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Bombardment of Samsun

Coordinates: 41°17′25″N 36°20′01″E / 41.29028°N 36.33361°E / 41.29028; 36.33361
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Bombardment of Samsun
Part of the Turkish War of Independence

Samsun view after the bombardment
Date7 June 1922
Location
Samsun, Turkey
Result See § Outcome
Belligerents
Greece Ankara Government
Strength
1 battleship (Kilkis)
3 cruisers[a]
2 destroyers[b]
4 minesweepers[2]		 1 artillery piece[3]
Casualties and losses
4 civilians killed, 3 wounded[4]

On 7 June 1922, ships of the Greek Navy bombarded the Turkish town of Samsun for three hours (15:02–18:00),[5] firing 400 rounds; while in response, the single Turkish artillery piece in the town fired back 25 rounds.[3] While the American destroyers USS Sands, USS McFarland, and USS Sturtevant were present, they did not participate in the bombardment.[6]

Causes

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There were several reasons for the bombardment. One of them was to assist Pontic Greek rebels who were fighting Turkish forces in the area. Another reason was to disrupt the consignment of weapons and ammunition into inner Anatolia.[7] Moreover, Turkish sailing boats were seizing Greek ships in the Black Sea and putting them into Turkish service.[8] Recently a large Greek ship named Enosis had been taken over by one Turkish officer and five soldiers on 25 April 1922.[9]

Outcome

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In the end, the attack did not cause any damage to the Turkish logistical system or military material, though it caused damage to civilian properties and loss of civilian lives.[7][10] The ships stayed in Samsun until being recalled to Allied-controlled Constantinople. Around 8 pm, US Navy Admiral Robert L. Ghormley went ashore, accompanied by a pharmacist, to see if any Americans were injured or dead.[5]

The New York Times reported the incident on 11 June 1922, stating that the Greeks claimed the firing was directed against the ammunition dumps. The newspaper further mentioned that few people died and the warehouse of the American Tobacco Company was slightly damaged.[11] The Times published another article about the incident on 12 June. The article said that the commander of an American torpedo boat destroyer at Samsun reported, contrary to the Greek report, that there were 90 casualties as a result of the bombardment and a portion of the town was destroyed. The ammunition depots belonging to the Turks, which were situated three miles inland, were not damaged.[6]

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Notes

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  1. ^ Including Georgios Averof
  2. ^ Leon and Naxos[1]

Bibliography

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  • Hulki Cevizoğlu, 1919'un Şifresi (Gizli ABD İşgalinin Belge ve Fotoğrafları), Ceviz Kabuğu Yayınları, Aralık 2007, ISBN 9789756613238. (in Turkish)
  • Doğanay, Rahmi; İstiklal Harbinde Samsun’daki Amerikan Filosu, Geçmişten Geleceğe Samsun, Samsun 2006, (pages 163-174). (in Turkish)

References

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  1. ^ Cevizoğlu, 2007, page 75
  2. ^ Mustafa Hergüner: Kurtuluş Savaşı'nda denizciliğimiz, Türkiye Denizciler Sendikası, 1992, page 188
  3. ^ a b Cevizoğlu, 2007, page 77.
  4. ^ Cevizoğlu, 2007, page 76
  5. ^ a b Doğanay, 2006, page 171.
  6. ^ a b 90 Casualties in Samsun.; American Officer's Report Differs From Greek Account of Bombardment., The New York Times, article from 12 June 1922.
  7. ^ a b Doğanay, 2006, pp 171–173.
  8. ^ Doğanay, 2006, page 169.
  9. ^ Burak Artuner (3 May 2004). "Enosis'e çok şey borçluyuz". Akşam Newspaper. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013.
  10. ^ Cevizoğlu, 2007, page 76.
  11. ^ Greeks Explain Attack.; Say They Exploded Ammunition at Samsun--Damage to Americans, The New York Times, article from 11 June 1922.

41°17′25″N 36°20′01″E / 41.29028°N 36.33361°E / 41.29028; 36.33361

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