Athos Battle of 1807

Athos Battle of 1807 

battle on June 19 near the cape of Athos (Hagion Oros) Peninsula in the Aegean Sea between the Russian squadron of Vice-Admiral D. N. Seniavin (ten battleships, 754 guns) and the Turkish squadron of Kapudan-Pasa Seyit-Ali (nine battleships, five frigates, three corvettes, and two auxiliary vessels, with 1,196 guns) during the Archipelagic Expeditions of the Russian fleet. On June 10 the Turkish squadron left the Dardanelles. Fearing that the Turks would avoid a decisive battle and again withdraw beyond the straits, Seniavin left several ships at the island of Tenedos (the base for his fleet) to assist the garrison and set out with his squadron for the west on June 14. The Turkish squadron approached the island and landed 6,000 troops. The Russian fleet then occupied a position near the island of Imroz (Imbros), blocking the Turks’ path of retreat into the Dardanelles. Seyit-Ali, avoiding battle, set off to the southwest. On June 19 the Russian squadron discovered the enemy near the island of Lemnos, attacked, and inflicted a serious defeat (the Turks lost three battleships, four frigates, and one corvette, with over 1,000 killed and wounded and 774 men captured; the Russians lost 261 men). In the Athos battle the Russian squadron maneuvered with tactical groups of two ships each and dealt its main blow on the enemy’s flagships. By maneuvering Seniavin gained superiority in the decisive direction. On June 25 the Russian squadron returned to Tenedos and forced the Turkish troops to capitulate.