Battle of the Otranto Straits, 15 May 1917

This account, kindly provided by the authority Erwin Sieche (erwin.sieche@sbausparkasse.co.at), is a brief summary of the events of that action. He has also supplied photographs (below) of some of the Austro-Hungarian warships involved.

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The battle in the Otranto Straits, 15. May 1917, developed into the first three dimensional engagement of the naval history. Scout cruisers were to attack the Otranto Barrage, flying boats served as spotters and submarines lurked off Brindisi to intercept enemy forces leaving in retaliation.

A British task group, composed of the cruisers HMS Dartmouth and Bristol accompanied by some Italian scouts succeeded in intercepting the Austrians, anyway. At the end of the resulting two hour gunfight the Austrians managed to profit of their higher speed. But the Novara, however, received at hit in the main steam pipe, disabling her. Captain Horthy was severely wounded, the 1st Officer killed, and the Gunnery Officer had to take command. Saida managed to hook up to her sister and tow her away while the enemy remained inactive fearing the closing Austrian reinforcements.

The Austrians reached their home port at the Bocche di Cattaro (Boka Kotorska) with some battle damage. The returning Dartmouth, was torpedoed by the German UC 25 (Austrian number U 89).

Photographs

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or click here for a 187k version

The sketch of the battle damage was made by Robert Oedl, then navigations cadet on board of the Saida.

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The six turbine powered destroyers of the Tßtra-class were the most modern ones of the A.-H. Navy to enter the First World War. They formed the Ist torpedo flotilla and carried out numerous hit-and-run attacks.

Photograph shows LIKA (I) at high speed ahead of two sisters. Particulars: built 1911/13, displacement: 836 ts constr./1033.46 ts max., dimensions: 83.5 x 8.8 x 2.42 m; 20560 SHP/32.5 kts; 2 guns 10 cm cal 50, 4 QF Particulars: built 1911/13, displacement: 836 ts constr./1033.46 ts max., dimensions: 83.5 x 8.8 x 2.42 m; 20560 SHP/32.5 kts; 2 guns 10 cm cal 50, 4 QF 7cm cal 45, 2 AA 7 cm cal 45, 2 TT 45 cm, crew 104.

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Aerial view of the damaged Novara. The damaged cutter is clearly visible.

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The Saida (left foreground) approaches her disabled sister Novara to hand over the towing line.

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The famous hit in the focs’le of the Saida looked dreadful but in fact only damaged the sailors' living quarters.

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The modern turbine-driven torpedo boats of the A-H. navy were the backbone for convoy duties and even carried out offensive sweeps across the Adriatic and down to the Otranto Barrage. Here is torpedo boat 'Tb 81 T', since 21.5.1917 the suffix number, which indicated the building yard (in this case T for Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino) was ommitted.

Particulars: built 1913/14, dimensions 57,4 x 5,75 x 1,74 m;displacement 267.3 t; 5596 SHP/28.7 kts; 2 guns 7 cm cal 30, 2 TT 45 cm, crew 38.

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