TRENDEAtlas of the Sultans · Wars, battles and treaties
Naval battle · 1853
The Battle of Sinop, or the Battle of Sinope, was a naval battle that took place on 30 November 1853 between Imperial Russia and the Ottoman Empire during the opening phase of the Crimean War (1853–1856). It took place at Sinop, a sea port on the southern shore of the Black Sea (the northern shore of Anatolian Turkey). A Russian squadron attacked and decisively defeated an Ottoman squadron anchored in Sinop's harbor. The Russian force consisted of six ships of the line, two frigates and three armed steamers, led by Admiral Pavel Nakhimov; the Ottoman defenders were seven frigates, three corvettes and two armed steamers, commanded by Vice Admiral Osman Pasha. The Russian navy had recently adopted naval artillery that fired explosive shells, which gave them a decisive advantage in the battle.
| Date | 30 November 1853 (18 November O.S.) |
|---|---|
| Location | Sinop, Ottoman Empire, |
| Result | Russian victory · France and Britain enter the Crimean War |
| Belligerents | Russian Empire | Ottoman Empire Egypt Eyalet |
|---|---|---|
| Commanders | Pavel Nakhimov | Osman Pasha (POW) Adolphus Slade |
| Strength | 6 ships of the line 2 frigates 3 steamers | 7 frigates 3 corvettes 2 steamers coastal artillery |
| Casualties | 37 killed 229 wounded | 3,000–5,000 killed 1 frigate sunk 1 steamer sunk 6 frigates grounded 3 corvettes grounded ~2 shore batteries destroyed |
When telegraph reports of the battle reached Russian authorities in St. Petersburg, the reaction was jubilant. The untested and widely hated Russian navy had proven victorious and the recent expenditure in its development seemed warranted. Several balls were held to celebrate the victory and a state-funded parade was held. The affair was rather grand, and included dancers, bands, parading troops who had not taken part in the battle and criminals dressed up in Ottoman uniforms. Military advisors saw the battle as a turning point and pushed for shell-firing guns to be installed on all Russian ships. The reaction in the Ottoman capital of Constantinople ranged from concern to total panic.
Took place during the reign of Abdulmejid I (1839–1861). Abdulmejid I
Open the reign of Abdulmejid I on the mapText: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), adapted for the atlas.