Date 29 August 1824 Location Aegean Sea | ||
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70-75 warships, of them 9 branders, 800 cannons 1 battleship, 18 frigates, 14 corvettes, 70 brigs and schooners, 30 small craft and 151 transports (most probable estimate), not all engaged, 2200 cannons at least 9 branders one 44 guns frigate, Tunisian admiral and one Egyptian colonel captured Similar Battle of Samos, Battle of Sculeni, Battle of Vasilika, Battle of Nauplia, Battle of Karpenisi | ||
Battle of gerontas
The Battle of Gerontas (Greek: Ναυμαχία του Γέροντα) was a naval battle fought close to the island of Leros in the southeast Aegean Sea. On August 29 (julian calendar), 1824, a Greek fleet of 75 ships defeated an Ottoman armada of 100 ships contributed to by Egypt, Tunisia and Tripoli.
Contents
The Battle of Gerontas was one of the most decisive naval engagements of the Greek War of Independence and secured the island of Samos under Greek control.
Opposing forces
Ottoman fleet: Ottoman and Egyptian flotillas, Tunisian and Tripolitan squadrons
Greek fleet: Hydriot, Spetsiot and Psarian squadrons
The battle
After the battle off Kos island 24 August 1824, the Greek detachment of 15 ships was anchored in the Gerontas bay, while the rest of fleet was drifting further in open sea because of the lack of wind. At the morning 29th Ausust, 1824, the 86 warships of Ottoman and Egyptian flotilia has detected the Greek fleet and proceed with pincer movement, using advantageous winds. The Greek fleet in bay has resorted to towing their ships by lifeboats to reach the more advantageous position for fighting.
The wave of Greek branders has disorganized Ottoman lines sufficiently for all Greek ships to escape from Gerontas bay. Later wind shift has put Greek fleet in advantage, allowing 2nd attack by branders. One of these branders has burned the Tunisian flotilia flagship. Because the Greek branders have selectively targeted the enemy flagships, the Ottoman commanders panicked and ordered their ships to leave the battle lines, leading to confusion and unorganized retreat of the Ottoman forces.