Austria-Hungary's Navy: A Modest Fleet's Size And Legacy

The Austro-Hungarian Navy, or Imperial and Royal War Navy, was the naval force of Austria-Hungary from 1867 until 1918. It was the world's seventh-largest fleet and was designated SMS, for Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship). The Austro-Hungarian Navy fought naval battles against the Danes, French, Italians, and British on European seas, and deployed as far as the South China Sea.

Characteristics	Values
Name	Austro-Hungarian Navy, or Imperial and Royal War Navy (German: kaiserliche und königliche Kriegsmarine, in short k.u.k. Kriegsmarine, Hungarian: Császári és Királyi Haditengerészet)
Years active	1867-1918
Principal naval base	Pola, in the northern Adriatic
Size	The world's seventh largest fleet
Battles	Battles against the Danes, French, Italians, and British on European seas, and deployed as far as the South China Sea

What You'll Learn

The Austro-Hungarian Navy was the world's seventh-largest fleet
The navy was formed in 1867, after the formation of Austria-Hungary
The Austro-Hungarian Navy fought naval battles against the Danes, French, Italians and British
The Austrian submarine force was so effective in the Adriatic that the British Royal Navy was forced to support the rest of the Entente powers
The Austro-Hungarian Navy ceased to exist in 1918, after the Empire's defeat and collapse at the end of World War I

The Austro-Hungarian Navy was the world's seventh-largest fleet

The Austro-Hungarian Navy, or the Imperial and Royal War Navy, was the naval force of Austria-Hungary. It was formed in 1867, after the unification of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary, and ceased to exist in 1918 following the Empire's defeat and collapse at the end of World War I. The Austro-Hungarian Navy was the world's seventh-largest fleet, with a 1,125-mile mainland coastline that ran along the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. The fleet included various types of warships and seaplanes, and its principal naval base was at Pola in the northern Adriatic.

The Austro-Hungarian Navy fought naval battles against the Danes, French, Italians, and British on European seas, and deployed as far as the South China Sea. Geographically, Austria-Hungary was a land power, with little maritime trade and many continental enemies. However, the appointment of Admiral Hermann von Spaun to the post of State Secretary of the Navy in 1897 accelerated naval construction. Under the command of Franz Joseph I of Austria, the Austro-Hungarian Navy began a program of naval expansion at the beginning of the 20th century, which included the construction of the three Habsburg-class battleships.

Between August 1914 and February 1917, Austria sank three Italian battleships, two Italian cruisers, and a French cruiser, at the cost of one cruiser. The Austrian submarine force was so effective in the Adriatic that the British Royal Navy was forced to support the rest of the Entente powers in their anti-submarine barrier patrols and minefields across the mouth of the Adriatic Sea, known as the "Otranto Barrage".

German Rail Pass: Travel Switzerland to Austria?

You may want to see also

The navy was formed in 1867, after the formation of Austria-Hungary

The Austro-Hungarian Navy, or the Imperial and Royal War Navy, was formed in 1867, after the formation of Austria-Hungary. It was the seventh-largest fleet in the world, with a 1,125-mile mainland coastline that ran along the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. The Austro-Hungarian Navy was designated SMS, for Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship).

The Austro-Hungarian Navy fought naval battles against the Danes, French, Italians, and British on European seas, and deployed as far as the South China Sea. Geographically, Austria was a land power, with little maritime trade and many continental enemies. However, the Austro-Hungarian Navy was still a formidable force, with various types of warships and seaplanes built and repaired at its principal naval base in Pola, in the northern Adriatic.

The appointment of Admiral Hermann von Spaun to the post of State Secretary of the Navy in 1897 accelerated naval construction, and under the command of Franz Joseph I of Austria, the Austro-Hungarian Navy began a program of naval expansion at the beginning of the 20th century. This included the construction of three Habsburg-class battleships.

The Austro-Hungarian Navy ceased to exist in 1918 upon the Empire's defeat and subsequent collapse at the end of World War I.

Austria's Urban-Rural Divide: Exploring the Country's Landscape

You may want to see also

The Austro-Hungarian Navy fought naval battles against the Danes, French, Italians and British

The Austro-Hungarian Navy was the seventh-largest fleet in the world. It was formed in 1867, after the formation of Austria-Hungary, and ceased to exist in 1918 following the Empire's defeat and collapse at the end of World War I. The Austro-Hungarian Navy fought naval battles against the Danes, French, Italians and British.

The principal naval base was at Pola in the northern Adriatic. The entire fleet could be anchored in the main harbour, and various types of warships and seaplanes were built and repaired there. The Austro-Hungarian Navy was designated SMS, for Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship).

Austria-Hungary had previously built a series of smaller ironclad warships, including coastal defence ships and armoured cruisers, to defend its Adriatic coast in wartime. In 1897, the appointment of Admiral Hermann von Spaun to the post of State Secretary of the Navy accelerated naval construction. Under the command of Franz Joseph I of Austria, the navy began a programme of expansion at the beginning of the 20th century.

Between August 1914 and February 1917, Austria sank three Italian battleships, two Italian cruisers and a French cruiser. The Austrian submarine force was so effective in the Adriatic that the British Royal Navy was forced to support the rest of the Entente powers in their anti-submarine barrier patrols and minefields across the mouth of the Adriatic Sea, known as the 'Otranto Barrage'.

Austria's Involvement in the American Civil War

You may want to see also

The Austrian submarine force was so effective in the Adriatic that the British Royal Navy was forced to support the rest of the Entente powers

The Austro-Hungarian Navy was the seventh-largest fleet in the world. It was formed in 1867, after the formation of Austria-Hungary, and ceased to exist in 1918, after the Empire's defeat and collapse at the end of World War I. The Austro-Hungarian Navy fought naval battles against the Danes, French, Italians, and British on European seas, and deployed as far as the South China Sea.

Austria and Poland: Neighbors or Strangers?

You may want to see also

The Austro-Hungarian Navy ceased to exist in 1918, after the Empire's defeat and collapse at the end of World War I

The Austro-Hungarian Navy, or the Imperial and Royal War Navy, was the naval force of Austria-Hungary. It was formed in 1867, after the unification of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary. The Austro-Hungarian Navy was the seventh-largest fleet in the world, with a 1,125-mile mainland coastline along the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. The Adriatic coast was defended by a series of smaller ironclad warships, including coastal defence ships and armoured cruisers.

The Austro-Hungarian Navy was designated SMS, for Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship). The principal naval base was at Pola, in the northern Adriatic, where various types of warships and seaplanes were built and repaired.

The Austro-Hungarian Navy fought naval battles against the Danes, French, Italians, and British on European seas, and deployed as far as the South China Sea. Between August 1914 and February 1917, Austria sank three Italian battleships, two Italian cruisers and a French cruiser, at the cost of one cruiser.