Action of 6 November 1772

This battle took place on 6, 7 and 8 November 1772, during the Russo-Turkish War (1768-74) in the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth, Greece, when a Russian fleet under Konyaev defeated a Turkish force of frigates and xebecs, destroying all 9 frigates and 10 out of 16 xebecs and losing no ships.

Konyaev had left Livorno on 6 September 1772 and from 5 October cruised around Cerigo with "Tchesma" and "Graf Orlov". On 23 October he was joined by "Sv. Nikolai" and on 27 October by "Zabiaka", "Slava", "Auza" and "Modon", which had been detached from Orlov's fleet at Mikono under Voinovitch. They brought news of a Turkish force in the Gulf of Patras, so Konyaev and Voinovitch combined forces to look for it.

On 5 November they arrived near Patrai, and found 9 30-gun frigates and 12 xebecs at sea, plus 4 xebecs anchored under the guns of the fort.

On 6 November they attacked, with their smaller vessels in front due to the narrowness of the channel, and the Turks retreated. One xebec ran aground and was destroyed by "Sv. Nikolai", "Zabiaka" and "Modon". "Sv. Nikolai" and "Slava" cut off a frigate and another xebec and forced them aground where they were abandoned, and then burnt by "Auza". The remaining Turks took refuge under the fort.

In the afternoon of 7 November, the Russians attacked again, standing back and forth along the Turkish line to no great effect.

On 8 November they anchored near the Turkish line and attacked at around 11.30am. By about 12pm several Turkish vessels were on fire and abandoned, and Konyaev weighed anchor and sent in the boats under protection of "Sv. Nikolai", "Zabiaka" and "Slava" to destroy or capture. 7 frigates and 8 xebecs were destroyed, the remaining frigate and 6 xebecs sailing further up the gulf. The frigate soon ran aground and was destroyed by "Slava".

On 15 November Konyaev left for the Aegean Sea.

Ships involved:

Russia (Konyaev)

"Tchesma" 80
"Graf Orlov" 66
"Sv. Nikolai" 26
"Zabiaka" 18
"Slava" 16
"Auza" 12
"Modon" 12

Turkey

9 frigates of 30 guns - 1 destroyed on 6 November, 8 destroyed on 8 November
16 xebecs of 20-30 guns - 2 destroyed on 6 November, 8 destroyed on 8 November

References

*"Naval wars in the Levant 1559-1853" - R. C. Anderson ISBN 1-57898-538-2