![]() Sultan Makhmud | |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Preceded by | Imperatritsa Maria class |
Succeeded by | Rostislav |
Completed | 8 |
Lost | 6 |
Scrapped | 2 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Ship of the line |
Displacement | 3,790 metric tons (3,730 long tons; 4,180 short tons) |
Length | 196 ft (60 m) |
Beam | 53 ft 6 in (16.31 m) |
Draft | 26 ft 7 in (8.10 m) |
Armament |
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The Sultan Makhmud class was a group of eight 84-gun ships of the line built for the Black Sea Fleet of the Imperial Russian Navy. The class comprised Sultan Makhmud, Trekh Ierarkhov, Arkhangel Gavriil, Selafail, Uriil, Varna, Iagudiil, and Sviatoslav. They were built as part of a naval expansion program directed against the British and French, which Russia viewed as competitors to fill the power vacuum left by the continued decline of the Ottoman Empire. The ships represented an improvement over the traditional seventy-four, as improved building techniques allowed naval designers to build larger, more heavily armed vessels without sacrificing the hull strength that had made the seventy-fours such effective warships.
The ships of the class had relatively uneventful careers; the first two vessels took part in campaigns in the Caucasus in the late 1830s and early 1840s to suppress rebels, and all of the ships saw active service patrolling the Black Sea in the 1840s. Sultan Makhmud and Trekh Ierarkhov were in poor condition by 1850 and the former was accordingly converted into a hulk while a steam-power conversion for the latter ultimately came to nothing. The other ships remained in service after the start of the Crimean War in October 1853, but none saw action at the Battle of Sinop that triggered British and French intervention and ultimately led to all of the ships' destruction during the Siege of Sevastopol in 1854 and 1855. Most of the vessels were scuttled as block ships, but Iagudiil remained in service until the Russian collapse, when she was destroyed by retreating Russian forces.
The Ottoman Empire had grown increasingly weak by the 1820s, particularly after a combined French, British, and Russian fleet annihilated an Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Navarino in 1827. The power vacuum increased tension with Britain and France over influence in the region, prompting Russian fears of a conflict with the other two Great Powers. At the time, the British and French navies began to move away from the traditional seventy-four as improved building techniques allowed them to design larger two-decked ships of the line armed with 84 guns while retaining the hull strength of the 74-gun ships. And at the same time, the navy of the Eyalet of Egypt also began to build a powerful fleet. To prepare itself for an anticipated future conflict involving the British, French, Egyptians, or Ottomans, Russia began a construction program in the 1830s to strengthen the Black Sea Fleet that included nine 84-gun ships; unlike the shallower Baltic Sea, ships built for the Black Sea could make use of the deeper draft needed for the larger eighty-fours. Following the three Imperatritsa Maria-class ships, the Russian Navy embarked on a larger program, resulting in the eight Sultan Makhmud-class ships. [1]
The ships of the Sultan Makhmud class varied slightly in dimensions; they were 196 feet (60 m) to 197 ft 4 in (60.15 m) long, with a beam of 52 ft (16 m) to 53 ft 6 in (16.31 m) and a draft of 23 ft 8 in (7.21 m) to 26 ft 7 in (8.10 m). They displaced 3,790 metric tons (3,730 long tons ; 4,180 short tons ) and measured 2,500 tons burthen. The ships were built with a round stern to increase its strength. [2]
The ships carried an armament that varied between members of the class and changed over time. Sultan Makhmud was armed with a battery of twenty-eight 36-pounder long guns on the lower gun deck and another thirty-two 36-pound short-barreled guns on the upper gun deck. Most of the other members of the class carried an identical battery in their lower and upper decks, though with just twenty-six guns in their lower deck, with the exception of Sviatoslav, which carried four 68-pound Paixhans guns in addition to twenty-eight of the 36-pounder guns. [2]
