Built as a ship of the line at the Galvnoye Admiralteystvo (Russian Main Naval Shipyard) at St Petersburg by the shipbuilder P.G Kachalov.
13 November 1763 launched under the name TREKH SVYATITELY (Three Saints) Named in honor of three Moscow metropolitan Bishops: Petr, Aleksey, Iona.
Dimensions 47.4 x 12.5 x 5.5m.
Armament 66 guns.
13 June 1766 commissioned.
From 1767 till 1768 used for practical cruises in the Gulf of Finland.
After 1768 participated in the Russian-Turkish war.
But when Empress Catherine the Great of Russia, directed her activity to the south, a squadron warships was ordered in 1769 to sail from the Baltic to the Mediterranean.
26 July 1769 the first squadron sailed from Kronstadt under command of Admiral Spiridov on board of the YEVSTAFY for the Mediterranean. The squadron consisted of 7 ships of the line and 8 smaller ships. One of these warships was the TREKH SVYATITELYA
After a call at Copenhagen and Portsmouth for repairs the squadron headed South to the Mediterranean, Eight months after sailing from Kronstadt the squadron reached Minorca with only eight of the 15 vessels which set sail from Kronstadt. It was the first time (November 1769) in history that Russian warships sailed in the Mediterranean.
The squadron had been sent to support a revolt against Turkish rules by the Greek at Morea, but little was achieved.
01 March 1770 took part in the bombardment and did give support to the landings to capture the fortress Koron.
From 30 March till 10 April 1770 took part in the battle and capture of the fortress Navarin.
17 May 1770 the squadron assembled at Kolokinf
In the Mediterranean an other Russian squadron of 3 ships of the line and 5 smaller warships under command of Elphinstone joined Spiridov’s squadron on 22 May 1770 at Cerigo.
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The Turkish Fleet was discovered in July 1770 at anchor in the Chios Strait, near Tchesma, a fleet of 73 vessels, under command of Hosameddin, while the Russian Fleet had only 9 ships of the line and three frigates.
The Russian fleet under overall command of Count Orlov with Greig as his flag captain on board the TREKH IERARKHOV, approached the Turkish Fleet on 24 June 1770 (05 July 1770), the Russian flagship YEVSTAFY with on board Spiridov attacked the Turkish flagship REAL MUSTAFA armed with 80 guns. The REAL MUSTAFA burst in flames after the Russian boarded the ship, but a burning mast from the REAL MUSTAFA fell on the YEVSTAFY and ignited its powder supply, she was lost. Whit a terrific roar both ships exploded and sank with a heavy loss of live. Admiral Spiridov escaped, and his flag was raised on the TREKH SVYATITELYA.
The Turkish fleet cut their anchor cables and sailed to the narrow Tchesma port, during the first stage of the battle both fleets lost a ship of the line. The Russian fleet securely blocked the entrance to the harbour. 26 June a squadron of the Russian fleet was send into the harbour under command of Greig, the force of four ships of the line, two frigates and a bomb vessel the GROM accompanied by fireships which proved to be very effective. Whilst some vessels engaged the shore batteries, the GROM opened fire on the anchored Turkish fleet, a fire started in one of the topsails of the Turkish vessels, and rapidly spread to the rest of the vessel. Then Greig ordered the 4 fireships to attack, of which only one did real damage, but the effect caused vessel already on blaze to run into others, and the Turkish fleet was almost complete on fire and lost.
One Turkish ship of the line the RHODOS was captured and some galleys.
The Turkish fleet was defeated and the loss was very high they lost 11.000 men; the Russian lost 534 men mostly on board of the YEVSTAFY when she exploded.
From July till November 1770 the Russian squadron was cruising in the Greek Archipelago.
04 Dec. 1770 the Russian fleet arrived at Ausu (where is that).
September till October together with Russian squadron took part in the blockade of the Dardanelle’s.
May till August 1772 used in the Dardanelle’s patrols.
03 Nov. 1772 captured 4 Turkish felugas.
1773 Patrol in the Greek Archipelago.
From 31 July till 01 August 1773 took part in the bombardment and supported the landings of fortress Budrum.
05 August till 06 August 1773, took part in the bombardment and supported the landings of fortress Stanchino.
March till June 1774 patrolling in the Greek Archipelago.
August 1775 was in Aus? (Ausu), by inspection she was found not more seaworthy, and broken up there, her timbers were sold for firewood.
The person depict on the stamp is the Russian Admiral Grigory Andreevich Spiridov (1713-1790.)
Russia 1987 4k sg5824, scott5623a
Sources: The Maritime History of Russia 848-1948 by M. Mitchell. An Encyclopedia of Naval History by A Bruce and W Cogar. http://www.maritime-scotland.com/greig.html