Battle of Chesma. The naval Battle of Chesme took place on 5-7 July 1770 during the Russo-Turkish War near and in Cesme Bay, in the area between the western tip of Anatolia and the island of Chios, which was the site of a number of past naval battles between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice.
It was a part of the Orlov Revolt of 1770, a precursor to the later Greek War of Independence, and the first of a number of disastrous fleet battles for the Ottomans against Russia. The Russo-Turkish War had begun in 1768, and Russia sent several squadrons from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea to draw Ottoman attention away from their Black Sea fleet, then only 6 battleships strong.
Two Russian squadrons, commanded by Admiral Grigory Spiridov and Rear Admiral John Elphinstone, a British adviser, combined under the overall command of Count Alexei Orlov, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Fleet, and went to look for the Ottoman fleet. On 5 July 1770, they came across it, anchored in line just north of ÇeÅŸme Bay, western Anatolia.
Details of the Ottoman fleet are uncertain, but it included 14-16 ships of the line including Real Mustafa of 84 guns, Rodos of 60 guns and a 100-gun flagship. In addition, there were perhaps 6 frigates, 6 xebecs, 13 galleys and 32 small craft, with about 1,300 guns in total.
About 10 of the ships of the line, of 70-100 guns, were in the Ottoman main line with a fu
It was a part of the Orlov Revolt of 1770, a precursor to the later Greek War of Independence, and the first of a number of disastrous fleet battles for the Ottomans against Russia. The Russo-Turkish War had begun in 1768, and Russia sent several squadrons from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea to draw Ottoman attention away from their Black Sea fleet, then only 6 battleships strong.
Two Russian squadrons, commanded by Admiral Grigory Spiridov and Rear Admiral John Elphinstone, a British adviser, combined under the overall command of Count Alexei Orlov, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Fleet, and went to look for the Ottoman fleet. On 5 July 1770, they came across it, anchored in line just north of ÇeÅŸme Bay, western Anatolia.
Details of the Ottoman fleet are uncertain, but it included 14-16 ships of the line including Real Mustafa of 84 guns, Rodos of 60 guns and a 100-gun flagship. In addition, there were perhaps 6 frigates, 6 xebecs, 13 galleys and 32 small craft, with about 1,300 guns in total.
About 10 of the ships of the line, of 70-100 guns, were in the Ottoman main line with a fu
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