Battle of Patras (1772): Difference between revisions

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 [[Mykonos]] 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 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.

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''.