Battle of Patras

Battle of Patras
Date 6–8 November 1772 Location near Patrai, Morea Eyalet (now in Greece) Result Decisive Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire	Ottoman Empire Crimean Khanate
Strength
7 warships	25 warships: 9 frigates and 16 xebecs
Casualties and losses
no ships lost	all frigates and 10 xebecs lost

This battle took place on 6, 7 and 8 November 1772, during the Russo-Turkish War (1768–74) in the Gulf of Patras, Greece, when a Russian fleet under Konyaev defeated an Ottoman force of frigates and xebecs, destroying all 9 frigates and 10 out of 16 xebecs and losing no ships.

History

Konyaev had left Livorno on 6 September 1772 and from 5 October cruised around Cerigo with Tchesma and Graf Orlov. On 23 October he was joined by Sv. Nikolai and on 27 October by Zabiaka, Slava, Auza and Modon, which had been detached from Orlov's fleet at Mikono under Voinovitch. They brought news of an Ottoman force in the Gulf of Patras, so Konyaev and Voinovitch combined forces to look for it.

On 5 November they arrived near Patras, and found 9 30-gun frigates and 12 xebecs at sea, plus 4 xebecs anchored under the guns of the fort.

On 6 November they attacked, with their smaller vessels in front due to the narrowness of the channel, and the Ottomans retreated. One xebec ran aground and was destroyed by Sv. Nikolai, Zabiaka and Modon. Sv. Nikolai and Slava cut off a frigate and another xebec and forced them aground where they were abandoned, and then burnt by Auza. The remaining Ottomans took refuge under the fort.

In the afternoon of 7 November, the Russians attacked again, standing back and forth along the Ottoman line to no great effect.

On 8 November they anchored near the Ottoman line and attacked at around 11.30am. By about 12pm several Ottoman vessels were on fire and abandoned, and Konyaev weighed anchor and sent in the boats under protection of Sv. Nikolai, Zabiaka and Slava to destroy or capture. 7 frigates and 8 xebecs were destroyed, the remaining frigate and 6 xebecs sailing further up the gulf. The frigate soon ran aground and was destroyed by Slava.

On 15 November Konyaev left for the Aegean Sea.

Ships involved

Russia (Konyaev)

Tchesma 80
Graf Orlov 66
Sv. Nikolai 26
Zabiaka 18
Slava 16
Auza 12
Modon 12

Ottoman Empire

9 frigates of 30 guns - 1 destroyed on 6 November, 8 destroyed on 8 November
16 xebecs of 20-30 guns - 2 destroyed on 6 November, 8 destroyed on 8 November

References

• Naval wars in the Levant 1559-1853 - R. C. Anderson ISBN 1-57898-538-2
• The Plan of the Action near Patrai. 6 November 1772