Battle of Kinburn (1855)

The Battle of Kinburn was a naval bombardment and amphibious landing by French and British forces against the Russian-held Kinburn Fortress during the Crimean War in October 1855. Kinburn, located on the Kinburn Spit, controlled access to the Dnieper and Bug Rivers, and thus threatened Russian supply lines to Crimea.

The Anglo-French fleet, commanded by Rear-Admiral Edmund Lyons and Vice-Admiral Bruat, consisted of a powerful force, including ironclad floating batteries - the Gloire, Lave, and Tonnante - which played a decisive role in the battle. These ironclads, among the first used in combat, proved impervious to Russian cannon fire from the shore batteries.

On October 17, 1855, the Allied fleet bombarded the Kinburn Fortress. The ironclads silenced the Russian artillery while other ships provided covering fire and landed troops. The Russian garrison, commanded by General Kokhanovich, resisted for several hours, but was ultimately overwhelmed by the superior firepower and the Allied landing force.

The battle resulted in a decisive Allied victory. The Kinburn Fortress was captured, and the Allies gained control of the strategic waterway. More significantly, the Battle of Kinburn demonstrated the effectiveness of ironclad warships against traditional fortifications, marking a turning point in naval warfare. The relative ease with which the ironclads overcame the fortress led to significant naval rearmament programs in various countries as navies began to shift from wooden sailing ships to ironclad steamships.