Battle of the Otranto Straits Austro-Hungarian Navy
sms novara after battle of otranto straits. monument heroes of otranto battle on prevlaka in today croatia throughout 1917 adriatic remained key u-boat war on shipping in mediterranean. cattaro, 140 miles above narrow straits of otranto, main u-boat base entire threat mediterranean shipping came. the otranto barrage, constructed allies 120 naval drifters, used deploy , patrol submarine nets, , 30 motor launches, equipped depth charges, designed stop passage of u-boats cattaro. however, failed so, , inception in 1916, barrage had caught 2 u-boats, austrian u-6 , german ub-44 out of hundreds of possible passages. however, barrage meant austro-hungarian surface fleet not leave adriatic sea unless willing give battle blocking forces. this, , war drew on bringing supply difficulties coal, plus fear of mines, limited austro-hungarian navy shelling italian , serbian coastlines. there had been 4 small-scale austro-hungarian attacks on barrage, on 11 march, 21 , 25 april , 5 may 1917, non...