6th Affair.
The Soukoum Kaleh Attack.—The sixth attempt was made on the 23rd-24th of August, 1877, on a Turkish ironclad, the Assari Shefket, at the time lying at anchor off Soukoum Kaleh.[U] Four torpedo boats composed the attacking force, viz. the Sinope, Lieutenant Pisarefski; the Torpedoist, Midshipman Nelson Hirst; the Navarino, Lieutenant Vichnevetski; and the Tchesme, Lieutenant Zatzarennyi, the latter officer being in command. These boats had been brought to the entrance of the harbour by the Constantine, and were despatched on their mission of destruction about half past ten.
An eclipse of the moon occurred on this night, and, taking advantage of this fact, the four Russian torpedo boats dashed into the harbour at full speed and made for the Turkish vessel.
Fortunately for the safety of his ship and lives of his crew, the captain of the Turkish ironclad had several boats rowing guard round his ship, and otherwise everything on board in readiness for immediate action. On the attacking flotilla nearing the guard boats, blue lights were burnt, rifles fired, &c., and the alarm given to those on the look-out in the Assari Shefket. The moment the enemy were within range, such a well-directed and heavy fire was poured on them that the attack was completely foiled. One of the Russian torpedoes was exploded, but failed to do more than throw a quantity of water up. The next morning a pole with torpedo fixed on it was found by the Turks, and on the strength of this and the numerous fragments of wood similarly found, one if not more of the enemy's boats it was supposed must have been sunk, or much knocked about.
This was a much better planned and executed attack, but was unsuccessful owing to the extreme vigilance of the Turks.
This attempt will always be remembered by the Turks, on account of the general order that appeared in the papers on the part of the Russians, in which "the brilliant exploit and successful destruction of the Turkish ironclad Assari Shefket" was set forth at great length; she at the time that this appeared being quietly at anchor off the dockyard at Stamboul, not having received any damage whatever.