The campaign contained relatively few major naval battles, but sea transport enabled Russian forces to advance and remain supplied along the Black Sea coast. Navarino had removed many of the Ottoman Navy's more experienced sailors and better available ships before the war began. Russia could therefore use its fleet chiefly as an operational supply system rather than seek a series of fleet actions. In this account, the navy made the Russian "steamroller" possible because a large army unable to receive food and supplies could not operate far beyond its garrison bases.
Chapter · 10:59-12:18
Naval logistics in the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829
The Russian fleet's decisive contribution came through sustaining coastal advances after Navarino had weakened experienced Ottoman naval forces.