Bombardment of Odessa

22 April 1854, Odessa harbour

Allied success; harbour batteries and shipping damaged

After a boat from Furious was fired on under a flag of truce, the allied admirals sent a squadron of steam frigates against Odessa. Steaming in a circle so as to keep moving under fire, they bombarded the batteries guarding the imperial harbour, blew up a magazine and burned ships in the port, while sparing the commercial harbour and the town. Vauban was set on fire by hot shot and had to pull out. The sailing frigate Arethusa joined in under sail alone, the last time a Royal Navy ship went into action that way.

Britain + France

9 ships, none lost

Royal Navy

6 ships, none lost

Ship	Type	Outcome
HMS Furious	Steamer	Survived
HMS Sampson	Steamer	Survived
HMS Tiger	Steamer	Survived
HMS Terrible	Steamer	Survived
HMS Retribution	Steamer	Survived
HMS Arethusa Under sail alone	Frigate	Survived

French Navy

3 ships, none lost

Ship	Type	Outcome
Vauban Set on fire by hot shot	Steamer	Damaged
Descartes	Steamer	Survived
Mogador	Steamer	Survived

Map

Allied steamers sail for Odessa April 1854