet.

With the glorious victory in the Battle of Sinop, another heroic page was inscribed in the history of the famous victories of the Russian fleet won at Gangut, Ezel, Grengam, Chesma, Kaliakria, Corfu, Navarino. After this victory, the name of the outstanding Russian naval commander Nakhimov became known not only in our country, but also far beyond the borders of Russia.

Kabeltov - one tenth of a nautical mile, 185.2 m.

Spring is a device consisting of a rope (“cable”), the running end is inserted into the anchor chain, and the root end is fixed to a thick stern beam. Used to hold the ship in a certain position in relation to the wind or current.

Verp is an auxiliary anchor located in the stern of the ship.

F.M. Novosiltsev

The Battle of Sinop on November 18 (30), 1853 is written in golden letters in the Russian military chronicle. This was the last major battle in the sailing fleet. In this battle, Russian sailors and commanders showed what they were capable of when led by such great people as Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov, an admiral who was loved and respected from the bottom of his heart by the people around him. In the Battle of Sinop, the Russian fleet almost completely destroyed the Turkish squadron, while suffering minimal losses. This naval battle became an example of the brilliant preparation of the Black Sea Fleet, led by one of the best representatives of the school of Russian military art. Sinop, which amazed all of Europe with the perfection of the Russian fleet, fully justified the many years of hard educational work of admirals Lazarev and Nakhimov.

Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov (1802 – 1855)

The future admiral was born on June 23 (July 5), 1802, into a family of poor Smolensk nobles. His small homeland was the village of Gorodok in Vyazemsky district. His father, Stepan Mikhailovich Nakhimov, was an officer and, even under Catherine the Great, retired with the rank of second major. Of the eleven children born in the family, five boys became military sailors. One of them, Pavel’s younger brother Sergei, rose to the rank of vice admiral and headed the Naval Cadet Corps.

Already at the age of 13, Pavel was enrolled in the Naval Cadet Corps and studied brilliantly. In 1817, he received the rank of midshipman and took part in the voyage of the brig Phoenix. In 1818, he entered service on the frigate “Cruiser” and, under the command of Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev, traveled around the world. During the voyage he was promoted to lieutenant. Already in these youthful years, Pavel Nakhimov discovered a curious trait, which his comrades and colleagues immediately noticed. This trait dominated Nakhimov until his death during the defense of Sevastopol. Naval service was the only thing in life for Nakhimov. No personal life He didn’t know, except for the service, and didn’t want to know. Naval service was everything to him. He was a patriot who selflessly loved his Motherland, the Russian fleet, who lived for Russia and died at his combat post. As noted by the famous domestic historian E.V. Tarle: “Due to lack of leisure and too much preoccupation with maritime interests, he forgot to fall in love, forgot to get married. He was a nautical fanatic, according to the unanimous opinion of eyewitnesses and observers.” Even during trip around the world he almost died saving a sailor who had fallen overboard.

Nakhimov, during a long trip around the world - it lasted from 1822 to 1825, became the favorite student and follower of Mikhail Lazarev, who, together with Bellingshausen, became the discoverer of Antarctica. Lazarev quickly appreciated the young officer’s abilities, and they practically never separated in their careers. After completing his trip around the world, Pavel Nakhimov was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree. Together with Lazarev, the young lieutenant in 1826 moved to the battleship Azov, on which in 1827 he took part in the famous Battle of Navarino. The ship "Azov" from the joint Anglo-Franco-Russian fleet came closest to the Turkish naval forces. The navy said that the Azov smashed the enemy almost within pistol shot range. Nakhimov commanded the battery in this battle. Pavel Nakhimov was wounded, the ship suffered the greatest losses, but also caused more harm to the enemy than best ships allied fleet. Lazarev, who, according to the commander of the Russian squadron L.P. Heyden, “managed the movements of Azov with composure, skill and exemplary courage,” was promoted to rear admiral. The ship "Azov" was the first in the Russian fleet to be awarded the St. George flag. Pavel Nakhimov was awarded the rank of captain-lieutenant and the Order of St. George, 4th degree. So brilliantly Pavel Stepanovich began his military journey.

