Great Storm of 1854 in the Black Sea

Background. The Great Storm occurred during the Crimean War, a conflict involving Russia and an alliance including France and the United Kingdom. Naval operations in the Black Sea region began in mid-1853 to support the Ottomans. Allied forces landed in Crimea in September 1854 to capture Sevastopol, the main Russian naval base in the Black Sea.

The Storm. The Great Storm of 1854 occurred in and around the Black Sea on 14 November 1854. This severe weather event caused significant damage to maritime vessels operating in the region during the conflict. The storm is recorded as a distinct event in the list of shipwrecks for November 1854, specifically on the 14th.

Impact on Transport. The storm resulted in the loss of at least 287 men. The vessels affected were British and French transport ships supporting the Crimean War effort. Legacy data suggests a figure of 19 British transport and other ships plus 2 French ships wrecked, but this count is not confirmed by the supplied passages and should be treated as unverified. The losses highlight the vulnerability of supply lines to natural disasters during the war.