In the Nautical Magazine of May 1821 "(p. 150-151 is, as they called it, a brief statement published of the Ottoman fleet, which is quite interesting considered the problems between Turkey and Egypt. For the Egyptian and Ottoman navies see the several notes on this weblog. Two years later the Dutch consul at Constantinople asked the Dutch Secretary of State for Navy for information dealing with the strength of the Dutch Navy. Presumably Dutch representatives in Egypt supplied much information dealing with the Egyptian navy, sadly the most important archive of those representatives is lost and the Dutch naval archives suffered badly due to a fire in the 19th century.
P. 150: "The whole Ottoman empire may be considered as concentrated at Constantinople, for every thing which relates to the army, the navy, or the civil government is transacted there. The Sultan is fearful of entrusting the execution of his plans to those under him, knowing well that he can depend only on what is carried on under his immediate inspection. Thus the arsenals, the dock-yards, and every thing relating to the navy, is to be found in the port of Constantinople, which is, perhaps, the only one in the world that can contain every thing necessary for the equipment of a fleet. The following vessels composed the Turkish navy in 1830: Ships of the line, the Mahomet, 120 guns; the Selim, 80; and ix others of 74 guns each. Frigates, ten mounting from 36 to 60 guns. Corvettes, thirteen mounting from 18 to 30 guns. One brig of 12 guns, and two steam vessels, making a total of 34 vessels. The guns of these vessels are all of bronze, for the art of casting iron is not sufficiently known by the Turks, to enable them to construct iron guns that can be used without danger. Some of these ships are so old, that they are scarcely sea-worthy; but the Mahmoud, which is not entirely finished, is remarkable for her gigantic dimensions, as well as the elegance of her build, and is allowed to be the finest ship of war in the world. Her length is 234 feet, she mounts 120 guns, and many carronades of heavy calibre. On the upperdeck are mounted 32, on the middle deck 42, and on the lower deck 68 pounders. She is said to be upwards of three thousand tons. The work in her is very rough, and although strong, displays a great waste of timber. This is all brought from the Black Sea, and is said to be durable and good. The iron-work of the Mahmoud is also very rough. The immense masts of this ship are held together by slight iron hoops and wouldings, half an inch in thickness, scarcely strong enough to resist the least strain. Most of the other ships are hogged, a fault which probably arises from their not being properly supported when they are launched, the great depth of the water not allowing the ways to be sufficiently carried out. In entering the harbour of Constantinople, the current will be met running out at the rate of four knots per hour, making it impossible for a ship to beat into it. After passing the Seraglio point, and crossing over to the European shore, the eddy will be met with about one-third over, running from one to two knots per hour. The
p. 151: dock-yard is situated in the interior of the harbour, and the ground is perfectly adapted by nature to such a purpose. The shore is so sloop, that a line-of-battle ship may lie alongside of it. It contains two very good docks, both of which are sufficiently large for a three decked ship, and in one of them is the Masoudi, originally built by a Swede, now undergoing repair.
Until lately there existed a sort of marine cops, called gallioudgis, from which the fleet was manned, but as it has been abolished, the Sultan has been occupied in forming a new one, organised according to the system he adopted with the troops. A handsome building near the arsenal is appropriated for the use of this corps, which is well clothed and paid; a naval college also has been established. Before the Greek revolution, the effective force of the Turkish navy was composed of Ipsariots, Spezziots, and Hydriots, and whilst the Greeks worked the vessels, the Turks served the guns. Now that the Hellens have thrown off the yoke, the Turks are obliged to perform both duties. The Turkish ships are, in general, encumbered with men, which only tends to produce confusion in manoeuvring, and great loss of lives in action. Mahmoud will, no doubt, shortly improve his navy as Mahomed Ali has done in Egypt. The viceroy's fleet is now in excellent order, and through it bears the name of the sultan's, must not be confounded with that of Constantinople".
Source
The Nautical Magazine, vol. 1. May 1832. Nautical Miscellany-Editor's Notes, p. 150-151. Digitized by Google.
P. 150: "The whole Ottoman empire may be considered as concentrated at Constantinople, for every thing which relates to the army, the navy, or the civil government is transacted there. The Sultan is fearful of entrusting the execution of his plans to those under him, knowing well that he can depend only on what is carried on under his immediate inspection. Thus the arsenals, the dock-yards, and every thing relating to the navy, is to be found in the port of Constantinople, which is, perhaps, the only one in the world that can contain every thing necessary for the equipment of a fleet. The following vessels composed the Turkish navy in 1830: Ships of the line, the Mahomet, 120 guns; the Selim, 80; and ix others of 74 guns each. Frigates, ten mounting from 36 to 60 guns. Corvettes, thirteen mounting from 18 to 30 guns. One brig of 12 guns, and two steam vessels, making a total of 34 vessels. The guns of these vessels are all of bronze, for the art of casting iron is not sufficiently known by the Turks, to enable them to construct iron guns that can be used without danger. Some of these ships are so old, that they are scarcely sea-worthy; but the Mahmoud, which is not entirely finished, is remarkable for her gigantic dimensions, as well as the elegance of her build, and is allowed to be the finest ship of war in the world. Her length is 234 feet, she mounts 120 guns, and many carronades of heavy calibre. On the upperdeck are mounted 32, on the middle deck 42, and on the lower deck 68 pounders. She is said to be upwards of three thousand tons. The work in her is very rough, and although strong, displays a great waste of timber. This is all brought from the Black Sea, and is said to be durable and good. The iron-work of the Mahmoud is also very rough. The immense masts of this ship are held together by slight iron hoops and wouldings, half an inch in thickness, scarcely strong enough to resist the least strain. Most of the other ships are hogged, a fault which probably arises from their not being properly supported when they are launched, the great depth of the water not allowing the ways to be sufficiently carried out. In entering the harbour of Constantinople, the current will be met running out at the rate of four knots per hour, making it impossible for a ship to beat into it. After passing the Seraglio point, and crossing over to the European shore, the eddy will be met with about one-third over, running from one to two knots per hour. The
p. 151: dock-yard is situated in the interior of the harbour, and the ground is perfectly adapted by nature to such a purpose. The shore is so sloop, that a line-of-battle ship may lie alongside of it. It contains two very good docks, both of which are sufficiently large for a three decked ship, and in one of them is the Masoudi, originally built by a Swede, now undergoing repair.
Until lately there existed a sort of marine cops, called gallioudgis, from which the fleet was manned, but as it has been abolished, the Sultan has been occupied in forming a new one, organised according to the system he adopted with the troops. A handsome building near the arsenal is appropriated for the use of this corps, which is well clothed and paid; a naval college also has been established. Before the Greek revolution, the effective force of the Turkish navy was composed of Ipsariots, Spezziots, and Hydriots, and whilst the Greeks worked the vessels, the Turks served the guns. Now that the Hellens have thrown off the yoke, the Turks are obliged to perform both duties. The Turkish ships are, in general, encumbered with men, which only tends to produce confusion in manoeuvring, and great loss of lives in action. Mahmoud will, no doubt, shortly improve his navy as Mahomed Ali has done in Egypt. The viceroy's fleet is now in excellent order, and through it bears the name of the sultan's, must not be confounded with that of Constantinople".
Source
The Nautical Magazine, vol. 1. May 1832. Nautical Miscellany-Editor's Notes, p. 150-151. Digitized by Google.
