Turkish Crimea – Royal Marine Artillery, H.M.S Royal Albert.

Description Turkish Crimea – Royal Marine Artillery, H.M.S Royal Albert. Turkish Crimea, (Sardinian issue) 7th Com’ John Younger Gunr R.M.A. (Contemporary engraved) On the Crimea Medal roll for “Royal Albert” Launched in 1854, HMS Royal Albert arrived at the height of the Crimean War as a symbol of British naval transition. A massive 121-gun three-decker ship of the line, she represented the final,  evolution of wooden warships. In early 1855, the Royal Albert became the flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, the aggressive commander of the Mediterranean Fleet. Lyons preferred the Royal Albert for her sheer presence and ability to dominate the coastal waters around the Crimean Peninsula. Her primary contributions during the 1854–1855 period centered on two major strategic goals: blockade and bombardment. The Siege of Sebastopol: Throughout 1855, the ship was a constant, looming presence outside the Russian stronghold. Her heavy broadsides provided the necessary muscle to keep the Russian fleet bottled up in the harbor. The Kertch Expedition (May 1855): The Royal Albert played a pivotal role in this amphibious operation. By forcing a passage into the Sea of Azov, the British fleet successfully destroyed Russian supply lines and granaries, effectively starving the garrison at Sebastopol. The Battle of Kinburn (October 1855): Following the fall of Sebastopol, the ship led the assault on the Kinburn forts. This engagement was historic, as the Royal Albert provided cover for the first-ever deployment of ironclad floating batteries. The Royal Albert was more than just a gun platform; she was a floating city with a crew of nearly 1,000 men. However, her time in the sun was brief. While she was the pride of the fleet in 1855, the rapid advancement of ironclad technology—spurred by the very war she fought in—rendered these wooden giants obsolete within a decade. Condition – Fine, heavy contact marked