Burning the Turkish flagship in Chios 200 years ago .

[aris]

In March 1821, the Greek War of Independence began against the Ottoman Empire. One year later, the Ottoman forces disembarked on the island of Chios, massacred more than 30,000 Greek inhabitants, and captured about 50,000 who were sold as slaves in Izmir and Istanbul.

After the Chios massacre, the Greek revolutionary government managed to gather a significant amount of money (342,000 kuruş) in order to outfit its ships and attack the armada. In May 1821, the Greek navy made consecutive attacks against the Ottoman fleet.

At the end of May, the Greek captains from Psara and Hydra decided to burn the Ottoman flagship by using fire ships. Konstantinos Kanaris and Andreas Pipinos took charge of the operation. The first would blow up the Ottoman flagship with his fireboat and the second the vice admiral's flagship. The two fireboats would be accompanied by four ships that would gather the sailors of the fireboats after the completion of the operation.

The operation took place on the night of 18 June [O.S. 6 June] 1822, when the winds were advantageous, the night was dark and the Ottomans were celebrating the Ramadan Bayram. Andreas Pipinos tried to burn the rear admiral's flagship, but although some damage was caused, it did not sink, as the crew realized the danger quickly and saw off the fireboat. However, Kanaris managed to affix his fireship firmly to the flagship, the 84-gun ship of the line Mansur al-liwa. The fire spread to the Ottoman ship and eventually reached the gunpowder hold, resulting in an explosion which destroyed the ship. About two thousand sailors were killed or drowned, including the admiral of the Ottoman navy, Nasuhzade Ali Pasha, who was killed by a falling spar.

According to Thomas Gordon, the burning of the Ottoman flagship in Chios was one of the most astonishing achievements in history and he declared Konstantinos Kanaris a hero that Greece could be proud of.

*source Wikipedia

 

[aris]

And here is my question.
In greece we have a quite old tradition of fire ships . From the secret Byzantine flamethrowing dromons
to the 1821s modification of old ships to explosives like the one you see in the painting.
Do you know globaly any other types of operations like that?

 

[AER3393]

Aris,
Yes. I believe the British used fire ships against the Spanish armada. Also the ancient Chinese did as well.

 

[Uwek]

And here is my question.
In greece we have a quite old tradition of fire ships . From the secret Byzantine flamethrowing dromons
to the 1821s modification of old ships to explosives like the one you see in the painting.
Do you know globaly any other types of operations like that?

During some periods the use of fire ships was standard tactic

Fire ship - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

There are also some contemporary drawings existing showing technical draughts and also models of british fireships

Collection Results | Royal Museums Greenwich

www.rmg.co.uk

For example the gunport-lids were often changed with the hinges at the lower cill

 

[Heinrich]

The Dutch made extensive use of fireships - the most famous event of which was the Medway Raid or the Battle of Chatham when the Dutch Navy sailed up the river Teems and destroyed the British Navy. In naval history this remains as the biggest single defeat ever inflicted on the British Navy with the heaviest losses.




The capture of the Royal Charles. Notice the Dutch ensign on the poop deck (Black Arrow) while the British Ensign is hanging upside down as a sign of humiliation (Red Arrow).


The glorification of Admiral Witte Corneliszoon de With aka "Dubbel - Wit" (Double White). Whilst he was the Dutch's least loved Admiral, I have always found him to be a fascinating character.

 

[donfarr]

AS ALWAYS HEINRICH DEAR FRIEND GREAT INFORMATION, LOVE IT . GOD BLESS STAY SAFE YOU AND ANNA DON

 

[Uwek]

In March 1821, the Greek War of Independence began against the Ottoman Empire. One year later, the Ottoman forces disembarked on the island of Chios, massacred more than 30,000 Greek inhabitants, and captured about 50,000 who were sold as slaves in Izmir and Istanbul.

After the Chios massacre, the Greek revolutionary government managed to gather a significant amount of money (342,000 kuruş) in order to outfit its ships and attack the armada. In May 1821, the Greek navy made consecutive attacks against the Ottoman fleet.

At the end of May, the Greek captains from Psara and Hydra decided to burn the Ottoman flagship by using fire ships. Konstantinos Kanaris and Andreas Pipinos took charge of the operation. The first would blow up the Ottoman flagship with his fireboat and the second the vice admiral's flagship. The two fireboats would be accompanied by four ships that would gather the sailors of the fireboats after the completion of the operation.

The operation took place on the night of 18 June [O.S. 6 June] 1822, when the winds were advantageous, the night was dark and the Ottomans were celebrating the Ramadan Bayram. Andreas Pipinos tried to burn the rear admiral's flagship, but although some damage was caused, it did not sink, as the crew realized the danger quickly and saw off the fireboat. However, Kanaris managed to affix his fireship firmly to the flagship, the 84-gun ship of the line Mansur al-liwa. The fire spread to the Ottoman ship and eventually reached the gunpowder hold, resulting in an explosion which destroyed the ship. About two thousand sailors were killed or drowned, including the admiral of the Ottoman navy, Nasuhzade Ali Pasha, who was killed by a falling spar.

According to Thomas Gordon, the burning of the Ottoman flagship in Chios was one of the most astonishing achievements in history and he declared Konstantinos Kanaris a hero that Greece could be proud of.

*source Wikipedia
View attachment 321797

I completely forgot these days this highly inbteresting publication about fireships, describing in depth their construction, use, tactics etc.

Fireship: The Terror Weapon of the Age of Sail
by Peter Kirsch
translated from german by John Harland



Synopsis:
The fireship was the guided missile of the age of sail. Packed with incendiary (and sometimes explosive) material, it was aimed at its highly inflammable wooden target by volunteers who bailed out at the last moment. Although it often missed its target, the panic it caused among the crews--who generally could not swim and had no method of safely abandoning ship--did the job. The most famous example of its use was the English attack off Gravelines in 1588 that led to the rout of the Spanish Armada and the adoption of the fireship as an integral part of the British fleet. The author explains how increasingly sophisticated "fireworks" were designed into specially-built ships, and how doctrines were worked out for their deployment. In covering some of the most dramatic battles of the sailing era, this heavily illustrated book reveals the full impact of a much used but little understood weapon on naval history.
This is a history of a potent, much used but little understood weapon.

Here you can find my book review, which I made 4 years ago

Book review - Book Review: "FIRESHIP - The Terror Weapon of the Age of Sail" by Peter Kirsch

Book Review: Fireship: The Terror Weapon of the Age of Sail by Peter Kirsch translated from german by John Harland Hardcover: 224 pages Publisher: Naval Institute Press; First American Edition edition (June 1, 2009) or Seaforth Publishing 2009 Language: English Product Dimensions: 9.5 x...

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