Senyavin begins the preceding campaign with ten ships of the line and one frigate against an Ottoman force of eight ships of the line, six frigates, and about fifty smaller craft. When Seydi Ali Pasha moves against the Russian base at Tenedos, Senyavin sails around the Ottoman fleet and threatens its route home. The maneuver is a gamble because calm winds temporarily leave the Russians unable either to reach the Dardanelles or return to their base. The Ottomans use that opening for a gunboat-and-land assault on Tenedos. The attack nevertheless fails and costs most of roughly 2,000 troops, leaving Seydi Ali without the decisive result his temporary advantage made possible.
Chapter · 43:00-46:27
The failed Ottoman assault on Tenedos
The Dardanelles prelude shows the Ottomans attacking the Russian base at Tenedos while Senyavin gambles on maneuvering across their route home.