Action of 10 May 1915

The Action of 10 May 1915 was a naval encounter between the Russian pre-dreadnought squadron and the Ottoman battlecruiser Yavuz Sultan Selim in the Black Sea. After a brief exchange of fire the Ottomans withdrew.

Action of 10 May 1915
Part of World War I
DateMay 10, 1915
Location
Black Sea, 25 miles from the Bosphorus
Result

Tactically inconclusive;
Strategic Ottoman victory

  • Russian operations disrupted
Belligerents
 Russian Empire  Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Andrei Eberhardt Richard Ackermann
Strength
5 pre-dreadnought battleships 1 battlecruiser
Casualties and losses
None 1 battlecruiser lightly damaged

Background

On 9 May 1915, a Russian squadron attacked Ottoman shipping between Kozlu and Eregli, sinking four steamers and many sailing ships.[1] The battlecruiser Yavuz Sultan Selim, under Captain Richard Ackermann, immediately put to sea in order to intercept the Russians. Early on the morning of 10 May, a bombardment force detached from the Russian squadron in order to attack the Bosphorus forts. This consisted of the obsolete pre-dreadnoughts Tri Sviatitelia and Panteleimon, the seaplane carriers Almaz and Imperator Alexander I, as well as a screen of destroyers and minesweepers.

The Ottoman torpedo boat Numune-i Hamiyet, acting as a guard ship at the mouth of the Bosphorus, sighted the bombardment force and radioed a warning to Yavuz. Captain Ackermann promptly set his ship on a course to intercept at 26 knots (48 km/h). The torpedo boat proceeded to engage the minesweepers but was forced to withdraw under heavy fire from the battleships.[1] The protected cruiser Pamiat Merkuria then spotted Yavuz and reported it to the fleet, giving the bombardment force time to break off before it was sighted.

Cruising 25 miles (40 km) off of the Bosphorus at 5 knots (9.3 km/h) was Russian Admiral Andrei Eberhardt's covering force, consisting of the newer pre-dreadnoughts Evstafi (the flagship), Ioann Zlatoust, and Rostislav. Ackermann was unaware of this, and ran right into the squadron.[2]

Battle

At 07:53 hours, Eberhardt's force met Yavuz sailing along a parallel course. Ackermann believed this to be the bombardment detail, though he was confused as to why he was facing three battleships instead of two. He soon realized his mistake when Tri Sviatitelia and Panteleimon joined the Russian battle line. The Ottoman battlecruiser fired 160 11-inch (279 mm) shells in the ensuing engagement, but scored no hits and caused no damage. One near miss on Evstafi sent a cascade of water over the flying bridge, drenching Admiral Eberhardt and his staff.[2] In return, the Russians landed one heavy caliber shell on Yavuz's forecastle, and another on her forward armoured belt. Outnumbered and outgunned, Captain Ackermann ordered his ship to disengage at 08:12.[1] The Russians pursued the battlecruiser to the north before it doubled back and returned to Ottoman waters.

Aftermath

Though the Ottomans had been forced to retreat, the damaged they suffered was minimal and they disrupted the Russians' planned bombardment in the Bosphorus. The action also made the Russians more wary about dividing their pre-dreadnought squadron.

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References
  1. Halpern, Paul G. (11 October 2012). "Chapter 8: The Black Sea". A Naval History of World War I. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781612511726.
  2. Noppen, Ryan K. (20 July 2015). Ottoman Navy Warships 1914–18. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 9781472806208.
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