Bosphorus-1897

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At night, June 4, 1897 Russian Black Sea Fleet ships entered the Bosphorus. At dawn , the rays of the rising sun lit lined up in the Strait of battleships "Tri svyatitelya", "Georgiy Pobedonosets", "Yekaterina II", "Sinop", "Chesma" and "Dvenadtsat' apostolov", cruiser "Pamyat Merkuriya" and mine-layers "Bug" and "Dunay", surrounded by destroyers, and most importantly, about five dozen ships loaded with troops and equipment.
All of these forces were in the rear covering the Bosphorus Turkish shore batteries.
Arrived at the Sultan's palace Russian Ambassador A. Nelidov already issued an ultimatum: Turkey must immediately convey Russia both shores of the Bosphorus, along with the "holy city" of Constantinople. Turks graciously granted the right to get out to Asia, from where they once came.
The landing amphibious assault Corps, General von Shtok has a membership of 33,750 officers and men with 64 field and 48 heavy guns (the latter had to be installed within 72 hours on both sides of the Straits, along with the mining of the Bosphorus from the Sea of Marmara) has already begun. Turkish coastal batteries were seized by a sudden blow Russian troops, supported by heavy naval artillery fire.
Mining the strait was conducted in exactly the appointed time (knowingly Captain 1st Rank S. Makarov in the early 80s in a purely scientific purposes has conducted a thorough measurements of depth in the strait - the great Hydrographer!) 825 min in three rows blocked the entrance to the Strait, on the shores of which are Russian grinned vents 9-inch mortars.
By the time of the approach to the Bosphorus English Maltese fleet of nine ships of the line, shedding has been almost impregnable. Six Russian battleships, four of which were with 4 12-inch guns firing right on the nose, supported by shore batteries and covered by minefields, repulsed the British desire to engage in battle with the move.
Back in the Marmara Sea, the English ships were cruising in it until an unprecedented diplomatic storm swept over Europe. Notes of protest received Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the bundles were formed in the lobby of the building occupied by the Ministry, as no one has had the time to not wanting to deal with them.
And to the Bosphorus were approaching ships with the second echelon of Russian troops.

******

Plan landing Russian troops in the Bosphorus was discussed at a meeting of ministers chaired by Nikolai II, took place on 5 December 1896. At a meeting attended by Russian Ambassador to Turkey A. Nelidov, a former ardent supporter of the annexation of Constantinople. Confer came to the decision that Nelidov had to give conditional telegram, which would serve as a signal for sending troops.
Provided for the delay everyone in the Russian Black Sea ports of foreign merchant ships, so that they were unable to prevent the Turks.
Officially, should have been announced about the teachings of the Odessa Military District, sending the Caucasus two divisions of its composition, but released to the Caucasian coast of the squadron was to suddenly turn to the Bosphorus and enter into it at night.
Provided also that the British would have to allocate forces to neutralize the three are in the Mediterranean Sea Russian battleships, which were, of course, die with honor, but to do his duty.
Fortunately, the most sensible Russian politicians , such as S. Witte and B. Lambsdorff , managed , in the end, to dissuade the emperor from a long-cherished plan on mastering the Bosphorus and Constantinople , but fully the idea is not abandoned, but only postponed it for the future. Which did not come.
 
How many troops were mobilised enough (without mobilisation orders) to hop on a train and transfer to troopships without alerting the Turks in advance?

That is my main concern

The other is, what were the Turkish defences? Shore batteries surely. They do have a fleet, but in 1897 its not great.

And Britain is not going to stand for this. It doesn't need to take action on its own. The Concert of Europe, such as it is, will issue a joint declaration between the governments of Austria-Hungary, Germany, France and Britain that the Straits belong to the Turks

But that doesn't stop the Russians from trying :)

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
I see a smack down on the Russians in the future. Even if the Turks rolled over and gave up without a fight, which I have doubts, the other nations will not allow this grab to pass.
 

raharris1973

Gone Fishin'
Donor
Monthly Donor
Why not grab compensation from the Turks?

Partitioning some of their territory, rather than fight Russia.

Especially for France which wants to keep its alliance with Russia. France takes the attitude that the straits move is OK, provided France gets territory in the Levant.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
Interesting premise - sounds like Sinope writ lsrge

A Russian "bolt from the blue" aimed at the OE, followed by a lengthy period of discussion among the European powers as to how to react...

