Battle of Durazzo (1915)

Battle of Durazzo (1915)

The Battle of Durazzo (December 28-29 1915) is a naval battle of World War I.

Early moves

In December 1915 the Austro-Hungarian Navy sent another cruiser Squadron into the Adriatic, this time to interfere with the Serbian Campaign. The new light cruiser "Helgoland" accompanied by five "Tatra class" destroyers left Cattaro and headed for Durazzo late on the 28th, with the submarine "U-15" on patrol off Durazzo. While on passage, they sighted the French submarine "Monge" on patrol to the south of Cattaro. Destroyer "Balaton" opened fire before ramming and sinking the "Monge".

Early the next day the Austrian squadron arrived off Durazzo and opened fire on the town, with "Helgoland" sinking a Greek steamer. Then the destroyer "Lika" ran into a minefield and was sunk, then "Triglav" was badly damaged by another mine. "Czepel" attempts to take "Triglav" in tow, but fouls a propeller, and the job is taken over by "Tatra". The crippled Austrian force now returned slowly north.

The battle

Allied forces in Brindisi were alerted to the Austrian force, and the British sent out the "Town Class" cruisers "Dartmouth" and "Weymouth" to intercept them. These were quickly followed by the Italian "Quarto", "Nino Bixio", and several French destroyers.

The Austrians also responded and despatched from Cattaro, the armoured cruiser "Kaiser Karl VI", and the light cruiser "Novara", to support the returning survivors of the raid, but they did not see action.

Early in the afternoon of the 29th, the advanced Allied ships came into action with the Austrian squadron which was still only half-way home. The French destroyers headed for the Austrian destroyer "Triglav", still under tow, which was abandoned and scuttled off Cape Rondini, after being fired upon by the French destroyer "Casque".

Meanwhile, the Allied cruisers attempted to cut-off and deal with the "Helgoland" and the three remaining destroyers. In a long-range gunnery duel fought throughout the afternoon, "Helgoland" skillfully avoided the Allied cruisers and reached Cattaro safely but with the loss of the valuable "Lika" and "Triglav". "Tatra" suffered damaged engine from several shell hits.

ee also

*Mediterranean naval engagements during World War I


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