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 (O.S.), 1824, a Greek fleet of 75 ships defeated an Ottoman armada of 100 ships[4] contributed to by Egypt, Tunisia and Tripoli.
1 battleship, 18 frigates, 14 corvettes, 70 brigs and schooners, 30 small craft and 151 transports (most probable estimate), not all engaged[1]
Casualties and losses
Unknown
one 44-gun frigate destroyed 1,300 killed[2] Tunisian admiral and one Egyptian colonel captured[3]
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Location within Aegean Sea
Show map of Aegean Sea
Battle of Gerontas (Turkey)
Show map of Turkey
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.
Background
In August 1824 the Ottomans looked to secure the island of Samos off the coast of the Asian minor, a previous attempt launched earlier in the month on 5 August (O.S.) resulted in an Ottoman defeat at the Battle of Samos and caused delay. By 29 August the Ottoman fleet had grown to some 100 warships and launched an attack on the scattered Greek forces whose fleet made up a force of some 70-75 warships.[5]
The battle
After the battle off Kos island in 24 August 1824, the Greek detachment of 15 ships was anchored in the Gerontas bay, while the rest of the fleet drifted in open sea because of the lack of wind. On the morning of 29 August 1824, the 86 warships of the Ottoman and Egyptian flotilla detected the Greek fleet and proceeded with a pincer movement, using advantageous winds. The Greek fleet in the bay had to resort to towing their ships by lifeboats to reach a more advantageous position for fighting.
The wave of Greek fireships disorganized Ottoman lines sufficiently for all of the Greek ships to escape from Gerontas bay. Later a shift in the wind put the Greek fleet in the advantage, allowing a second attack by fireships. One of the fireships burned the Tunisian flotilla flagship. Because the Greek fireships selectively targeted the enemy flagships, the Ottoman commanders panicked and ordered their ships to leave the battle lines, leading to confusion and the unorganized retreat of the Ottoman forces.[6]
References
^Anderson, R. C. (1952). Naval Wars in the Levant 1559–1853. Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 496. OCLC 1015099422.
^Clodfelter, Micheal (May 9, 2017). Warfare and Armed Conflicts: A Statistical Encyclopedia of Casualty and Other Figures, 1492–2015, 4th ed. McFarland. p. 191. ISBN9781476625850.
^Thomas Gordon, History of the Greek Revolution, t. 2 p.154-155
^Zanakos, Avgoustinos (July 6, 2003). "H ναυμαχία του Γέροντα (The Battle of Gerontas)". To Vima (in Greek). Retrieved 2008-03-27.
^Conflict and conquest in the Islamic world : a historical encyclopedia. Mikaberidze, Alexander. Santa Barbara, Calif. 2011-07-31. p. 335. ISBN978-1598843361. OCLC 763161287.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
^Jack Sweetman, "The Great Admirals: Command at Sea, 1587-1945", p. 231
February 07, 2023
battle, gerontas, greek, Ναυμαχία, του, Γέροντα, naval, battle, fought, close, island, leros, southeast, aegean, august, 1824, greek, fleet, ships, defeated, ottoman, armada, ships, contributed, egypt, tunisia, tripoli, part, greek, independenceplan, battledat. The Battle of Gerontas Greek Naymaxia toy Geronta was a naval battle fought close to the island of Leros in the southeast Aegean Sea On August 29 O S 1824 a Greek fleet of 75 ships defeated an Ottoman armada of 100 ships 4 contributed to by Egypt Tunisia and Tripoli Battle of GerontasPart of the Greek War of IndependencePlan of the battleDate29 August 1824 O S LocationSoutheast Aegean37 12 7 N 27 10 12 E 37 20194 N 27 17000 E 37 20194 27 17000 Coordinates 37 12 7 N 27 10 12 E 37 20194 N 27 17000 E 37 20194 27 17000ResultGreek victoryBelligerentsFirst Hellenic Republic Ottoman EmpireCommanders and leadersAdmiral Andreas MiaoulisDimitrios PapanikolisKoca Husrev Mehmed PashaStrength70 75 warships of them 9 branders 800 cannons1 battleship 18 frigates 14 corvettes 70 brigs and schooners 30 small craft and 151 transports most probable estimate not all engaged 1 Casualties and lossesUnknownone 44 gun frigate destroyed 1 300 killed 2 Tunisian admiral and one Egyptian colonel captured 3 class notpageimage Location within Aegean SeaShow map of Aegean SeaBattle of Gerontas Turkey Show map of Turkey 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 Background EditIn August 1824 the Ottomans looked to secure the island of Samos off the coast of the Asian minor a previous attempt launched earlier in the month on 5 August O S resulted in an Ottoman defeat at the Battle of Samos and caused delay By 29 August the Ottoman fleet had grown to some 100 warships and launched an attack on the scattered Greek forces whose fleet made up a force of some 70 75 warships 5 The battle EditAfter the battle off Kos island in 24 August 1824 the Greek detachment of 15 ships was anchored in the Gerontas bay while the rest of the fleet drifted in open sea because of the lack of wind On the morning of 29 August 1824 the 86 warships of the Ottoman and Egyptian flotilla detected the Greek fleet and proceeded with a pincer movement using advantageous winds The Greek fleet in the bay had to resort to towing their ships by lifeboats to reach a more advantageous position for fighting The wave of Greek fireships disorganized Ottoman lines sufficiently for all of the Greek ships to escape from Gerontas bay Later a shift in the wind put the Greek fleet in the advantage allowing a second attack by fireships One of the fireships burned the Tunisian flotilla flagship Because the Greek fireships selectively targeted the enemy flagships the Ottoman commanders panicked and ordered their ships to leave the battle lines leading to confusion and the unorganized retreat of the Ottoman forces 6 References Edit Anderson R C 1952 Naval Wars in the Levant 1559 1853 Princeton Princeton University Press p 496 OCLC 1015099422 Clodfelter Micheal May 9 2017 Warfare and Armed Conflicts A Statistical Encyclopedia of Casualty and Other Figures 1492 2015 4th ed McFarland p 191 ISBN 9781476625850 Thomas Gordon History of the Greek Revolution t 2 p 154 155 Zanakos Avgoustinos July 6 2003 H naymaxia toy Geronta The Battle of Gerontas To Vima in Greek Retrieved 2008 03 27 Conflict and conquest in the Islamic world a historical encyclopedia Mikaberidze Alexander Santa Barbara Calif 2011 07 31 p 335 ISBN 978 1598843361 OCLC 763161287 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link Jack Sweetman The Great Admirals Command at Sea 1587 1945 p 231 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Gerontas amp oldid 1109316582, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
