Battle of Tendra The naval Battle of Tendra , fought on 8 and 9 September 1790 in the Black Sea as part of the Russo - Turkish War , 1787 - 1792 , was a victory for Russian Empire over the Ottoman Empire . The Russian fleet of 10 battleships , 6 frigates and small craft sailed from Sevastopol on 5 September under Fyodor Ushakov for Kherson to pick up some frigates . At 6 a . m . on 8 September it encountered the Ottoman fleet of 14 battleships , 8 frigates and 23 small crafts at anchor near Tendra . As the Ottomans formed into a battle line , the Russian fleet sailed toward the tail end of the Ottoman line in 3 parallel lines , forming into one line as they did so . The Ottoman admiral , Hussein Pasha , seeing his tail threatened , turned north and came back parallel to the Russians , who followed suit so the two fleets ended up on paralleled tracks , heading north - east . This was completed by about 2 p . m . . Ushakov ordered 3 frigates to the off - battle side of the van to guard against an Ottoman doubling of the Russian line ( Ottoman ships of the period were usually coppered and therefore several knots faster than Russian ships ) , leaving 13 ships of 710 guns in his line , opposed to 14 with 900 guns . Ushakov then turned toward the Ottoman ships and firing began at about 3 p . m . . The Ottomans began to bear away and by 6 p . m . were in full retreat . The Russians followed closely , inflicting much damage - in particular , the Ottoman Vice Admiral ' s ship was attacked by " Ioann Bogoslov " , and the Admiral ' s and Rear - Admiral ' s ships by " Rozhdestvo Christovo " and " Preobrazhenie Gospodne " . The Ottomans speed allowed them to get away though , and soon after 8 p . m . firing ceased and the Russians anchored . The next day , 2 damaged Ottoman ships , the " Kapitana " ( Vice Admiral ' s ship ) and " Melike Bahri " were seen close by , and the Russians attacked . " Melike Bahri " surrendered to " Maria Magdalina " without resistance , but the " Kapitana " put up a stout resistance . At 10 a . m . she was attacked by " Sv . Andrei Pervozvannyi " , which brought down her fore topsail , then by " Sv . Georgii Pobyedonosets " , " Preobrazhenie Gospodne " and others . By noon she was completely surrounded , but fought on . At 2 p . m . Ushakov in " Rozhdestvo Christovo " shot away all her masts and placed his ship across her bows , and at 3 p . m . she surrendered . Unfortunately she was seen to be on fire , and blew up after only 20 men , including Said Bey and her captain , had been taken off . Only 101 men were saved out of 800 on board . Some Russian ships had been chasing the rest of the Ottoman fleet but they were losing ground and at about 4 : 30 p . m . Ushakov recalled them . Russian privateers later brought in 3 small craft . Russian casualties were 25 killed and 25 wounded , and 733 Ottomans were captured . Several ships had minor damage in their masts and rigging . Russian victory in the Battle of Tendra allowed them to control the Black Sea . Ships involved . Ottoman Empire . " Bahr - i Zafer " 72 ( flag of Kapudan Pasha Giritli Hüseyin ) " Melik - i Bahri " 72 ( flag of Patrona Bey ) Sank at storm on the night of 8 – 9 September " Anka - i Bahri " 72 " Fethü ' l Fettah " 66 " Nüvid - i Fütuh " 66 " Peleng - i Bahri " 66 Captured 9 September " Tevfikullah " 66 " Feyz - i Hüda " 66 ( flag of Riyale Bey ) " Mesudiye " 58 " Mansuriye " 58 ( flag of Kapudane Said Bey ) Blew up 9 September " Inayet - i Hakk " 58 " Burc - ı Zafer " 52 " Şehbaz - ı Bahri " 52 " Ukâb - ı Bahri " 52 " Mazhar - ı Hidâyet " 38 " Mazhar - ı Saadet " 38 " Mebdâ - i Nusret " 32 " Raad - ı Bahri " 20 ( bomb frigate ) " Berk - i Bahri " 20 ( bomb frigate ) " Berk - i Hafız " 20 ( bomb frigate ) " Şihab - ı Sakıb " 20 ( bomb frigate ) " Cedid Bomba " 20 ( bomb frigate ) 23 small craft ( kırlangıç , pergende ( brigantine ) and şehtiye ( xebec ) type ships ) 3 were captured 9 September