Battle of the Strait of Otranto (1917)

Battle of the Strait of Otranto

Part of the Mediterranean Theater of World War I

SMS Novara in action

Date	14–15 May 1917
Location	Strait of Otranto, Adriatic Sea
Result	Austro-Hungarian victory

Belligerents

France

Commanders and leaders

Alfredo Acton

Miklós Horthy (WIA)

Strength

2 light cruisers
10 destroyers
47 drifters

1 armored cruiser
3 light cruisers
4 destroyers

Casualties and losses

1 light cruiser damaged
2 destroyers sunk
1 destroyer damaged
2 supply ships sunk
14 drifters sunk
4 drifters damaged

2 light cruisers damaged

The 1917 Battle of the Strait of Otranto was the result of an Austro-Hungarian raid on the Otranto Barrage, an Allied naval blockade of the Strait of Otranto. The battle took place on 14–15 May 1917, and was the largest surface action in the Adriatic Sea during World War I. The Otranto Barrage was a fixed barrier, composed of lightly armed drifters with anti-submarine nets coupled with minefields and supported by Allied naval patrols.

The Austro-Hungarian navy planned to raid the Otranto Barrage with a force of three light cruisers and two destroyers under the command of Commander (later Admiral) Miklós Horthy, in an attempt to break the barrier to allow U-boats freer access to the Mediterranean, and Allied shipping. An Allied force composed of ships from three navies responded to the raid and in the ensuing battle, heavily damaged the Austro-Hungarian cruiser SMS Novara. However, the rapid approach of the Austro-Hungarian relief force persuaded Rear Admiral Acton, the Allied commander, to retreat.

Under the command of Horthy, three Austro-Hungarian cruisers: Novara, Saida, and Helgoland, modified to resemble large British destroyers, were to attack the drifters on the night of 14 May and attempt to destroy as many as possible before daybreak. The destroyers Csepel and Balaton were to mount a diversionary raid off the Albanian coast in order to confuse any Allied counter-attack. Two Austro-Hungarian U-boats—U-4 and U-27, along with the German U-boat UC-25—were to participate in the operation as well. A supporting force composed of the armored cruiser Sankt Georg, two destroyers, and four 250t-class torpedo boats was on standby if the raiders ran into trouble. The old pre-dreadnought battleship SMS Budapest and three more 250t-class torpedo boats were also available if necessary.

...
Wikipedia