Sevastopol Naval Base facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sevastopol Naval Base |
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| Севастопольская военно-морская база Севастопольська військово-морська база |
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| Sevastopol, Crimea | |
Map of the Sevastopol Bay
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| Coordinates | 44°36′28″N 33°31′48″E / 44.60778°N 33.53000°E |
| Type | Naval base |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Disputed: |
| Operator |  Black Sea Fleet |
| Controlled by |  Russia |
| Condition | Operational |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1772–1783 |
| Built by | Russian Empire |
| In use | 1783–present |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | Black Sea Fleet |
| Occupants |  Russian Navy |
The Sevastopol Naval Base is a very important place for ships in Sevastopol, Crimea. It is the main home for the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet. This means many Russian warships use it as their base.
Contents
Where the Base Is Located
The Sevastopol Naval Base is found in the city of Sevastopol. It has many different spots where ships can park safely. These spots are in bays, which are parts of the sea that curve inward.
- Severnaya Bay (also called Northern Bay)
- Yuzhnaya Bay (also called Southern Bay)
- Karantinnaya Bay (also called Quarantine Bay)
History of the Base
Building the Base
Work to build this important port began in 1772. This was during a time when Russia was fighting a war with the Ottoman Empire (the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774)). Russia took control of Crimea and finished building the port in 1783.
On May 13, 1783, the very first eleven ships of the Imperial Russian Navy arrived at Sevastopol Bay. This was a big moment for the new base.
The Crimean War
During the Crimean War (1853–1856), something unusual happened. All the large Russian ships were sunk on purpose at the entrance to the bay. This was done to block enemy ships from getting in. The city of Sevastopol bravely defended itself for 349 days. It was attacked by armies from France, the United Kingdom, the Ottoman Empire, and Piedmont-Sardinia. On September 9, 1855, the Russian forces left Sevastopol.
World War I and II
In World War I, the German army took control of Sevastopol on May 1, 1918. Later, some ships from the Black Sea Fleet were sunk by their own crews to prevent them from being captured.
During World War II, the Black Sea Fleet of the Soviet Navy first managed to defend against Nazi Germany. However, after defending itself for 250 days, Sevastopol fell to the Germans on July 4, 1942.
After the Soviet Union
After the Soviet Union broke apart at the end of 1991, Sevastopol became part of Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine then made an agreement. Russia was allowed to use the base for its Russian Navy and paid Ukraine money each year for this.
However, in 2014, Russia took control of Crimea. Since then, the Sevastopol Naval Base has been under Russian control.
Gallery
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The first map of the Akhtiar (Sevastopol) Bay, created by navigator Ivan Baturin and his team, 1773.
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The Russian Squadron on the Sebastopol Roads (1846), by Ivan Aivazovsky.
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Map of Sevastopol, 1904.
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Color view of part of the port, 1905.
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Aerial view of the port, August 1918.
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Russian ships in Sevastopol, 2005.
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Russian ships in Sevastopol, 2008.
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Russian ships in Sevastopol, 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Base naval de Sebastopol para niños
