Printed sources for Turkish merchant shipping losses in WW1?

[FelixC]

To include small craft destroyed in the many Russian sweeps of the Turkish coast.
Any, all leads appreciated.

[Istanbul]

If you mean by "small crafts" sailing vessels I have to state that there are no printed sources for them to be found. Some names of the vessels are sometimes mentioned in reports, but they were mostly so small that they never entered any Western registers. So it is nearly impossible to follow them. As I work on the subject since several years I have decided very early to omit them from my researches. Sorry.

[FelixC]

For example Russian source indicates:
In November 1914, Admiral Ebergardt led a sweep of the coast sinking several steamers and dozens of sailing ships. I presume the steamers would be registered and the sailing vessels am not sure.

Russians kept detailed records of how many vessels they destroyed on sweeps of the Anatolian coast.
another example
01.30-4.02.1915 The squadron of the Black Sea Fleet, accompanied by six destroyers of the 1st and 2nd divisions, raided Eastern Anatolia. A military cargo ship and 50 sailing ships were sunk.
etc/etc/

Just to confirm if you have been researching.

I did find a few for example. for May 1915
4.5.15 Amalia 405/61 built by Smith & Rodgers,Govan Middleton yard 65 captured by Russian KAGUL 30 miles NE of Bosporus and taken to
Sevastopol. Constanza for Istanbul. Taken up as Imperial Russian Navy Transport No. 112
4.5.15 Iskondar 2900/07 ex Craigforth built by A.Rodger & Co. Glascow Sunk by gunfire from Russian PAMIAT MERKURIA off kozlu
5.5.15 Yesilirmak 1591/82 Shelled and sunk by Russian destroyers GNEVNYY and PRONZITELNYI at Zonguldak while loading coal for Istanbul
5.5.15 Millet 817/92 ex Seagull built by Murdoch & Murray Glascow Sunk by gunfire from Russian DDs DERZKIY and BESPOKOYNIY At Eregli
9.5.15 Sadic or Sagditche 763/72 ex Talisman built by Blackwood & Gordon Port Glascow shelled by Russian DDs while alongside at
Zonguldak DERZKIJ and Bespokojnyi, later beached at Kilimli as a total loss.
9.5.15 Hellespont ex Alaska built by Short Brothers Pallion Sunderlanf yard No,139 Sunk by Russians off Eregli.

[Istanbul]

About the "sailing crafts": The numbers what the Russians reports are sometimes very high. This is because most of the vessels were 1 masted very very small vessels mostly under 5 grt. Don`t imagine that these were barques or schoners etc. etc.

For the steamers I would suggest that you may buy the book "Halbmond & Kaiseradler". Although in the between time since published in 1999 a lots of new informations researched this a helpful book for you I presume.

[FelixC]

Understood and thank you

[Istanbul]

Just to confirm if you have been researching.

Well, this statement of yours sounds a bit impertinent to me. I give one example from your list to "confirm" that I have "researching" since more then 30 years:

ÜSKÜDAR
Cargo/Steel/Screwsteamer
Bld.: A. Rodger & Co., Port Glasgow -404-
L: 23.10.1907 T: 09.11.1907 Eng.: T3cyl 1400ihp A. Rodger & Co.
2900gt 1842nt 6700tdw L=100,6m B=14,0m D=6,0m

09.11.1907: CRAIGFORTH Craig Line Steamship Co. Ltd., Edinburgh, p.o.r. Leith (m) D. Russell & Co. Ltd., Edinburgh /Br 05.08.1914: 05.30h mined near İstanbul-Rumelikavağı o/V: Gelendzhik-Hamburg with a cargo of 4.370t of wheat, vessel beached in damaged condition at İstanbul-Büyükdere 08.08.1914: towed into the Haliç for temporary repairs with cement, ship supervised by Richard Angelatos, İstanbul representing the owners 26.08.1914: cargo was removed by barges on behalf of the Osmanlı Government 26.09.1914: vessel proceeded for the Dardanelles 27.09.1914: arrived at Çanakkale, but refused to pass the Dardanelles which were closed on this day by Osmanlı Government and ordered to sail for Gelibolu 27.09.1914: arrived at Gelibolu 11.10.1914: ordered by Osmanlı Government to sail for İstanbul 13.10.1914: arrived and anchored 30.10.1914: vessel detained and crew send to Great Britain 23.11.1914: seized by Osmanlı Government and temporary repairs carried out by Tersane-i Amire, İstanbul .11.1914: ÜSKÜDAR Osmanlı Seyr-i Sefain İdaresi, İstanbul .03.1915: ÜSKÜDAR Osmanlı Bahriye-shelter ship- 27.04.1915: 11.00h gunfired and sank by British battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH at Akbaş whilst acting as shelter ship for Osmanlı battleships 26.05.1915: British registry closed

[Joe R]

Thank-you Istanbul for your thorough answer.
Small addition, "One Officer and two privates had became martyrs. Thank god, nothing happened to others."
source: Binbasi Nazmi Bey -Canakkale Deniz Savaslari Gunlugu s 61-62. It is not clear to me whether the
casualties occured on USKUDAR or RESIT PASA which was tied up next to USKUDAR?

If the USKUDAR was sunk by HMS QE, What vessel did the two Russian DDs kill in the Black Sea?

Respectfully,

Joe R

[Istanbul]

Thank you-Joe R- for the informations about the casualties. I checked my archive, but unfortunately can`t state if they occurred on ÜSKÜDAR or either RESİT PAŞA. I would suggest at the first one, but can`t proof it so far.

On 05.05.1915 Russian forces sank the steamships YEŞILIRMARK, GAZZE and GÜZEL GİRİT.

Regards,
Istanbul

[maurice]

Hello Joe, hello Jochen,



Here what I found in old nrs of 'Nautibel".
Maybe of some interest for you ?

Regards
Maurice

[maurice]

part 2

[maurice]

part 3

[maurice]

part 4

[maurice]

part 5

[maurice]

part 6

[maurice]

part 7