Trebizond Campaign
The Trebizond Campaign, also known as the Battle of Trebizond, was a series of successful Russian naval and land operations that resulted in the capture of Trabzon. It was the logistical step after the Erzerum Campaign. Operations began on February 5 and concluded when the Ottoman troops abandoned Trabzon on the night of April 15, 1916. Lazistan offensive Timeline 1916 2nd half of January; Russians occupied the territory between the coruh and the Russian frontier. Makriali was taken. January 17–20; Russian destroyers crushed a large number of Turkish sailing crafts along Lazistan coast that were supplying Turkish army. February; Turkistanski Regiments occupied Hopa. February 5; Russian squadron heavily damaged Turkish trenches beyond the Arhavi river. February 6: Turks abandoned their lines, leaving 500 dead behind. February 15–16: The same sequence of events was repeated at Vitze. Turks retrenched behind the Buyuk-dere river. Several Turkish battalions reinforced Rize from Trebizond. General Lyakhov in conference with naval officers accepted proposal to land infantry (2 battalions with 2 mountain guns) in the rear of the Turkish position. March 4–5; Rostislav and the gunboats Kubanetz and Donetz supported the amphibious landing at Atina. Turks on the Buyuk-dere position fled into the mountains. March 6–7;