Naval actions at the siege of Ochakov

Overview

This was a series of mainly small-ship actions which occurred along the coast of what is now Ukraine during the Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792) as Russian and Turkish ships and boats supported their land armies in the struggle for control of Ochakov, a strategic position. The main actions at sea happened on 17, 18, 28 and 29 June and 9 July 1788. On 9 July also, the larger Turkish ships left and on 14 July they fought the Russian Sevastopol Squadron about 100 miles to the south.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The naval actions at Ochakov formed part of the broader contest for control of a strategic position on the Black Sea coast during the Seventh Russo-Turkish War. The engagements, conducted primarily by small ships and boats, were ancillary to land operations, with Russian and Turkish naval forces each supporting their respective armies in the siege. The main sea actions were concentrated in late June and early July 1788. The departure of the larger Turkish ships on 9 July shifted the naval balance, leading those vessels to engage the Russian Sevastopol Squadron approximately 100 miles to the south on 14 July, extending the naval contest beyond the immediate vicinity of Ochakov.

Tactics

Forces & casualties