Anglo-French squadron’s attack against Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky during the Crimean War repulsed

«Almost about the same time as the news about Inkerman, another news, unexpected for the whole world, started to spread in Russia, France and England, which at first was taken with a certain distrustfulness, but turned out to be true and was a ray of sun for Russia, while in Paris and especially London it provoked irritation and grief: allied Navy attacked Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and, having suffered great losses, retreated without achieving any of its goals.”

Ye. Tarle, Crimean War.

August 24 (September 5), 1854 in the midst of the Crimean War (1853-1856) so difficult for Russia, a small Petropavlovsk garrison won a brilliant victory over the superior forces of the Anglo-French squadron, which attacked the Peter and Paul port - the main stronghold of Russia in the Far East.

The main reason for the attack of the allies against Petropavlovsk was the struggle of the great powers for supremacy on the seas. In particular, the Allies intended to deprive Russia of a rich fishing area in the north-east part of the Pacific Ocean. Their main blow was directed at the Russian strong point in the Far East - Petropavlovsk. It was the United Kingdom who sought for this most zealously.

The defense of Petropavlovsk led the military governor of Kamchatka, Major-General V. S. Zavoiko and commander of the frigate "Aurora", Lieutenant-Commander I. N. Izylmetiev. The garrison numbered over one thousand people; frigate ‘Aurora’ and military transport 'Dvina' stayed in the bay, the ships and seven coastal batteries had in total 67 guns. The entire population of the city (about 1, 600 persons) was involved in preparation for the defense. The work of constructing seven coastal batteries and installation of guns was carried out around the clock. A detachment of 100 volunteers was formed. Frigate "Aurora" and military transport "Dvina" were anchored, their port sides looking toward the exit of the harbor; the starboard guns (27 guns) were removed to enhance the coastal batteries. The harbor entrance was barred with booms.

17 (29) August Anglo-French squadron (3 frigates, 1 corvette, 1 brig, 1 ship, 218 guns), commanded by Rear Admiral Price and Rear Admiral Fevrier de Pointe appeared in front of Petropavlovsk, and 18 (30) August dropped anchor in Avacha Bay.

August 20 (September 1), suppressing the fire of two batteries, the Allies landed a force (up to 600 men), south of the city, but a Russian detachment (230 men) counter attacking, dropped it into the sea.

August 24 (September 5) Allied squadron defeated 2 batteries on the peninsula and landed a major assault (970 men) west and northwest of the city. The defenders of Petropavlovsk (360 men) detained enemy, and then repulsed them with a counterattack. The Allies lost about 450 men, the Russians - about 100 men.

From a report of the Kamchatka military governor and commander of the port of Petropavlovsk V. S. Zavoiko: "18 August this year squadron of six French and British ships: three large frigates, three-mast ship, a frigate of a low-rank and brig, cast anchor in the roads of Avacha Bay : from this day till 25th August the squadron bombarded the Petropavlovsk port and took ​​two decisive offensives (assaults) in order to capture the city and the military ships: the frigate "Aurora" and transport "Dvina", stationed at Malaya Bay, but the enemy’s attack had been repulsed in all locations, the city and the ships kept intact. The squadron, having suffered considerable damage, lost several officers and up to 350 men, leaving in the Petropavlovsk port British banner of landing troops, 27th August weighed anchor and disappeared from sight."

In April 1855 due to lack of troops and naval forces, Petropavlovsk was evacuated on the orders of the governor general of Irkutsk N. N. Muravyev.

In memory of heroic defense of Petropavlovsk Port, on the St. Nicholas Hill was risen an obelisk, "Glory", cast-iron plates of which bearing an inscription: "In memory of those killed repulsing the attack of the Anglo-French fleet and troops 20 and 24 August, 1854."  100 years later, between St. Nicholas Hill and the Cape Signal an obelisk was erected with an inscription: "To heroes of the third battery of Lieutenant A. P. Maksutov, who had not spared their lives to defeat the enemy. From seamen of the Pacific Fleet on the day of centenary of Petropavlovsk defense."

Lit.: Гаврилова С. В.«Пардону» врагу не дали... Из истории обороны Петропавловска 1854 г. // Маленькие камчатские истории. Петропавловск-Камчатский, 2002; Защитники Отечества. Петропавловск-Камчатский, 1989; Краснознамённый Тихоокеанский флот. М., 1973. Гл. 2. За честь русского флага; То же [Электронный ресурс]. URL: http://militera.lib.ru/h/tihookeanskiy_flot/02.html; Памятники Петропавловска-Камчатского. Петропавловск-Камчатский, 2007; Полевой Б. П. Героическая оборона Петропавловска-Камчатского в 1854 году. Петропавловск-Камчатский, 1979; Сергеев М. А. Оборона Петропавловска на Камчатке. М., 1954; Степанов А. Петропавловская оборона. Хабаровск, 1954; Тарле Е. В. Крымская война: в 2-х т. М.; Л.,1941-1944. Гл. 8. Белое море и Тихий океан. Неудача англо-французского флота у Петропавловска-на-Камчатке; То же [Электронный ресурс]. URL: http://militera.lib.ru/h/tarle3/19.html; Щедрин Г. И. Петропавловский бой. М., 1975.

Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:

Нападение на Петропавловский порт англо-французской эскадры в 1854 году. СПб., 1884.