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HISTORY
Source Ship stamps UK
Built as a ship of the line at Nikolaev, Ukraine by the shipbuilders
I. Afanasiev and I. Sokolov in 1794, for the Russian Imperial Navy.
Launched under the name SVYATOY PAVEL, (Saint Paul)
Dimensions 54.9 x 15.3 x 6.1m. Two decks.
Armament 84 guns.
She carried a gilded figurehead of the Apostle Paul, her stern was
decorated with a two-headed eagle, and above the stern windows of
the upper gallery, and there was an embossed Sate Emblem.
She carried no top on the bowsprit, but only jibs and staysails.
Carried also staysails between the masts.
She was the flagship of Vice-Admiral Fyodor F. Ushakov 1744-1817,
based in the Black Sea.
When in 1798 Russia and Turkey became allies, after the French fleet
seized Malta and Napoleon began his campaign in Egypt, the Russian
Black Sea Fleet was allowed to pass the Bosporus to the
Mediterranean.
1798 Vice Admiral Ushakov on board his flagship SVYATOY PAVEL with a
Black Sea squadron passed the Bosporus and joined the naval forces
of the Turkish Admiral Kadyr Bey, thereafter the combined fleet
headed for the Ionian Islands at that time occupied by French.
The combined fleet of 10 ships of the line, including four Turkish.
9 frigates, including four Turkish and three Russian and 8 Turkish
small warships.
Not long thereafter two ships of the line of the Russian Black Sea
and three ships of the line and one frigate of the Baltic fleet
joined Ushakov.
From December to November French fortifications were seized by
troops of Ushakov fleet on the islands of Cerigo, Zante, Cephalonia
and Saint Mauro, and the important Corfu fortress was blockade by
the fleet.
Ushakov made a landing on Corfu and attacked Vido Island. On the
morning of 18 February 1799 after a signal from his flagship SVYATOY
PAVEL, seven ships of the line and ten frigates commenced bombarding
the island coastal fortifications and batteries. The batteries were
silenced and 2.000 assault troops stormed the island, capturing 422
French troops.
A damaged French warship the 54 gun LEANDER retreated to the walls
of Corfu and the protection of the city batteries.
When the Russian-Turks force stormed the first fortifications of
Corfu the situation became hopeless for the French commandant and
the city captured. (As given on the Russian MS 6806 of 5Rb issued in
1999, see below.)
636 Guns and mortars were captured, also the LEANDER a frigate LA
BRUIN and 14 small craft. 2.931 French troops were taken prisoner.
Ushakov was after the victory promoted to the rank of Admiral.
After the victory the fleet was used to attack French supply routes
and assist Allied forces in Italy, the towns of Brindisi, Mola and
Bari were taken, and Ancona was blockaded.
On 3 June 1799 the Russian forces together with troops from Naples
liberated Naples. In September Ushakov left Italy and sailed with
course Malta, to assist the English navy to recapture the island
still in de hands of the French troops, but the English troubled by
the quick strengthening Russian force in the Mediterranean, refused
the help of the Russian navy. Vice-Admiral Nelson the commander of
the British fleet off Malta even attempted to dispatch Vice-Admiral
Ushakov and the Russian forces to Egypt. At least an arrangement was
reached between Nelson and Ushakov, to send a small Russian squadron
to Egypt under command of Vice Admiral Victor Kartsov.
Ushakov was the senior of Nelson in rank, and in the attack on
Malta, Nelson had to follow the Russian officers orders. The Malta
attack did not take place and in the end of 1799 Vice Admiral
Ushakov received orders to return to the Black Sea with his fleet.
I cannot find the fate of the SVYATOY PAVEL, and of she was used
again after 1799.
1810 Out of service.
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