At the end of the 1821 Information arrived in the Greek camp, according to which the Ottoman fleet, who had retired to the security offered by the straits of Hellespont, were preparing to exile to the Aegean. The capable sailors of the Psara, who had taken the monitoring of the Movements of the Ottoman fleet, alerted the other Greeks that about 70 ships were preparing to sail to the Aegean in order to overthrow the revolution. On January 24, 1822, the Ottoman fleet, led by Lieutenant Commander, Peppe Ali and Egyptian Lieutenant Commander Ismail Gibraltar, left Hellespont heading to the Peloponnese.
The first goal of the Ottoman warships was to refuel the Peloponnese castles with food and munitions, which were still in Ottoman hands. Although Koroni’s approach, on the southwestern peninsula of the Peloponnese, was not possible because of the bad weather, the fleet managed to refuel the Castle of Methoni on January 29th. The following day, the fleet moved to the Gulf of Navarino, where it landed about eight hundred soldiers in order to occupy Neokastro.
With the help of Philhellenic Carl Norman, the Greeks managed to suggest resistance, using the few firearms of the Neokastro fortress.
Initially, the Greek camp prevailed. Later, in the day, however, the Greeks with the help of the German philhellenic Carl Norman They managed to propose resistance, using the few firearms of the Neokastro fortress causing damage to some of the ships. The Ottomans, retreating, They sought refuge in Zakynthoswhich was under the rule of the British.
In order to deal with the Ottoman fleet in the Aegean and the Ionian Sea, the full -length seafarers of Psara, Hydra and Spetses were mainly mobilized. The Psarians managed to staff 16 ships, the Hydra 27 and the Spetsians.
The Greek seafarers were soon informed that the Ottoman fleet had reached the Corinthian Gulf, had already landed troops in the besieged by the Greeks Patras and had been sailed to Nafpaktos. On February 16, the Greek fleet was docked in Messolonghi, awaiting the improvement of the weather in order to attack the Ottomans. On February 20, while a trick, Miaoulis, whom everyone recognized as the general leader of the business, ordered the Greek ships to sail against Patras, where 36 Ottoman ships were located.
Panic -stricken Ottoman sailors were trying to lift the anchors and put against Greek ships.
The attack by the Greeks fell asleep the crews of the Ottoman ships, which did not expect such a sea to carry out a business by the Greeks. Panic -stricken Ottoman sailors were trying to lift the anchors and put against Greek ships. Their efforts, however, were in vain. During the battle, which lasted more than five hours, Greek ships almost completely destroyed an Ottoman frigate and caused significant damage to many more. In a difficult position, the Ottoman fleet sought refuge in Zakynthos.
In the battle of Patras, the Greek forces have achieved another success at sea. Although the outcome of the battle was not impressive in terms of damage to the Ottoman ships, it was of great moral importance for the Greeks, who proved that they could defeat the hostile fleet in both the Aegean and the Ionian Sea.
Column: Myrto Katsigera, Vassilis Minakakis, Antigoni-Despina Poumenidou, Athanasios Syroplakis
