What if in 1877, the Ottoman command decided to defeat the Black Sea Fleet of Russia and force the Russians to retreat from Romania and the offensive operations they did?
P.o.d. involved:
[The Russian Army sends more troops against the Ottomans and threatens the Black Sea coast with encirclement. In response, the Ottoman Navy sorties against the attempt to halt the Russian advance.]
On 24 April 1877, after the Russian declaration of war on the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Army advanced with overwhelming force against the Ottoman Army and defeated the Ottomans over the next 2 months. On 9 July, the Ottoman Army of Osman Pasha was defeated before Plevna and other Ottoman troops would be defeated decisively had it been not for the transferring of troops in the Black Sea fortresses, which were used to quell the Russian advance while the Ottoman Navy sailed to defeat the Russians.
As a result of debates ongoing on the Ottoman side, it was decided that the Ottomans sail to defeat the Russian Black Sea Fleet and divert attention from the offensive. After consultation, the Ottoman Navy proceeded to sortie in conjunction with an offensive from the army of Suleiman Pasha. The Ottoman naval squadron consisted of 8 ironclads and a variety of smaller vessels, plus several transports and this resulted in the Ottomans sortieing with confidence.
On 20 July 1877, the Ottoman Navy defeated the Russian Navy with a bombardment of Odessa and some fortresses and the Black Sea Fleet received its worst day after the Crimean War. In the battle, Odessa was shelled and the Black Sea Fleet lost more or less everything in it following the battle, while the Ottomans lost 2 ironclads. It was believed that the Russians would face a sea invasion and corps withdrawn from the battle allowed Suleiman Pasha to liberate Plevna with heavy losses for his army.
Meanwhile, the Baltic Fleet was to be shifted south in an attempt to stop the Ottoman advance and persuade a Greek entry into the war. The timing was desperate, but with the Ottomans being temporarily distracted, this might work at least for the first weeks. Adherence to the 1856 Treaty of Paris was blamed for the Ottoman victory.
P.o.d. involved:
[The Russian Army sends more troops against the Ottomans and threatens the Black Sea coast with encirclement. In response, the Ottoman Navy sorties against the attempt to halt the Russian advance.]
On 24 April 1877, after the Russian declaration of war on the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Army advanced with overwhelming force against the Ottoman Army and defeated the Ottomans over the next 2 months. On 9 July, the Ottoman Army of Osman Pasha was defeated before Plevna and other Ottoman troops would be defeated decisively had it been not for the transferring of troops in the Black Sea fortresses, which were used to quell the Russian advance while the Ottoman Navy sailed to defeat the Russians.
As a result of debates ongoing on the Ottoman side, it was decided that the Ottomans sail to defeat the Russian Black Sea Fleet and divert attention from the offensive. After consultation, the Ottoman Navy proceeded to sortie in conjunction with an offensive from the army of Suleiman Pasha. The Ottoman naval squadron consisted of 8 ironclads and a variety of smaller vessels, plus several transports and this resulted in the Ottomans sortieing with confidence.
On 20 July 1877, the Ottoman Navy defeated the Russian Navy with a bombardment of Odessa and some fortresses and the Black Sea Fleet received its worst day after the Crimean War. In the battle, Odessa was shelled and the Black Sea Fleet lost more or less everything in it following the battle, while the Ottomans lost 2 ironclads. It was believed that the Russians would face a sea invasion and corps withdrawn from the battle allowed Suleiman Pasha to liberate Plevna with heavy losses for his army.
Meanwhile, the Baltic Fleet was to be shifted south in an attempt to stop the Ottoman advance and persuade a Greek entry into the war. The timing was desperate, but with the Ottomans being temporarily distracted, this might work at least for the first weeks. Adherence to the 1856 Treaty of Paris was blamed for the Ottoman victory.
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