January 22 (January 11) 1783 - Catherine II signed a decree introducing the post of commander of the Black Sea Fleet. This day can be considered the actual birthday of the Black Sea Fleet, although it is officially celebrated in honor of the call on May 13, 1783, 11 ships of the Azov flotilla into the Akhtiar Bay. After that, a large-scale construction of the port and city began on the shores of the bay, which later received the name Sevastopol.
The fleet developed and grew at a rapid pace, and already in 1787 it consisted of 3 battleships, 12 frigates, 3 bombing ships, 28 other warships. The fleet was managed by the Black Sea Admiralty.
In 1787, Turkey, not resigned to the loss of Crimea, presented Russia with an ultimatum demanding the return of the peninsula. Russia refused. This is how the Russo-Turkish war began, in which the Black Sea Fleet accepted the baptism of fire and inflicted major defeats on the Turkish fleet, despite its significant numerical superiority.
In 1798-1800 the fleet had to fight with France. Under the command of Vice-Admiral F. F. Ushakov, the Black Sea Fleet did not lose a single ship during 2.5 years of sailing. And Russia has acquired a naval base in the Mediterranean Sea, strengthening its dominance in this region.
Thanks to the development of shipbuilding, the Black Sea Fleet is becoming one of the best sailing fleets in Europe. It is already armed with the 18-gun brig "Mercury" (which will later be one of the first to be awarded the stern St. George's flag), as well as 14 sailing battleships, 4 corvettes, 12 brigs, 6 steam frigates, 6 frigates, etc.
During the Crimean War of 1853-1856. the squadron of the Black Sea Fleet won a brilliant victory in the Sinop Bay, defeating 15 enemy ships out of 16. And during the defense of Sevastopol, Black Sea sailors valiantly fought on the city's bastions for 349 days.
By the fall of 1917, the Black Sea Fleet already numbered 177 warships, had a transport flotilla and turned into a serious fighting force in southern Russia.