The ships carried a wider range of lighter guns—primarily gunnades and carronades—in their forecastles and quarterdecks. Sultan Makhmud mounted six 18-pound guns and sixteen 36-pound carronades, while Trekh Ierarkhov received four additional 36-pound carronades. Arkhangel Gavriil instead carried six 18-pound guns, fourteen 36-pound carronades, one 24-pound carronade, two 12-pound carronades, and two 8-pound carronades. Selafail and Uriil mounted an almost identical light battery of six 18-pound gunnades, ten 36-pound carronades, two 24-pound carronades, two 12-pound carronades, and two 8-pound carronades, though Uriil received one less 12-pounder. Varna, Iagudiil, and Sviatoslav were also similarly armed, with twenty 24-pound gunnades, two 24-pound carronades, six 18-pound carronades (seven for Iagudiil and eight for Sviatoslav), two 12-pound carronades, and two 8-pound carronades. [2]
Ship | Builder [3] | Laid down [3] | Launched [3] |
---|---|---|---|
Sultan Makhmud | V. Apostoli, Nikolaev | 1 February 1835 | 31 October 1836 |
Trekh Ierarkhov | S. I. Chernyavskiy, Nikolaev | 19 November 1835 | 28 August 1838 |
Arkhangel Gavriil | A. S. Akimov, Nikolaev | 28 August 1838 | 19 November 1839 |
Selafail | V. Apostoli, Nikolaev | 28 August 1838 | 10 July 1840 |
Uriil | A. S. Akimov, Nikolaev | 28 August 1838 | 31 October 1840 |
Varna | I. D. Vorobyov, Nikolaev | 4 October 1838 | 26 July 1842 |
Iagudiil | I. S. Dimitriev, Nikolaev | 21 September 1839 | 17 September 1839 |
Sviatoslav | I. S. Dimitriev, Nikolaev | 16 May 1843 | 7 November 1845 |
All eight ships of the class served with the Black Sea Fleet on entering service. Sultan Makhmud, Trekh Ierarkhov, and Arkhangel Gavriil took part in campaigns to suppress civil unrest Caucasus region in the eastern Black Sea, primarily as troop transports. Sultan Makhmud was involved in a bombardment of Sochi in 1839. In the early 1840s, the ships that had entered service patrolled the Black Sea and transported elements of the Imperial Russian Army to and from Sevastopol and Odessa. All eight ships were laid up in 1846 and were reactivated periodically through the early 1850s. In poor condition, Sultan Makhmud was hulked in 1850 and Trekh Ierarkhov was considered for rebuilding into a steam-powered ship of the line, but the plan was abandoned due to its cost. [3] [4]
In October 1853, the Crimean War broke out between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, and in the early stages of the conflict the ships still in active service were used to carry Russian soldiers to the Caucasus. Several of the vessels were to have joined Pavel Nakhimov's squadron that saw action at the Battle of Sinop in November, but storm damage to the vessels forced them to return to port for repairs. [3] Despite none of the members of the class having taken part in the battle, the action nevertheless led to all of their ultimate demise, as pro-war parties in Britain and France used the attack on Sinop as justification to intervene on behalf of the Ottomans. A powerful Anglo-French fleet entered the Black Sea, and the Russians, who wished to avoid directly attacking British and French forces in favor of a negotiated settlement, withdrew the Black Sea Fleet to Sevastopol. [5] [6] [7]
During the ensuing Siege of Sevastopol, Sultan Makhmud and Trekh Ierarkhov were both broken up in 1854, as the lack of funds due to the war prevented their repair. Many of the ships' crews were sent ashore to assist with the city's defense, and Sviatoslav was converted into a hospital ship. The surviving members of the class were ultimately either scuttled there as blockships in 1854 to prevent the British and French from entering the harbor, as was the case with Selafail, Uriil, Arkhangel Gavriil, Varna, and Sviatoslav, or destroyed in the wake of the Russian collapse after the Battle of Malakoff to prevent her capture, as with Iagudiil. [3]
Sinop was a wooden-hulled, steam-powered, first-rate ship of the line built for the Imperial Russian Navy in the mid-1850s. Intended to serve with the Black Sea Fleet, she was transferred to the Baltic Fleet before her engine was installed in accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Paris that ended the Crimean War. Built of unseasoned oak, Sinop saw little service before she was stricken from the Navy Directory in 1874.
Vola was an 84-gun Imperatritsa Aleksandra-class ship of the line built for the Imperial Russian Navy in the mid-1830s. The ship was assigned to the Baltic Fleet for her entire career. She was one of the ships deployed to Denmark during the First Schleswig War of 1848–50 to help preserve Denmark's territorial integrity against Prussia. The ship was converted to steam power in 1854–57 and cruised the Baltic Sea in 1857–61 before she was placed in ordinary. Vola was stricken from the navy list in 1871 and sold for scrap.
Konstantin was a 74-gun Fershampenuaz-class ship of the line built for the Imperial Russian Navy in the mid-1830s. The ship was assigned to the Baltic Fleet for her entire career. She was one of the ships deployed to Denmark during the First Schleswig War of 1848–50 to help preserve Denmark's territorial integrity against Prussia. The ship was converted to steam power in 1852–54 and cruised the Baltic Sea in 1857–60 before she was placed in ordinary. Konstantin was stricken from the navy list in 1864 and sold for scrap.
Taif was one of four wooden-hulled Mecidiye-class paddle frigates built for the Ottoman Navy in the 1840s; they were the first Ottoman-built warships powered by steam. She served with the fleet until 1867, including during the Crimean War, where she saw a minor battle with a Russian frigate in the Black Sea. She was present at the Battle of Sinop, but her steam engine allowed her to escape before the Russian fleet destroyed the Ottoman squadron in the port. The ship remained in service until 1867, seeing little activity during this period, and was ultimately broken up in 1868.
Saik-i Şadi was one of four wooden-hulled Mecidiye-class paddle frigates built for the Ottoman Navy in the 1840s; they were the first Ottoman-built warships powered by steam. The ship had a relatively uneventful career; she saw limited action during the Crimean War in 1853, when she fought a small action against a Russian frigate in the Black Sea. The future Sultan, Abdülaziz, frequently used the ship as his yacht in the 1850s, but she otherwise saw little active use before being decommissioned in 1867 and broken up in 1869.
Rostislav was an 84-gun third-rate ship of the line built for the Black Sea Fleet of the Imperial Russian Navy in the 1840s as part of a naval expansion program to strengthen the fleet during a period of increased tension with Britain and France. Rostislav carried a battery primarily consisting of traditional shot-firing guns, but she also carried eight new shell-firing guns. The ship saw combat during the Crimean War at the Battle of Sinop in 1853, where the Russian shell guns proved to be decisive. She repaired in Sevastopol in 1854 and was scuttled during the Siege of Sevastopol in 1855.
Imperatritsa Maria was an 84-gun third rate ship of the line built for the Black Sea Fleet of the Imperial Russian Navy in the late 1840s and early 1850s as part of a naval expansion program to strengthen the fleet during a period of increased tension with Britain and France. The second and final member of the Khrabryi class, she was the last sail-powered ship of the line to be built for the Russian Navy.
Chesma was an 84-gun ship of the line built for the Black Sea Fleet of the Imperial Russian Navy in the 1840s. Rostislav carried a battery primarily consisting of tradition shot-firing guns, but she also carried four new shell-firing guns. The ship saw combat during the Crimean War at the Battle of Sinop against an Ottoman squadron in 1853, where the Russian shell guns proved to be decisive. The battle prompted Britain and France to intervene to support the Ottomans, leading the Russian fleet to withdraw to Sevastopol to avoid a battle with an Anglo-French fleet. Chesma helped to defend Sevastopol, supporting Russian ground forces during a battle in February 1855 before being disarmed to strengthen the city's defenses and then scuttled to block the harbor entrance to the Anglo-French fleet in August.
Khrabryi was the lead ship of the Khrabryi class of ships of the line built for the Black Sea Fleet of the Imperial Russian Navy in the 1840s. She saw limited service during the Crimean War in 1853–1854; storm damage prevented her from participating in the Battle of Sinop, and the Russian fleet thereafter avoided battle with the British and French fleets that intervened on behalf of the Ottoman Empire. Disarmed during the Siege of Sevastopol, she was later scuttled there to block the harbor entrance in 1855.
The Khrabryi class was a pair of ships of the line built for the Black Sea Fleet of the Imperial Russian Navy in the 1840s and early 1850s. The class comprised two ships: Khrabryi and Imperatritsa Maria. The two ships were built as part of a naval expansion program aimed at strengthening the Black Sea Fleet during a period of increased tension with Britain and France over the continued decline of the Ottoman Empire. Both ships saw active service during the Crimean War, with Imperatritsa Maria serving as Pavel Nakhimov's flagship at the Battle of Sinop in November 1853, where the Russians annihilated an Ottoman squadron. The two ships were withdrawn to Sevastopol after the British and French intervention and were trapped there during the Siege of Sevastopol until 1855, when both were scuttled to block the harbor entrance.