In 1828, Nakhimov already became the commander of a ship, the corvette Navarin. It was a prize ship captured from the Ottomans. In Malta, the ship was restored, armed and took part in the blockade of the Dardanelles. Nakhimov showed himself to be a tireless worker. Moreover, his comrades never reproached him for his desire to curry favor and careerism. Everyone saw that their commander was dedicated to the cause and worked harder than anyone else. Since 1830, upon returning to the Baltic, he continued to serve on the Navarino. In 1831 he headed the new frigate Pallada. Soon the frigate became a showpiece. On August 17, 1833, Nakhimov saved the squadron, in poor visibility, the sailor noticed the Daguerrot lighthouse and gave a signal that the ships were under threat.

In 1834, at the request of Lazarev, commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Nakhimov was transferred to the southern sea borders of the empire. In 1836, Pavel Stepanovich received command of the battleship Silistria, built under his supervision. A few months later he was promoted to captain of the 1st rank. Nakhimov served on this ship for 9 years. Pavel Stepanovich made Silistria an exemplary ship and carried out a number of important and difficult assignments on it. The commander became known to the entire fleet. Pavel Stepanovich was the leader of the Suvorov and Ushakov schools, believing that the entire strength of the fleet rests on the sailor. “It’s time for us to stop considering ourselves landowners,” said Nakhimov, “and sailors as serfs. The sailor is the main engine on a warship, and we are only the springs that act on him. The sailor controls the sails, he also points the guns at the enemy; the sailor will rush to board if necessary; the sailor will do everything if we, the bosses, are not selfish, if we do not look at service as a means of satisfying our ambition, and at our subordinates as a step in our own elevation.” The sailor, according to him, was the main military force of the fleet. “These are the people we need to elevate, teach, arouse in them courage, heroism, if we are not selfish, but truly servants of the fatherland.” He suggested emulating Nelson, who “embraced the spirit of popular pride of his subordinates and with one simple signal aroused the fiery enthusiasm of the common people who had been educated by him and his predecessors.” With his behavior, Pavel Nakhimov brought up a team that had to be completely confident in him. So, one day during an exercise, the ship “Adrianople” made an unsuccessful maneuver, making a collision with the “Silistria” inevitable. Nakhimov ordered everyone to retire to a safe place, but he himself remained on the poop deck. He was not injured in the collision. The captain explained his action by the need to show the team “presence of spirit,” which would be of great benefit in battle. The crew will have complete confidence in their commander and will do everything possible and impossible to win.

In 1845, Nakhimov was promoted to rear admiral. Lazarev appointed him commander of the 1st brigade of the 4th naval division. In 1852 he received the rank of vice admiral and headed a naval division. His authority during these years spread throughout the entire fleet and was equal to the influence of Lazarev himself. All his time was devoted to service. He didn’t have an extra ruble, giving every last bit to the sailors and their families. Service in peacetime was for him the time that fate allowed to prepare for war, for the moment when a person would have to show all his best qualities. At the same time, Pavel Stepanovich was a man with a capital M, ready to give his last penny to a person in need, to help an old man, woman or child. All the sailors and their families became one big family for him.

Lazarev and Nakhimov, like Kornilov and Istomin, were representatives of a school that demanded moral heights from the officer. Laziness, sybarism, drunkenness and card games“War” was declared among the officers. The sailors under their command were supposed to become warriors, not toys of the whims of the “naval landowners.” They demanded from the sailors not mechanical skill during reviews and parades, but genuine ability to fight and understanding what they were doing. Corporal punishment became a rarity on Black Sea ships, and external veneration was reduced to a minimum. As a result, the Black Sea Fleet has become an excellent fighting machine, ready to stand up for Russia.

Nakhimov perspicaciously noted a feature of a significant part of the Russian elite class, which would ultimately destroy the Russian Empire. “Many young officers surprise me: they lagged behind the Russians, didn’t stick to the French, and also don’t look like the British; They neglect their own, envy others, and do not understand their own benefits at all. This is no good!”

Nakhimov was a unique person who have achieved in their moral and mental development amazing heights. At the same time kind and responsive to the grief of others, unusually modest, with a bright and inquisitive mind. His moral influence on people was enormous. He brought up the command staff. He spoke to the sailors in their language. The sailors' devotion and love for him reached unprecedented heights. Already on the Sevastopol bastions, his daily appearance aroused incredible enthusiasm among the defenders. Tired, exhausted sailors and soldiers were resurrected and were ready to repeat miracles. It’s not for nothing that Nakhimov himself said that with our dashing people, by showing attention and love, you can do such things that are simply a miracle.

