This battle, which took place on 16 May 1654, was the first of a series of tough battles just inside the mouth of the Dardanelles Strait, as Venice

Republic of Venice

The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...

 and sometimes the other Christian forces attempted to hold the Turks

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

 back from their invasion of Crete

Crete

Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...

 by attacking them early.

Venetian commander Giuseppe Delfino

Giuseppe Delfino

Giuseppe Delfino was an Italian fencer and Olympic champion in épée competition.He won a gold medal in the épée individual event at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. He won Olympic gold medals in the épée team events in 1952, 1956 and 1960, and silver in 1964.-References:...

 reached the mouth of the Dardanelles on 19 April after a voyage in which he lost 3 ships. His fleet of 16 sailing ships, 2 galleasses

Galleass

The galleass developed from large merchant galleys.Converted for military use they were higher and larger than regular galleys. They had up to 32 oars, each worked by up to 5 men. They usually had three masts and a forecastle and aftcastle. Much effort was made in Venice to make these galleasses...

 and 8 galleys was not large enough or adequately prepared. Murad, the Kapudan Pasha (admiral) left Istanbul

Istanbul

Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...

 with 30 sailing ships, 6 galleasses (known in Turkey as mahons), and 40 galleys on 10 May and reached the Narrows, just above the mouth of the Dardanelles, on 15 May. His fleet was formed into 3 lines: sailing ships first, then galleasses, then galleys. The next day Delfino attacked. His plan was for his ships to remain at anchor until the Turks passed and then to attack the rear. However most Venetian ships sailed too soon, leaving Delfinos ship, San Giorgio grande, that of his second, Daniele Morosini, Aquila d'Oro, along with Orsola Bonaventura (Sebastiano Molino), Margarita, 2 galleasses and 2 galleys without support. Aquila d'Oro was attacked first, by a large Ottoman ship which she managed to capture, before 5 Turkish vessels came to its rescue. The Ottoman vessel ended up being burnt, leading to the burning of Aquila d'Oro too. Morosini was taken prisoner as he tried to flee in a boat. The action became more general, and when it was over the Venetians had lost 2 ships and 1 galley burnt, 1 galley captured, as well as the leader of the galleys, Francesco Morosini

Francesco Morosini

Francesco Morosini was the Doge of Venice from 1688 to 1694, at the height of the Great Turkish War...

, killed, and Daniele Morosini captured. Total casualties were 30 killed and about 40 wounded, although one account had higher figures. Ottoman losses were 2 sailing ships burnt, and perhaps 1 galleass and 1 galley lost.

Venice (Giuseppe Delfino)

Many were hired Dutch or English ships

San Giorgio grande (flag)

Aquila d'Oro (Dutch Gouden Arend) - Burnt

Concordia (Dutch Eendracht)

Casa di Nassau (Dutch Huys van Nassau)

San Zorzi (Giorgio) piccolo (Dutch Kleene Sint Joris)

Aquila Coronato (Dutch Kronede Arend)

Orsola Bonaventura (English Ursula Bonaventure) - Burnt

Anna Bonaventura (English Anne Bonaventure)

San Michiel

Spirito Santo

Apollo

Margarita

San Giovanni

Conte Sdrin/Conte Desdrin

Genovese grande

Pinco Tremartino

2 galleasses

8 galleys - flag galley of Francesco Morosini burnt, 1 other captured

Turkey (Kara Murat Pasha)

30 sailing ships - 2 burnt

6 galleasses - 1 sunk?

40 galleys - 1 sunk?

Reserve fleet guarding retreat of 14 sailing ships and 22 galleys