A 1853 naval slaughter at Sinop accelerated the start of the Crimean War
A devastating naval ambush at the Turkish port of Sinop saw Russian steamships annihilate an Ottoman fleet, sparking a diplomatic crisis that pulled Britain and France into a massive European conflict.
On November 30, 1853, the Imperial Russian Navy utilized revolutionary explosive shells to decimate an Ottoman squadron anchored at Sinop. Led by Admiral Pavel Nakhimov, the Russian fleet bypassed traditional solid shot in favor of Paixhans guns, which tore through wooden hulls with terrifying efficiency.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz