The Mediterranean Fleet (Russian: Средиземноморский флот) was a short-lived fleet of the Imperial Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea, active during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774.
It was established on September 23, 1769, under Tsarina Catherine the Great and Count Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov as part of the Imperial Russian Navy. It was created during the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774). As the Imperial Russia Navy lacked an organised fleet in the Black Sea, it was planned for this new fleet to be sent from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean. This newly formed fleet was headed by Orlov and commanded by Admiral Grigory Spiridov. It participated in the Battle of Chesma, the Russian occupations of Beirut and some other engagements. The fleet was eventually disbanded following the conclusion of the war and the signing of the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, with some elements later being transferred as part of the Imperial Russian Black Sea Fleet.[1]