Called by some a Mediterranean Jutland, the Battle of the
Otranto Straits involved warships from Austria, Germany, Italy, Britain, and France.
Although fought by light units with no dreadnoughts ...involved, Otranto was a battle
in three dimensions -- engaging surface vessels, aircraft, and subsurface weapons
(both submarines and mines). An attempt to halt the movement of submarines into the
Adriatic using British drifters armed with nets and mines led to a raid by Austrian
light cruisers. The Austrians inflicted heavy damage on the drifters, but Allied
naval forces based at Brindisi cut off their withdrawal. The daylight hours saw a
running battle, with the Austrians at considerable risk. Heavier Austrian units put
out from Cattaro in support, and at the climactic moment the Allied light forces had
to turn away, permitting the Austrians to escape. In the end, the Austrians had
inflicted more damage than they suffered themselves. The Otranto action shows the
difficulties of waging coalition warfare in which diplomatic and national jealousies
override military efficiency.
PDF