War

The year 1853 arrived. Another war began with Turkey, which soon led to a global conflict involving the leading world powers. The Anglo-French squadron entered the Dardanelles. Fronts were opened on the Danube and in Transcaucasia. Petersburg, which counted on quick victory over the Porte, the decisive promotion of Russian interests in the Balkans and the successful solution of the problem of the straits, received the threat of war with the great powers, with vague prospects. A threat arose that the Ottomans, followed by the British and French, would be able to provide effective assistance to the Shamil mountaineers. And this is the loss of the Caucasus and the serious advance of enemy forces from the southern direction. In the Caucasus, Russia did not have sufficient quantity troops to simultaneously hold back the advance of the Turkish army and fight the mountaineers. In addition, the Turkish squadron supplied the troops on the Caucasian coast with ammunition.

Therefore, the Black Sea Fleet received two tasks: firstly, to quickly transport reinforcements from Crimea to the Caucasus; secondly, strike at Turkish sea communications. Pavel Nakhimov completed both tasks. On September 13, an emergency order was received in Sevastopol to transfer an infantry division with artillery to Anakria (Anaklia). The Black Sea Fleet was in turmoil at that time. There were rumors about an Anglo-French squadron acting on the side of the Ottomans. Nakhimov immediately took over the operation. In four days, he prepared the ships and deployed the troops in perfect order: 16 battalions with two batteries - more than 16 thousand people, 824 people and all the necessary equipment. On September 17, the squadron entered the stormy sea and on the morning of September 24 arrived in Anakria. By evening the unloading was completed. The operation involved 14 sailing ships, 7 steamships and 11 transport vessels. The operation was considered brilliant; there were only 4 sick people among the sailors, and 7 among the soldiers.

Having solved the first problem, Pavel Stepanovich proceeded to the second. It was necessary to find a Turkish squadron at sea and defeat it. Prevent the enemy from carrying out an amphibious operation in the area of ​​Sukhum-Kale and Poti by providing assistance to the highlanders. A 20 thousand Turkish corps was concentrated in Batumi, which was supposed to be transported by a large transport flotilla - up to 250 ships. The landing was to be covered by Osman Pasha's squadron.

At this time, the commander of the Crimean Army and the Black Sea Fleet was Prince Alexander Menshikov. He sent a squadron of Nakhimov and Kornilov to search for the enemy. On November 5, Kornilov met the Ottoman 10-gun steamer Pervaz-Bahre, coming from Sinop. The steam frigate "Vladimir" (11 guns) under the flag of the Chief of Staff of the Black Sea Fleet Kornilov attacked the enemy. The battle was directly led by the commander of the Vladimir, Lieutenant Commander Grigory Butakov. He used the high maneuverability of his ship and noticed the weakness of the enemy - the absence of guns at the stern of the Turkish steamer. Throughout the battle I tried to stay in such a way as not to fall under Ottoman fire. The three-hour battle ended in Russian victory. This was the first battle of steam ships in history. Then Vladimir Kornilov returned to Sevastopol and ordered Rear Admiral F. M. Novosilsky to find Nakhimov and reinforce him with the battleships Rostislav and Svyatoslav, and the brig Aeneas. Novosilsky met with Nakhimov and, having completed the assignment, returned to Sevastopol.

Since the end of October, Nakhimov has been cruising between Sukhum and part of the Anatolian coast, where Sinop was the main port. The vice admiral, after meeting with Novosiltsev, had five 84-gun ships: Empress Maria, Chesma, Rostislav, Svyatoslav and Brave, as well as the frigate Kovarna and the brig Aeneas. On November 2 (14), Nakhimov issued an order for the squadron, where he notified the commanders that in the event of a meeting with an enemy “superior to us in strength, I will attack him, being completely confident that each of us will do his job.” Every day we waited for the enemy to appear. In addition, there was the possibility of meeting with British ships. But there was no Ottoman squadron. We only met Novosilsky, who brought two ships, replacing those battered by the storm and sent to Sevastopol. On November 8, a severe storm broke out, and the vice admiral was forced to send 4 more ships for repairs. The situation was critical. Strong winds continued after the storm on November 8th.

On November 11, Nakhimov approached Sinop and immediately sent a brig with the news that an Ottoman squadron was stationed in the bay. Despite significant enemy forces standing under the protection of 6 coastal batteries, Nakhimov decided to block Sinop Bay and wait for reinforcements. He asked Menshikov to send the ships “Svyatoslav” and “Brave”, the frigate “Kovarna” and the steamer “Bessarabia” sent for repairs. The admiral also expressed bewilderment why he was not sent the frigate "Kulevchi", which is idle in Sevastopol, and sent two more additional ships necessary for cruising. Nakhimov was ready to fight if the Turks made a breakthrough. However, the Ottoman command, although at that time had an advantage in strength, did not dare to engage in a general battle or simply make a breakthrough. When Nakhimov reported that the Ottoman forces in Sinop, according to his observations, were higher than previously thought, Menshikov sent reinforcements - Novosilsky's squadron, and then a detachment of Kornilov's steamers.

