Balaklava, bal uh KLAH vuh, Battle of, was fought near the town of Balaklava in the Crimea, on Oct. 25, 1854, during the Crimean War. British, French, and Ottoman troops had easily captured Balaklava and set up a base there. The Russians sent a large force from Sevastopol, a naval base near Balaklava, to reconquer the town. The attack failed, but both sides suffered heavy losses. See Crimean War.