Ottoman losses despite shell guns on both sides

The Ottoman force of frigates, corvettes, and steamers suffered roughly 3,000 killed, with vessels sunk, grounded, burned, or exploded and shore batteries destroyed. Ottoman ships themselves carried heavy shell guns, including ten-inch shell pieces on the upper decks of the Mecidiye-class frigates. Published armament totals can differ because some listings count pierced main-deck ports, while others include guns carried on an unpierced upper deck. Reconstructing the class battery is therefore a lesson in checking what a historical gun count actually measures. The shared shell technology complicates a simple story of one side possessing a revolutionary weapon. Russian wooden ships suffered far fewer casualties, directing attention back to hull strength, crew state, tactical position, and concentrated heavy fire.