Action at Diu
| Action at Diu | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Ottoman–Portuguese conflicts (1538–1559) | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Portuguese Empire |
 Ottoman Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Balthazar Lobato | Sefer Reis | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 4 Merchant vessels, 1 armed Vessel | 4 light galliots | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| all ships were captured | Unknown | ||||||
The Action at Diu was a naval engagement between the Ottomans led by Sefer Reis and the Portuguese ships near Diu. The Ottomans were victorious, and all Portuguese vessels were captured.[1][2]
Background
In late 1553, Seydi Ali was nominated as an admiral (reis) of Ottoman naval forces stationed in Basra. He was ordered to link up his galleys with those in Suez to better fight the Portuguese, but he had to go through Persian Gulf. Sefer was tasked to follow up with Seydi Ali and escort him safely back into the red sea, however, it was too late as the Ottoman fleet was ferociously routed in the Battle of the Gulf of Oman in August 1554.[3], as the news reached, some of Sefer's crews argued to retreat back to Mocha immediately and wait for orders, however, Sefer, in a daring mission, he chose to follow up the Portuguese.[4]
Battle
The Ottoman fleet consisted of only four light galiots. They arrived at the Peninsula of Diu where they established a blockade and hunted for any Portuguese ships nearby.[5] The Ottomans succeeded in capturing and looting four heavy merchant vessels.[6] It is said that 160,000 cruzados were taken. Sefer had the Portuguese crew arrested and placed a contingent in each captured ship. He ordered them to return to Mocha and wait for him there. However, an armed Portuguese vessel under Balthazar Lobato sighted the Ottoman fleet, and when the Portuguese crew saw it, they revolted and overwhelmed the Ottoman forces[7] They set to sail for India again, however at this time, Sefer gave up in hunting for more ships and decided to return back to his base. On his way, he sighted the same Portuguese ships, and releasing what had happened, Sefer engaged them and succeeded in capturing them back. Sefer then gave a chase to Lobato's ship until it surrendered without a fight[8] Now with nine ships under his command, he returned to his base within a few weeks.[9][10]
References
- ^ Casale, Giancarlo (2008) –Ottoman Guerre de Course and the Indian Ocean Spice Trade: The Career of Sefer Reis. p. 65
- ^ Headrick, Daniel R. Power Over Peoples: Technology, Environments, and Western Imperialism, 1400 to the Present. United States: Princeton University Press, 2012. p. 77
- ^ Casale, G p. 64
- ^ Casale, G p. 65
- ^ Casale, G p. 65
- ^ Headrick, Daniel R, .p .77
- ^ Casale, G p. 65
- ^ Casale, G p. 65
- ^ Headrick, Daniel R, .p .77
- ^ Casale, G p. 65