Granted, it won't take as long to come to a decision in the 1890s as it did in the 1850s, but it will still take weeks, at least.

At which point, the Powers may have other issues to worry about.

If the Russians can wait until 1898, the British and French arre dealing with Fashoda and the outbreak of the South African War...

The Austrians and Germans have fewer entanglements, but if the British and French are otherwise engaged, the Germans and Austrians may decide it is time to deal with OE and join in with Russia (and Greece?) in a "scramble for Anatolia (and the Balkans)."

Stranger things have happened.

The Russians get Thrace (and control - however disguised - of Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia); the Austrians get Russian acceptance of their control of Bosnia-Hercegovina and (maybe?) the remainder of the eastern Adriatic coast to Greece; the Greeks get - what, Macedonia?

That leaves the Germans as odd man out - maybe territory in Russian Poland gets traded? Hard to see the Germans going for a colony in Anatolia.

Good luck with it.

Best,
 
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How many troops were mobilised enough (without mobilisation orders) to hop on a train and transfer to troopships without alerting the Turks in advance?

That is my main concern

The other is, what were the Turkish defences? Shore batteries surely. They do have a fleet, but in 1897 its not great.

And Britain is not going to stand for this. It doesn't need to take action on its own. The Concert of Europe, such as it is, will issue a joint declaration between the governments of Austria-Hungary, Germany, France and Britain that the Straits belong to the Turks

But that doesn't stop the Russians from trying :)

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
Scheduled teachings of the Odessa Military District with the collection of reservists - 2 division. 9 -inch coastal mortars (up to 1896 there were 11-inch old-style) were stored in warehouses in Odessa, as a "special" stock. Was ready even collapsible railway, which also had to be loaded onto ships.
On the whole Turkish fleet at that time would be enough of a one Russian battleship, his real fighting force was negligible.
By shore batteries expected to pass by the night and in the morning to be in their rear - deploy weapons Turks did not have time to.
 
I see a smack down on the Russians in the future. Even if the Turks rolled over and gave up without a fight, which I have doubts, the other nations will not allow this grab to pass.
Yes, it is. But the main problem was that no time to capture the Dardanelles, they were taken to the British and staged a second Gibraltar, so that Russia does not really received almost no benefits. Therefore, the plan refused.
 
Partitioning some of their territory, rather than fight Russia.

Especially for France which wants to keep its alliance with Russia. France takes the attitude that the straits move is OK, provided France gets territory in the Levant.
It had to be beforehand agreed with France, but it was risky, that will know the British.
 
A Russian "bolt from the blue" aimed at the OE, followed by a lengthy period of discussion among the European powers as to how to react...

Granted, it won't take as long to come to a decision in the 1890s as it did in the 1850s, but it will still take weeks, at least.

At which point, the Powers may have other issues to worry about.

If the Russians can wait until 1898, the British and French arre dealing with Fashoda and the outbreak of the South African War...

The Austrians and Germans have fewer entanglements, but if the British and French are otherwise engaged, the Germans and Austrians may decide it is time to deal with OE and join in with Russia (and Greece?) in a "scramble for Anatolia (and the Balkans)."

Stranger things have happened.

The Russians get Thrace (and control - however disguised - of Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia); the Austrians get Russian acceptance of their control of Bosnia-Hercegovina and (maybe?) the remainder of the eastern Adriatic coast to Greece; the Greeks get - what, Macedonia?

That leaves the Germans as odd man out - maybe territory in Russian Poland gets traded? Hard to see the Germans going for a colony in Anatolia.

Good luck with it.

Best,
In 1897, it was most advantageous to the Russian balance of power, in the future the English fleet in the Mediterranean was to be strengthened.
Austria, indeed, could offer the territory in the Balkans, but went on to have this Russian? After all patriotic cries of Slavic brotherhood, to give fellow Slavs Austrians?
Germany also has nothing to offer, a piece of Poland the Germans would not have given ever.
So most likely Russia would take a strong stand, which could lead to a world war.
But all that got Russia - closed to foreign fleets Black Sea, the Bosphorus easy to defend.
 
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