Strengths of the parties

Reinforcements arrived on time. On November 16 (28), 1853, Nakhimov’s detachment was reinforced by the squadron of Rear Admiral Fyodor Novosilsky: 120-gun battleships “Paris”, “Grand Duke Konstantin” and “Three Saints”, frigates “Kahul” and “Kulevchi”. As a result, under the command of Nakhimov there were already 6 battleships: the 84-gun “Empress Maria”, “Chesma” and “Rostislav”, the 120-gun “Paris”, “Grand Duke Constantine” and “Three Saints”, the 60-gun frigate “ Kulevchi" and the 44-gun "Kahul". Nakhimov had 716 guns; from each side the squadron could fire a salvo weighing 378 pounds 13 pounds. In addition, Kornilov rushed to Nakhimov’s aid with three steam frigates.

The Ottomans had 7 frigates, 3 corvettes, several auxiliary ships and a detachment of 3 steam frigates. In total, the Turks had 476 naval guns, supported by 44 coastal guns. The Ottoman squadron was led by the Turkish Vice Admiral Osman Pasha. The second flagship was Rear Admiral Hussein Pasha. There was an English adviser with the squadron - Captain A. Slade. The steamship detachment was commanded by Vice Admiral Mustafa Pasha. Osman Pasha, knowing that the Russian squadron was guarding him at the exit from the bay, sent an alarming message to Istanbul, asking for help, significantly exaggerating Nakhimov’s forces. However, the Ottomans were late; the message was transmitted to the British on November 17 (29), a day before Nakhimov’s attack. Even if Lord Stratford-Radcliffe, who at that time actually led the policy of the Porte, gave the order to the British squadron to go to the aid of Osman Pasha, help would still be late. Moreover, the British ambassador in Istanbul did not have the right to start a war with Russia; the admiral could refuse.

Nakhimov's plan

The admiral, as soon as reinforcements arrived, decided not to wait, to immediately enter Sinop Bay and attack the Ottoman ships. In essence, Nakhimov was taking a risk, albeit a well calculated one. The Ottomans had good naval and coastal guns, and with appropriate leadership, the Turkish forces could inflict serious damage on the Russian squadron. However, the once formidable Ottoman navy was in decline, both in terms of combat training and leadership. The Ottoman command itself played along with Nakhimov, positioning the ships extremely inconveniently for defense. Firstly, the Ottoman squadron was positioned like a fan, a concave arc. As a result, the ships blocked the firing sector of part of the coastal batteries. Secondly, the ships were located right next to the embankment, which did not give them the opportunity to maneuver and fire on both sides. This weakened the firepower of Osman Pasha's squadron.

Nakhimov's plan was imbued with determination and initiative. The Russian squadron, in the formation of two wake columns (the ships followed one after another along the course line), received the order to break through to the Sinop roadstead and deliver a fire strike on the enemy ships and batteries. The first column was commanded by Nakhimov. It included the ships “Empress Maria” (flagship), “Grand Duke Konstantin” and “Chesma”. The second column was led by Novosilsky. It included “Paris” (2nd flagship), “Three Saints” and “Rostislav”. The movement in two columns was supposed to reduce the time it took for ships to pass under the fire of the Turkish squadron and coastal batteries. In addition, it was easier to deploy Russian ships into battle formation when anchored. The rearguard was frigates, which were supposed to stop the enemy’s attempts to escape. The targets of all ships were distributed in advance. At the same time, ship commanders had a certain independence in choosing targets, depending on the specific situation, while implementing the principle of mutual support.

The Battle of Sinop in 1853 immortalized the glory of Russian sailors. It was thanks to him that the West started talking about the power of the Russian fleet.

The Battle of Sinop, which became the last battle, is called the “swan song of the sailing fleet.” sailing fleets. In honor of this victory of Russian sailors in Crimean War December 1 is declared the Day of Military Glory of Russia. In the battle between the Russian and Turkish squadrons, all but one of the Turkish ships were destroyed. The Russian fleet did not suffer any losses.

