Battle of Lovcha

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Lovcha
colour_scheme=background:#eeddbb


caption=
partof=the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–78
date=1–3 September, 1877
place=Lovech, Bulgaria
result=Russian victory
combatant1=flag|Russian Empire|1858
combatant2=flag|Ottoman Empire
commander1=Alexander Imerentinsky
Mikhail Skobelev
commander2=Osman Pasha
Ali Pasha
strength1=20,000
strength2=15,000
casualties1=1,500 killed wounded or captured
casualties2=5,200 killed wounded or captured|

The Battle of Lovcha, "or Loftcha" (today Lovech), was a battle of the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–78 which occurred during the siege of Pleven. Russian forces successfully reduced the fortress at Lovcha which had protected Pleven's communication and supply lines.

In July, 1877 shortly after the siege of Pleven began, the garrison commander Osman Pasha, received 15 battalions of reinforcements from Sofia. Osman choose to use these reinforcements to fortify Lovcha which protected the communication and supply lines running from Orchanie to Pleven.

After the failure of the first two attempts to storm the city of Pleven, the Russians brought up significant reinforcements and the investing army now totaled 100,000. Intent on cutting Osman's communications and supply lines, General Mikhail Skobelev was sent out with 20,000 Russian troops with the intention of reducing Lovcha.

On September 1 Skobelev reached Lovcha and attacked the city. Fighting continued on for the next two days. Osman marched out of Pleven to the relief of Lovcha but before he could reach to city it fell to the Russians on September 3. Survivors of the battle withdrew into Pleven and were organized into 3 battalions. After the loss of Lovcha, these additional troops brought Osman's force up to 30,000; the highest it would get during the siege. After the fall of Lovcha, the Russians settled on the strategy of a complete investment of Pleven, and with the loss of its major supply route the fate of Pleven was inevitable.

ee also

* Battles of the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–78

ources

* http://www.xenophongi.org/rushistory/battles/plevna2.htm
* "Compton's Home Library: Battles of the World" CD-ROM