Battle of Kerch Strait

The naval Battle of Kerch Strait took place on July 19 1790 near Kerch, Crimea, and was a slight victory for Imperial Russia over the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War, 1787-1792.

The Russian fleet, under Ushakov, sailed from Sevastopol on 13 July 1790 for the southern Crimea, after hearing a report that the Turkish fleet had been sighted there. On 19 July it anchored at the mouth of the Kerch Strait and sent privateers out in search of the Turks. At 10 am they reported a sighting and 30 minutes later the Turkish fleet came into view from the east. With the wind from the ENE, Ushakov formed a line on the port tack (ie. south-east). The Turks turned from their group formation and formed a parallel line to the east of the Russian line. Seeing that the Turks' battle-line contained just their battleships, Ushakov sent 6 frigates to form a second line to leeward of the main line, and between about 12pm and 3pm, 3 hours of indecisive longish-range fighting followed, but then the wind changed direction to NNE and the Russians luffed, turning toward the Turkish line. The Turks reversed course, 2 of their ships colliding as they did so, because some ships turned left and others turned right. As the Russians steered toward the tail-end of the Turks line, and with the wind from the north, the Turkish admiral steered away, to the SW. At about 7pm firing ceased. The Russians followed all night, but by morning, the faster ships of the Turks were out of sight. Russian casualties were 29 killed and 68 wounded, with very little damage to ships. The Russian victory prevented Turkey from achieving its goal in landing an army in Crimea.

Ships involved:

Russia (Ushakov)

Rozhdestvo Christovo 84 (flag)
Maria Magdalina 66
Slava Ekateriny 66
Sv. Pavel 66
Sv. Vladimir 66
Sv. Aleksandr Nevskii 50
Sv. Andrei Pervozvannyi 50
Sv. Georgii Pobyedonosets 50
Ioann Bogoslov 46
Sv. Petr Apostol 46
Fanagoria 40
Kinburn 40
Legkii 40
Perun 40
Stryela 40
Taganrog 40
Sv. Ieronim (bomb)
2 fireships
13 privateers
Polotsk

Turkey

? (2nd flag) 74
Melike Bahri 66
8 other battleships
8 frigates
36 small craft

References

• Naval wars in the Levant 1559-1853 - R. C. Anderson ISBN 1-57898-538-2