Struggle for control of the Black Sea

The struggle for control of the Black Sea took place during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. The Russian Black Sea Fleet sought to secure the army's maritime communications and defend Russia's Black Sea coast.

In 1871, the London Conference lifted the prohibition on rebuilding the Russian Black Sea Fleet imposed by the Treaty of Paris in 1856. The fleet nevertheless needed time to prepare and was inferior to the Ottoman navy at the war's outset. With two coastal ironclads, corvettes, steamers and other vessels, its main task was to attack Ottoman merchant and transport ships.

Lieutenant Stepan Makarov used mines as the principal means of attack. These proved effective in paralysing Ottoman naval activity and restricting movement.

A key engagement took place on 10 July 1877 between the Russian steamer Vesta and the Ottoman ironclad corvette Feth-i Bülend. During a five-hour battle, Vesta damaged its opponent but also sustained damage. It nevertheless remained capable of fighting and counterattacked the Ottoman corvette.

Russian mine attacks thus played an important role in Black Sea operations, helping Russia achieve its wartime objectives.