The Bombardment of Samsun was a naval operation carried out by the Greek Navy and the United States Navy against the Turkish town of Samsun in 1922. The ships fired 400 rounds at the town, and in return the single Turkish cannon in the town fired back 25 rounds.[5] The bombardment lasted almost three hours (15:02–18:00).[7]
There were several reasons for the bombardment. One of them was to assist Pontic Greek rebels who were fighting Turkish forces in the area. Another reason was to disrupt the consignment of weapons and ammunition into inner Anatolia.[8] Moreover, Turkish sailing boats were seizing Greek ships in the Black Sea and putting them into Turkish service.[9] Recently a large Greek ship named Enosis had been taken over by one Turkish officer and five soldiers on 25 April 1922.[10]
Outcome
In the end, the attack did not cause any damage to the Turkish logistical system or military material, though it caused damage to civilian properties and loss of civilian lives.[8] The ships stayed in Samsun until being recalled to Allied-controlled Constantinople. Around 8pm, US Navy Admiral Robert L. Ghormley went ashore, accompanied by a pharmacist, to see if any Americans were injured or dead.[7]
The New York Times reported the incident on 11 June 1922, stating that the Greeks claimed the firing was directed against the ammunition dumps. The newspaper further mentioned that few people died and the warehouse of the American Tobacco Company was slightly damaged.[11] The Times published another article about the incident on 12 June. The article said that the commander of an American torpedo boat destroyer at Samsun reported, contrary to the Greek report, that there were 90 casualties as a result of the bombardment and a portion of the town was destroyed. The ammunition depots belonging to the Turks, which were situated three miles inland, were not damaged.[1]
Civilian properties damaged or destroyed by the bombardment included:[12][13]
bombardment, samsun, naval, operation, carried, greek, navy, united, states, navy, against, turkish, town, samsun, 1922, ships, fired, rounds, town, return, single, turkish, cannon, town, fired, back, rounds, bombardment, lasted, almost, three, hours, part, tu. The Bombardment of Samsun was a naval operation carried out by the Greek Navy and the United States Navy against the Turkish town of Samsun in 1922 The ships fired 400 rounds at the town and in return the single Turkish cannon in the town fired back 25 rounds 5 The bombardment lasted almost three hours 15 02 18 00 7 Bombardment of SamsunPart of the Turkish War of Independence source Samsun view after the bombardmentDate7 June 1922LocationSamsun TurkeyResultTactical Allied victory Samsun is brought under Allied controlStrategic Allied failure No overall effect on the Turkish nationalistsBelligerentsAllied Powers Greece United StatesAnkara GovernmentCommanders and leadersIoannis Ipitis Charles Vriasco 1 Mark Bristol Robert L Ghormley Preston B HainesCemil Cahit BeyUnits involved 2 Georgios Averofdestroyer Naxos 3 KilkisLeon 2 cruisers4 minesweepers 2 4 USS SandsUSS McFarlandUSS SturtevantUnknownStrength1 battleship3 cruisers5 destroyers4 minesweepers1 cannon 5 Casualties and lossesNoneNone4 civilians killed 3 wounded 6 Contents 1 Causes 2 Outcome 3 External links 4 Bibliography 5 ReferencesCauses EditThere were several reasons for the bombardment One of them was to assist Pontic Greek rebels who were fighting Turkish forces in the area Another reason was to disrupt the consignment of weapons and ammunition into inner Anatolia 8 Moreover Turkish sailing boats were seizing Greek ships in the Black Sea and putting them into Turkish service 9 Recently a large Greek ship named Enosis had been taken over by one Turkish officer and five soldiers on 25 April 1922 10 Outcome EditIn the end the attack did not cause any damage to the Turkish logistical system or military material though it caused damage to civilian properties and loss of civilian lives 8 The ships stayed in Samsun until being recalled to Allied controlled Constantinople Around 8 pm US Navy Admiral Robert L Ghormley went ashore accompanied by a pharmacist to see if any Americans were injured or dead 7 The New York Times reported the incident on 11 June 1922 stating that the Greeks claimed the firing was directed against the ammunition dumps The newspaper further mentioned that few people died and the warehouse of the American Tobacco Company was slightly damaged 11 The Times published another article about the incident on 12 June The article said that the commander of an American torpedo boat destroyer at Samsun reported contrary to the Greek report that there were 90 casualties as a result of the bombardment and a portion of the town was destroyed The ammunition depots belonging to the Turks which were situated three miles inland were not damaged 1 Civilian properties damaged or destroyed by the bombardment included 12 13 the governor s office destroyed the house of the Greek priest partially damaged three houses belonging to local Greeks destroyed one shop Alston partially damaged one shop belonging to a Greek destroyed worth 30 000 liras 25 26 houses belonging to Turks destroyed 19 houses belonging to Turks damaged 19 barges damaged cost of repairs worth 1 500 liras Armenian church and its orphanage damaged one sentry house destroyed a depot belonging to the local merchants destroyed gasoline and kerosene in the petroleum depot belonging to the municipality burned with the following containers of fuel listed 9 496 tinplate containers of American kerosene 19 800 tinplate containers of Russian kerosene 41 700 tinplate containers of kerosene 6 000 kg of Russian gasoline 33 000 kg of gasoline belonging to the municipality 8 368 kg of mercantile gasolineAs a result of the bombardment there were four dead and three wounded among the civilians External links EditSamsun u Bombalayan Yunan Zirhlisi tarihtendersler com Article about the bombardment of Samsun in Turkish Bibliography EditHulki Cevizoglu 1919 un Sifresi Gizli ABD Isgalinin Belge ve Fotograflari Ceviz Kabugu Yayinlari Aralik 2007 ISBN 9789756613238 in Turkish Doganay Rahmi Istiklal Harbinde Samsun daki Amerikan Filosu Gecmisten Gelecege Samsun Samsun 2006 pages 163 174 in Turkish References Edit a b 90 Casualties in Samsun American Officer s Report Differs From Greek Account of Bombardment The New York Times article from 12 June 1922 a b Mustafa Herguner Kurtulus Savasi nda denizciligimiz Turkiye Denizciler Sendikasi 1992 page 188 Cevizoglu 2007 page 75 Cevizoglu 2007 page 66 a b Cevizoglu 2007 page 77 Cevizoglu 2007 page 76 a b Doganay 2006 page 171 a b Doganay 2006 page 173 Doganay 2006 page 169 Burak Artuner 3 May 2004 Enosis e cok sey borcluyuz Aksam Newspaper Archived from the original on 18 April 2013 Greeks Explain Attack Say They Exploded Ammunition at Samsun Damage to Americans The New York Times article from 11 June 1922 Cevizoglu 2007 page 76 Doganay 2006 pages 171 172 41 17 25 N 36 20 01 E 41 29028 N 36 33361 E 41 29028 36 33361 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bombardment of Samsun amp oldid 1159851171, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
