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Ottoman Navy - 1870s

By 1875 Turkey ranked as the third naval Power in Europe, and under the able administration of the English admiral, Hobart Pasha (who was Inspector-General of the Ottoman Navy), it was hoped that when called upon for active service, the Turkish navy would revive the ancient glory of her old marine forces, that won such renown under the famous Admiral Barbarossa.

The Turkish ironclads were some of the finest vessels afloat, and were built, some by Mr. Samuda, and others by the Thames Ironwork Shipbuilding Company, at Blackwall, many of them from the designs of Ahmed Pasha, chief constructor of the Ottoman navy. There were twenty-one armor-clads in all, including five gunboats, and besides these there are of wooden vessels, five magnificent large steam-frigates, equal to any of the class in the English navy, ten steam corvettes, twenty-six steam transports, thirty-five small war-steamers, besides twenty-four small sailing-vessels, brigs, etc.

Another vessel of the class of the Mesondive (and much like our new iron-clad Alexandra) was added in 1876. This class were of 9,000 tons, 332 feet long, with 59 feet beam, each carrying twelve 18-ton guns. Their armor is ten inches, and in some places twelve inches thick. Another very serviceable class is that represented by the Avni Illah and Muin Zaffer, of 1,400 tons, with an armament of four 12-ton guns and a right ahead and astern fire. The armor averages only five and a half inches, but they are said to have greater speed than any vessels afloat.

This was a very formidable naval force, and the possibility of its falling into the hands of Russia is worth considering, in which case it would make her superior to England as a naval power. At present the Turkish navy is so vastly superior to that of Russia in the Black Sea that it gives Turkey complete command by water, and in event of war she can at once blockade all the Russian Black Sea ports, and stop her trade in that quarter.

The fleet was manned by 28,462 excellent sailors, and 3,600 marines ; but the officers had not sufficient training to make them efficient. The term of service in the Ottoman navy is eight years, and there are many Christian Greeks among the sailors. Officers have a special school of instruction at Khalki, one of the Prince's Islands. There is also a three-decker at Constantinople, and another at Ismid, for gunnery instruction on the English system.