Posted on 12/30/2019 2:36:16 AM PST by NorseViking
For a brief moment, the isolated port of Petropavlovsk became an active front in the Crimean War. The ensuing battle was more farcical than heroic.
The Crimean War is usually considered a Black Sea conflict, but it actually took place on several frontiers of the Russian empire, including the Baltic and White Seas. In the summer of 1854, the Pacific squadrons of three nations—Russia, Great Britain, and France—fought the most unusual and anachronistic action of the war on the distant and forbidding Kamchatka Peninsula.
The ships, tactics, and commanders involved in that battle seemed more appropriate for Admiral Horatio Nelson’s world than the modern age of steamships and railroads in which the battle was fought.
Advent of the Steam-Powered Warship In the 1850s, steam propulsion was still new. No nation, not even Great Britain, had yet established worldwide chains of coaling stations. Remote stations—and in 1854 no corner of the world was more remote from Europe than the northern Pacific—still relied on sailing warships. The squadrons were small and the ships generally elderly, relics of the period following the Napoleonic Wars. The British squadron had five such ships. Pique, the newest of the sailing ships, had been launched in 1834. The flagship President, launched in 1829, was a copy of the American-made 44-gun President, captured by the British in 1815. Two other ships, Amphitrite and Trincomalee, were completed in 1816 and 1817, respectively. Amphitrite and Trincomalee were both Leda-class frigates, a design that dated back to 1794.
(Excerpt) Read more at warfarehistorynetwork.com ...
Petropavlovsk was a Russian nuclear submarine base in the 1970’s that sent subs over to the west coast of our country to spy on naval stations in Washington and California. We had our fast attack subs stationed off the coast to follow the Russian subs. I still remember periscope liberty and seeing the volcanoes above the city.
“” “” .... The allied commanders, Price and Fevrier-Despointes, sailed into Avachinskaya Bay on August 29. Unaware that Aurora had gone to ground at Petropavlovsk, the allies earlier had detached Amphitrite, Artémise, and Trincomalee on independent cruises off the coasts of California to show the flag and protect British and French trade from the perceived threat posed by the Russian frigate. This left the invading force with the vessels Amphitrite, Artémise, and Obligado. and their combined crews of 2,600 men.... “” “”
History repeats itself. Although US and Russia were more like allies at the time. The British not so much to both.
What a lovely bit of real estate.
Especially in winter
What a lovely bit of real estate.
Especially in winter
What a lovely bit of real estate.
Especially in winter
Ahh.. the sea of “O”
If globull warming is real Anchorage and Petropavlovsk are new Singapore and Hong Kong.
Wind is blowing from the SW and I am freezing my balls off!
Wind is blowing from the SW and I am freezing my balls off!
I mentioned you post everything at least twice:)
“He had last seen combat as a midshipman in the Napoleonic Wars and had been on half pay from 1815 to 1834.”
Why half pay?
There were no major naval battles at that time.
So your pay got cut?
Why mine? I am not David Price:)
Because officers in the British Navy, if not assigned to an active ship, were furloughed at half pay until they were called upon to go back to sea.
It’s the computer.
And, in 1861, Spain, France and the UK invaded....
Mexico. In 1862 UK and Spain withdrew after negotiating debt repayment agreements with the then Mexican govt. But France— wanted Mexico.
The US Civil war had begun, Lincoln was president of the north, and throughout the war, the Russian Navy (The Tsar was allied with Lincoln, and against the UK, no surprise) was anchored in both NYC Harbor and San Fran Harbor.
Napoleon III offered the position of Emperor of Mexico to Maximilian (the brother of Emperor of Austro-Hungarian Empire Franz Joseph. IOW Napoleon’s nephew offered a Hapsburg the Throne of Mexico).
Subsequently, the “empire” of Mexico gained recognition from Britain, Austria and Prussia-— and not Russia or the US (involved with trying to force the CSA back into the Union).The US North recognized the Republic of Mexico and Juarez- and after the Civil War aided Juarez, the French left Mexico, Maximilian was captured and shot by firing squad (his wife Charlotte of Mecklenberg— went insane).
All context of the times* of this “Crimean War” ancillary battle brought on Russia— before Britain decided it had better be the Tsar’s ally and with the French (and dragging Pres.Wilson into it, the US) defeated Germany, destroyed the last Tsar and let the Bolsheviks/Communists take over all the Russia’s.
All of which happened after 1815*, the Bank of England taken over by the Rothschilds (who paid Wellington’s troops, and still had markers on Napoleon’s finances) upon the winning speculation of the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo.
Okay thanks. I’d never heard that before. Was the Army the same if not on campaign?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.