Battle of Cape Kaliakra

Part of the Russo-Turkish War, 1787-1792

Bulgarian sailors at the monument to Admiral Ushakov on Cape Kaliakra

Date	11 August 1791
Location	Cape Kaliakra off the coast of northern Bulgaria in the Black Sea
Result	Decisive Russian Victory End of the 1787-92 Russo-Turkish War Treaty of Jassy signed afterwards

Belligerents

Russian Empire

Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Algeria

Commanders and leaders

Admiral Fyodor Ushakov

Hussein Pasha
Said Ali

Strength

15 battleships
2 frigates,
19 small crafts

18 battleships
10 frigates,
7 small frigates,
48 small crafts,
The coastal battery

Casualties and losses

17 killed and 28 wounded
1 frigate damaged

Unknown, ships sustained heavy damage

Ottoman Empire

The Battle of Cape Kaliakra was the last naval battle of the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–1792. It took place on 11 August 1791 off the coast of Cape Kaliakra, Bulgaria, in the Black Sea. Neither side lost a ship, but the Ottomans retreated to Istanbul afterward.

The Russian fleet under Admiral Fyodor Ushakov, of 15 battleships and two frigates (990 guns), and several small craft sailed from Sevastopol on 8 August, and at midday on 11 August encountered the Ottoman-Algerian fleet under Hussein Pasha of 18 battleships and 17 frigates (1,500–1,600 guns) and some smaller craft at anchor just south of Cape Kaliakra. Ushakov sailed, in three columns, from the northeast, between the Ottomans and the cape, despite the presence on the cape of several guns.

Admiral Said Ali, the commander of the Algerian ships, weighed anchor and sailed east, followed by Hussein Pasha with the 18 battleships. The Russians then turned around south to a parallel east-south-east course and formed up mostly into one line, with Ushakov in third position and one ship out of line on the off-battle side. Said Ali, leading the line, turned north to try to double the Russian van, but Ushakov sailed out of the line and attacked him, as the rest of the Russian fleet approached. This was at 16:45 (4:45 p.m.). Gradually the Turks turned to the south and when darkness put an end to fighting at 20:30 (8:30 p.m.) they were in full retreat to Istanbul. Russian casualties were 17 killed and 28 wounded, and the frigate Alexander Nevsky was damaged. Ottoman casualty figures are unknown, but their ships were heavily damaged aloft.

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