Sviatoslav was a Sultan Makhmud-class ship of the line built for the Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet in the 1840s. The ship participated in the Crimean War in 1853–1855, beginning with an operation to carry reinforcements for the Imperial Russian Army stationed in the Caucasus in October 1853. Storm damage prevented her from taking part in the Battle of Sinop the next month, but the British and French intervention in the war after that battle led ultimately to Sviatoslav's loss. The Russian fleet withdrew to Sevastopol to avoid battle with the Anglo-French fleet, and during the ensuing Siege of Sevastopol, she was converted into a hospital ship and eventually scuttled in February 1855.
Iagudiil was a Sultan Makhmud-class ship of the line built for the Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet in the 1840s. Iagudiil had an uneventful career in the 1840s, alternating between periods in commission and in reserve. She participated in the early operations of the Black Sea Fleet during the Crimean War in October 1853, but her poor condition kept her from seeing action at the Battle of Sinop. The French and British intervention after Sinop led to the Russian retreat to Sevastopol, which was then besieged from 1854 to 1855. During the siege, Iagudiil battled French and British field artillery. After the Russian defenders were defeated in August 1855, they burned the ship to prevent it from being captured by the British and French, and the wreck was later demolished in 1857.
Varna was a Sultan Makhmud-class ship of the line built for the Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet in the late 1830s and early 1840s. The ship had an uneventful career, apart from routine peacetime operations in the 1840s, interrupted by periods in reserve. In October 1853, she helped carry soldiers to the Caucasus to strengthen the Russian position there at the start of the Crimean War. In need of repairs, she was unable to take part in the Battle of Sinop in November, and thereafter remained in Sevastopol during the siege of the city. Her crew was sent ashore to reinforce the defenses and Varna was scuttled as a blockship in 1854 to bar the harbor entrance to French and British warships.
Uriil was a Sultan Makhmud-class ship of the line built for the Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet in the late 1830s and early 1840s. The ship had a relatively uneventful career, operating with the Black Sea Fleet in the early 1840s before being laid up in 1845; apart from brief periods of activity in 1847 and 1849, she remained out of service until 1852. After the outbreak of the Crimean War in October 1853, she joined a squadron commanded by Pavel Nakhimov, but was unable to participate in the Battle of Sinop after a storm opened leaks in her hull. In poor condition, she was removed from service and her crew was sent to help man shore batteries during the Siege of Sevastopol. Uriil was then scuttled to block the harbor entrance in 1854.
Selafail was a Sultan Makhmud-class ship of the line built for the Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet in the late 1830s and early 1840s. The ship had a relatively uneventful career, operating with the Black Sea Fleet in the early 1840s before being laid up in 1845; apart from brief periods of activity in 1847 and 1849, she remained out of service until 1852. After the outbreak of the Crimean War in October 1853, she was slated to join a squadron commanded by Pavel Nakhimov, but storm damage prevented her from taking part in the Battle of Sinop. The ship was eventually scuttled as a blockship in 1854 during the Siege of Sevastopol.
Arkhangel Gavriil was a Sultan Makhmud-class ship of the line built for the Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet in the late 1830s and early 1840s. The ship had a relatively uneventful career, frequently being used as a troop transport including during campaigns in the Caucasus in the early 1840s to suppress unrest in the recently-conquered territory. She saw little activity after being laid up in 1845 and was repaired in late 1853, though she did not see action during the Crimean War and was instead scuttled in September 1854.
Trekh Ierarkhov was a Sultan Makhmud-class ship of the line built for the Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet in the late 1830s. The ship had a relatively uneventful career, frequently being used as a troop transport including during campaigns in the Caucasus in the early 1840s to suppress unrest in the recently-conquered territory. She saw little activity after being laid up in 1845; considered for conversion to steam power in 1852, she was instead broken up in 1854 due to her poor condition and the lack of funds during the Crimean War.
Sultan Makhmud was the lead ship of the Sultan Makhmud class of ships of the line built for the Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet in the late 1830s and early 1840s. The ship supported a campaign by the Imperial Russian Army to pacify newly-conquered territory in the Caucasus in the late 1830s and 1840, and thereafter patrolled the Black Sea in the early 1840s. She spent most of the last half of the decade out of service apart from brief periods of activity in 1847 and 1849, and was decommissioned in 1850. Hulked in 1852, she quickly deteriorated badly and was broken up in 1854.
The Mecidiye class of paddle frigates consisted of four ships of the Ottoman Navy built in the 1840s. The class comprised Mecidiye, Taif, Saik-i Şadi, and Feyzâ-i Bahrî.