Map of the battle of the Sinop raid. 11/30/1853

The English press assessed the actions of the Russian sailors very negatively, calling the battle the “Sinop Massacre.” There was even false information that the Russians were shooting Turks in the water as they tried to escape from sinking ships. Ultimately, the events of November 30 prompted Great Britain and France to enter the war (in March 1854) on the side of the Ottoman Empire.

In the battle on the roadstead of the Turkish port of Sinop, they managed to defeat the enemy in just 4 hours - that’s how long the battle lasted. It all started with the fact that Russian patrol ships discovered sea ​​vessels Turks in Sinop Bay. They intended to transfer forces to the Caucasus - to Sukhumi and Poti. The commander of the Russian fleet, Admiral Pavel Nakhimov, ordered to block the exit from the bay and call for reinforcements from Sevastopol. The squadron in two columns, one of which was led by Nakhimov, the second by Rear Admiral Fyodor Novosilsky, entered the bay. Under heavy enemy fire, Russian ships approached the Turkish ships and only from a distance of 300 meters, with precise broadside salvos, they destroyed all the ships of Osman Pasha. Only one was able to leave the bay, break away from pursuit, reach Istanbul and report the collapse of the squadron. The Turkish admiral was captured, his broadsword is still kept in the Sevastopol Museum. Enemy losses amounted to more than 3,000 killed and wounded. On the Russian side, 38 sailors were killed and a little more than 200 were wounded.

I.K. Aivazovsky. Russian ships in the Battle of Sinop. 1853

The Turks had a numerical advantage - 16 ships against 8 Russian ships. True, they did not have a single line gun, which gave a total of 500 guns, versus 720 for the Russians, who had 6 battleships. And even the help of 38 coast guard guns did not save the Turkish fleet from destruction. It is worth adding that the Russians were the first to use 68-pound bomb guns, which fired explosive shells. It was this weapon that largely determined such a brilliant victory for Russia. A salvo from bomb cannons could send any ship existing at that time to the bottom. The use of such weapons was virtually the end for classic sailing wooden warships.

I.K. Aivazovsky. 120-gun ship "Paris"

Admiral Nakhimov commanded the battle from the ship Empress Maria. The flagship suffered the most - it was literally bombarded by enemy cannonballs, and was killed most of masts and spars. Nevertheless, the Empress Maria moved forward, crushing Turkish ships along the way. Approaching the Turkish flagship Auni Allah, the Russian flagship anchored and fought for half an hour. As a result, the Auni Allah caught fire and washed ashore. After this, the Empress Maria defeated another Turkish frigate, the Fazi Allah, and went to battle with the fifth battery.

Other ships also distinguished themselves in battle. During the battle, Nakhimov usually expressed gratitude to the sailors for a good battle. This time he liked the actions of the battleship Paris. While anchored, the ship opened battle fire on the corvette Guli-Sefid and the frigate Damiad. Having blown up the corvette and thrown the frigate ashore, it struck the frigate Nizamiye with fire, the ship drifted to the shore and soon caught fire. The commander ordered to signal his gratitude to the team, but the signal towers on the flagship were broken. Then he sent a boat with sailors, who personally conveyed the admiral’s gratitude to the sailors of the Paris.

Having ended the battle, the ships of the Russian fleet began to repair the damage, and two days later they weighed anchor to proceed to Sevastopol. Around noon on December 4, amid general rejoicing, they victoriously entered the Sevastopol roadstead. Admiral Nakhimov, who achieved this brilliant victory, died a year and a half later during the siege of Sevastopol.

A.D. Kivshenko. The deck of the battleship "Empress Maria" during the battle of Sinope. . 1853

The Battle of Sinop immortalized Russian sailors in history. It was thanks to him that the West started talking about the power of the Russian fleet. In addition, this naval battle became one of the most bright examples complete destruction of the enemy fleet at its own base.

A.P. Bogolyubov. Battle of Sinop

Having learned about the victory at Sinop, the famous marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky immediately left for Sevastopol, where the ships of the Black Sea Fleet returned. The artist asked about all the details of the battle, about the location of the ships, and about the fact that Nakhimov started the battle “at the closest distance.” Having collected necessary information, the artist painted two paintings - “The Battle of Sinop by Day”, about the beginning of the battle, and “The Battle of Sinop at Night” - about its victorious end and the defeat of the Turkish fleet. “The paintings are extremely well done,” said Admiral Nakhimov, the hero of Sinop, about them.