The Landings at Kinburn Spit 1855

17th October 1855

The Battle of Kinburn, a combined land-naval engagement during the final stage of the Crimean War, took place on the tip of the Kinburn Peninsula(on the south shore of the Dnieper–Bug estuary in what is now Ukraine) on 17 October 1855. During the battle a combined fleet of vessels from the French Navy and the British Royal Navy bombarded Russian coastal fortifications after an Anglo-French ground force had besieged them. Three French ironclad batteries carried out the main attack, which saw the main Russian fortress destroyed in an action that lasted about three hours.

Bombardment of Kinburn by the Allies, one o'clock P.M. October 16. The Bombardment and Capture of Kinburn. The Illustrated London News, 10 November 1855.

The battle, although strategically insignificant with little effect on the outcome of the war, is notable for the first use of modern ironclad warshipsin action. Although frequently hit, the French ships destroyed the Russian forts within three hours, suffering minimal casualties in the process. This battle convinced contemporary navies to design and build new major warships with armour plating; this instigated a naval arms race between France and Britain lasting over a decade. [1]

Kinburn - The British were anxious to attack Odessa, but the French would not agree; finally the Emperor Napoleon III by a telegram of 20th September 1855, ordered his generals to attack Kinburn.

Where the Rivers Bug and Dnieper flow into the Black Sea there is a wide estuary, and Nicolaieff, a large arsenal and Naval Station, is on the River Bug. There is a long spit of land on the South shore extending for some miles towards the opposite coast; the Dnieper flows into the eastern extremity of the Gulf. Not far inland from this point is the town of Kherson; through which troops passed to the Crimea via Perekop.

Map showing the arrangement of the fleet and the fortifications during the battle

Kinburn Spit was fortified; a large stone fort was situated some distance from its extremity. Two other earthwork batteries, offering a very small target, had recently been built with 10 guns each. Fort Kinburn was a solid structure, casemated and with earthworks above the masonry, mounting 55 guns, howitzers and mortars, mostly en barbette.

There was a wet ditch on the North front and the garrison consisted of 1500 men. On the opposite side of the channel was Ochakoff Point, on which was Fort Nicolaieff, with 22 guns and also several earthworks.

The plan was to land on the Spit below Fort Kinburn to cut off the retreat of the garrison, and then to bombard the defences with floating batteries and mortars, as the battleships could not approach nearer than 1200 yards.

The occupation of Kinburn would stop communication by sea between Nicolaieff, Kherson and Odessa, and would threaten the rear of the Russian Army and perhaps cause it to evacuate the Crimea.

By 6th October all was ready: the battleships Royal Albert, Hannibal, Algiers, Princess Royal, St. Jean a'Acre, Sidon, and Leopard, with two transports carrying 4000 British Infantry, including Colonel Hurdle's Battalions of Royal Marines (950 strong) and a Battery of Artillery, the whole under Brigadier Hon H B Spencer, a similar force of French under General Bazaine, with a French squadron and a large number of steam frigates, sloops, and mortar vessels.

he mortar vessels were under Captain Wilcox RN and Captain Digby, RMA; lst RM under Colonel C Campbell was reinforced by detachments of Agamemnon, Royal Albert, St. Jean d'Acre, and Hannibal from 15th to 30th October, and carried a colour lent by Captain King RN.

The 2nd RM (Lieutenant Colonel Holloway) was reinforced by detachments of Algiers and Princess Royal for some time. The RMA detachment was under Brevet Major Alexander and Lieutenant Joliffe.

Landing Artillery on the Spit, Kinburn. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 10 November 1855.

They rendezvoused on 8th October and reached the anchorage on 14th. At night the Fancy, Boxer, Cracker and Climber (steam gun vessels) with 4 French gunboats forced the entrance into the estuary, under heavy fire.

The following morning the British and French transports landed their troops about 3 miles to the southward of the principal Fort, thus cutting off the retreat of the defenders. In the evening the ships ranged on the forts.

The swell prevented operations on 15th, but on 17th with a Northerly breeze the mortar and other vessels took up their position off Fort Kinburn. By noon the buildings of the Fort were in flames and the Eastern face had suffered considerably. At noon 4 British and 4 French battleships approached Fort Kinburn in line abreast.

Interior of Fort Kinburn, October 18, showing the effects of two hours' bombardment - Illustrated London News 1 December 1855

Admiral Houston-Steuart and a small squadron pushed through between the Points to fire from the inside and cover the troops; 4 ships took on the centre battery and 3 the fort at the point of the Spit. The enemy's fire was soon silenced, and a flag of truce was sent ashore with a summons to surrender, which was accepted; the garrison of 1400 marched out with the honours of war.

Russian prisoner after the battle of Kinburn (1855)

The British loss was only 2 wounded, but the Russians suffered heavily and 81 guns were captured.

Gun emplacement inscribed 'Kinburn 18 October 1855' and ' Spit Fort engaged by HMS Tribune Curacao & Terrible' [Maritime Museum Greenwich]

On the 16th the enemy blew up the Forts on Ochakoff Point and retired. Kinburn fort was put into a state of defence, which was finished by the end of October, and garrisoned with 1000 French troops and a small Allied Flotilla.

British Army encampment at Kinburn with the fleet off shore, including HMS Tribune (third from left)

The expedition returned to Sebastopol on November 2nd. [2]

Related Royal Marines 'Dits'

References/ Further Reading

[1] Wikipedia - Battle of Kinburn (1855)

[2] Blumberg - History of the Royal Marines (1837 - 1914)