Azov Fleet

first created by Russia at the end of 1695 for actions on the Sea of Azov after the failure—linked with the absence of a fleet—of the first Azov campaign of 1695. The main construction center was Voronezh, where the large ships were built. There, too, the galleys and fire ships built in the village of Preobrazhenskoie (near Moscow) and in Briansk were assembled; transport ships were built in Koz-lov and other places. The first campaign of the fighting ships of the Azov fleet left Voronezh on May 3, 1696. The Azov fleet played a decisive role in the capture of Azov. Taganrog became the base for the Azov fleet. The admiralty was transferred to Tavrov on the Azov coast. Between 1696 and 1711, 215 ships were built. As a result of the unsuccessful Prut campaign of 1711, the Azov fleet was destroyed with the return of Azov to the Turks. The creation of the Azov fleet marked the start of the Russian regular navy: