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The naval battle of
Otranto (1917.5.13.-1917.5.15.) |
|
 Austria-Hungary, Main forces
: SMS Novara (capt. Horthy Miklós), SMS
Helgoland(capt. Erich Heysser), SMS Saida (capt. Ritter
Ferdinand von Pruschka), SMS Balaton(capt. Morin Ferenc),
SMS Csepel (capt. Prince Liechtenstein János),
Other forces : U.27 (lieut. Robert Teufl von Fernlard),
german UC.25 (U.89, lieut. Johannes Feldkirchner),
SMS Sankt Georg, SMS Budapest(capt. Nauta), SMS
Tátra (capt. Léva József), SMS Warasdiner,
TB 84F, TB 99M, TB 100M United Kingdom : HMS Darthmouth
(capt. Timothy Wellesley), HMS Bristol and numerous
armed drifter ships Italy : Acerbi (capt.
Pordone) Aquila (capt. Paolo Bentoni), Borea (capt.
Bruno Calvi), Indomito, Impavido, Insidioso,
Marsala, Mirabello, Mosto, Pilo, Racchia, Schiaffino
France : Bisson, Boutefeu, Cimetiére
(capt. Pascal Noiret), Riviére
To se Information about some of the Battleships
. Check the Country's Navy |
|
1917.5.13. |
Preparating operations : Tátra with two torpedo
boats attacked Fasano and destroyed the blockade ship base, including
the docks, shipyards and depots. Meanwhile, naval air forces
ruined the airport and destroyed about twenty allied airplanes. |
|
1917.5.14. morning |
To deceive the enemy, Horthy made use of camouflage and had the
second masts of the scout cruisers shortened, to look like italian
Indomito class destroyers. |
|
1917.5.14. 18:30 |
Mission started : destroyers Balaton and Csepel left
Cattaro. |
|
1917.5.14. 19:30 |
Cruisers Novara, Helgoland and Saida left
Cattaro. The photo on left shows the moment, when Horthy (who
stands on the right, with a binocular) ordered to weigh the anchors
of Novara. |
|
1917.5.14. 0:54 |
Novara passed by the Italian Tribad torpedo boat.
Although the distance was about only three kilometers, due to
the shrotened mast and the prohibition of communcation the Italians
did not recgonized her. |
|
1917.5.15. 3:00 |
Silhouettes of unsuspetcing Italian cargo vessels and their escorting
destroyer were spotted from Balaton and Csepel,
near Corfu. |
|
1917.5.15. 3:05 |
Balaton attacked the three cargo vessels, while Csepel
pounced on the destroyer Borea. The 7th or
8th salvo of the Csepel damaged the steering gear of the
Italian destroyer, which became uncontrollable. However Borea
bravely continued the fight, the following two salvos
destroyed the bridge and one of the guns. Some minutes later
the 11th salvo hit her side, and made a huge leak. Then, Borea
slowly started to roll over and began to sink. |
|
1917.5.15. 3:15 |
The formation of scout cruisers separated : Helgoland turned
right, Novara left, Saida went straight on. (She
had some engine troubles, and could reach only 25 knots.) |
|
1917.5.15. 3:17 |
Balaton did her job : two cargo vessels were sinking,
the third one was burning, but managed to escape. |
|
1917.5.15. 3:50 |
Saida reported a blockade ship convoy on her course. |
|
1917.5.15. 4:18 |
The distance between Saida and the convoy was about two
kilometers, but drifter ships did not try to escape, as they
thought Saida to be an Italian destroyer, which came to
protect them against the Austro-Hungarian destroyers. |
|
1917.5.15. 4:18-~4:25 |
Saida opened fire. In just a few minutes, three ships
(Quarry Crown, Coral, Serene) sank, others
were burning. As soon as the task was completed, captain Pruschka
ordered to save the seemen of the sunken drifters. |
|
1917.5.15. 4:20 |
Novara reached Fano, without seeing any convoys. |
|
1917.5.15. ~4:40 |
Helgoland attacked two convoys, sank five drifters (Admirable,
Haven, Girl Rose, Helenore, Donovan)
and heavily damaged the others. Captain Heysser ordered to save
the seemen of the sunken drifters. |
|
1917.5.15. 5:00 |
Suddenly two escaping convoys were sighted from Novara. |
|
1917.5.15. 5:07 |
Novara opened fire, very effectively. Five ships immediatly
sank (including Young Linnet, Avondale and Felicitas).
The British sailors tried to cut the blockade nets and cables
to make their runaway easier, but the Austro-Hungarian cruiser
was faster. Only one damaged ship could escape (Royal Frisby),
but never returned to service again. As the others did, Captain
Horthy ordered to save the seemen of the sunken drifters. |
|
1917.5.15. 6:00 |
Helgoland and Saida met. |
|
1917.5.15. 6:05 |
Novara set her course north, to meet the other two cruisers.
72 (mainly British) sailros were saved by the three cruisers.
The blockade of the Otranto Straits was no more ! |
|
1917.5.15. 6:20 |
Unsuccessfull air attack on Novara by two Italian CA-42
planes with eight 50 kg bombs. |
|
1917.5.15. 7:00 |
Novara joined Helgoland and Saida. |
|
will be continued soon... |
