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On 20 October 1827, the Allied navies fighting for the Greek cause were surrounding Navarino, but detected and were facing heavy shellfire from a shore battery when the Ottoman Navy arrived. As the Ottoman Navy arrived, the flagship was shelled by shore batteries and corvettes and the Allied heavy ships spent their time dismasting corvettes until the sound of Ottoman heavy gunfire compelled the Allied ships to leave the harbour. Several survivors of the corvette fleet got the Ottoman Navy ready for action by saving themselves, however, ammunition was spent despite the decisive defeat.

Then, the Ottoman Navy was readied and the ships started firing at the Allies, but the corvettes were burning, drifting and wrecked. It was believed that the Ottoman performance might be determined by the flames and the battle saw many Ottoman corvettes lost in exchange for HMS Dartmouth and the French flagship. However, the sacrifice resulted in Scipion being burnt by a flagship and the Ottomans gaining morale. Breslaw was also badly damaged and would be wrecked, but not before sinking another frigate.

In exchange, the Ottoman-Egyptian navies inflicted heavy damage on the ships Azov and Albion, the latter damaged by shells early in the combat action and 2 ships of the line were sunk in return [one from further damage]. HMS Asia would play an important role in sinking the Ottoman attackers, but the first two ships were sunk and it was up to the Asia to dismast the Ottoman attackers, sink flagships and disable large frigates; who were weakened by their earlier attacks. Overall, the flagship suffered heavily just to win the battle, if pyrrhic, for the Allies.

Meanwhile, the British frigates involved in the battle would face heavy fire and two were nearly lost had it been not for a sunken Russian frigate. To the north, the Russian frigates scored victories against the Ottomans and would win the battle. But, Azov was disabled and aground later. HMS Genoa faced heavy fire from many smaller vessels it sank and was lucky to save the Asia from sinking. Another Russian ship [Gangut] was lost in the battle.

Although the battle was over by night, it wasn't the jubilant victory expected by the Allies. Meanwhile, the task of sinking dismasted Ottoman ships would increase damage to the Asia. It was believed that a morale boost might be provided to the Ottomans until the wrecks of their ships could be located or reported.
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