Battles of the Russo-Turkish War
1877–1878 · 2 battles covered, in date order. Click a battle on the map for its summary.
Battle (size: ships engaged)
Russian movement
Routes are approximate.
1877
26 May 1877 · Danube, off Măcin
Action off MăcinRussian victory
At night, Russian steam launches carrying explosive charges on long poles crept up on the Ottoman monitor Seyfi at anchor and exploded their spar torpedoes against her hull. She sank, and the launches got away. It was the first time a torpedo craft sank a warship and survived, and afterwards Ottoman ships on the Danube tended to retreat whenever the launches appeared. Dates in some sources are given in the Russian Old Style calendar (14 May).
4
vs
1 (1 lost)
1878
26 January 1878 · Batum roads, Black Sea
Sinking of IntibahRussian victory
Makarov brought his tender Veliky Knyaz Konstantin to Batum at night and put his launches into the water. Chesma and Sinop each fired a Whitehead torpedo at the guard ship Intibah from close range, and she sank. It was the first ship ever sunk by a self-propelled torpedo. (14 January in the Russian Old Style calendar.)
3
vs
1 (1 lost)