The Algerian, Austrian, Dutch, Egyptian, Greek and Turkish navies in the Mediterranean according to the Nederlandsche Staatscourant dated 2 July 1825

Ron van Maanen

Hydra, 7 May. The Captain Pasha who arrived at Mitylene is preparing for the expedition towards Samos. There were already 3.000 soldiers of the Asiatic troops collected and which were to be taken on board. Samos is on the other hand hoping that the Greek fleet commanded by Sachturi cruising in the waters of Mitylene could defeat the Turkish fleet. In the sea were stakes placed to prevent the approaching of the Turkish vessels and only the port of Vathi was open.

Amsterdam, 30 June. In the newspaper of Amsterdam was a letter of Smyrna written 20 May by a Dutch naval officer who sighted the destruction of the Egyptian fleet at Modon the 12th.(1) The same day as he wrote the letter he arrived at Smyrna preparing with all haste his departure towards Constantinople. At Medon were the Turkish 44-gun frigate Azia, 2 corvettes and 4 brigs one of 20 guns, and some transports a guessed total of 25-30 ships. There was also on the roads an Algerian squadron of 2 frigates, 2 corvettes, 2 brigs and 2 schooners and further some merchant ships. The Turkish fleet of 80 ships was cruising east of Modon off Navarino. The wind was coming from the East South Easy and South East. The Greek fleet of 35 ships including 2-3masters, but further just light brigs (of 60, 70 and 90 lasts) and fire ships was sighted from time to time. In the evening around 18.00 o’clock sailed a Greek schooner of war between the islands Cabrera and Sapienza. As soon as she could over see the complete anchorage she signalled. The Algerian squadron left around 16.00 o’clock and was waiting at the roads just with ‘small’ sails. The Dutch warship immediately prepared for departure. At 18.45 o’clock the complete Greek fleet approached with 4 fire ships in the front. Fourteen Greek warships sailing in line before the wind met ‘small’ sails coming from Sapienza were coming to the roads leaded by their admiral. When the fire ships approached quite nearly the Dutch warship they cut the cables and immediately departed southwards. But in the same time one of the fire ships hit with her bowsprit the foremast of the Azia which rigging immediately was set on fire followed by other ships. Around 19.00 o’clock exploded the frigate followed by the other ships. The Greeks didn’t leave their fire ships before they were sure that the Turkish couldn’t escape. According to the same Dutch officer the Turkish didn’t take good preparations to prevent such disaster. The Algerian squadron had to stay at the roads in stead of leaving their original anchorage making it possible the Greeks to attack so easily. The Turkish hardly shoot back. A Greek fleet of 45 ships was cruising off the Dardanelles waiting for the Turkish fleet which was fitted out and destined for the Archipelago. The Austrians are helping the Turkish with everything. Just before the Greek fleet attacked Modon an Austrian schooner of war arrived there and almost certain informing the Turkish of the Greek fleet. An additional note in the same news item provides more details about the fleets involved. The ships burnt at Modon were a 44-gun frigate, 2 corvettes, 4 brigs, 20-25 Turkish transports, a British merchant schooner brig, 3 Ionian merchant ships and a merchant brig from Genoa. The Greek fleet consisted of 35 sails including 2-3masters. The brigs were lightly built vessels armed with 10-14 guns. The attack was with 14 warships and 5 or 6 fire ships, the other ships keep outside the roads. The Turkish of better said Egyptian fleet consist of 80-100 ships including many transports, 13 frigates and corvettes were waiting off Navarino as seen by the Dutch naval officer. The Algerian squadron commanded by Mustapha Bey consisted of a 60-gun frigate (the admirals’ ship), 1-44 gun frigate, 1-36 gun frigate, 1-20 gun corvette, 2 brigs of 16 and 18 guns and 2-10 gun schooners.

Note
1. See also on this weblog the notes “The destruction of the Egyptian squadron at Medon according to Niles’ Weekly register in 1825”and “Dutch brig of war Koerier just escaped being destroyed when the Greece fire ships attacked the Egyptian fleet at Modon 12 May 1825”.