Battle of Durazzo (1915)

First Battle of Durazzo
Part of World War I, Battle of the Mediterranean, Battle of the Adriatic
HMS Dartmouth
Date 28–29 December 1915 Location off Durazzo, Albania, Adriatic Sea Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Allies:  Kingdom of Italy  United Kingdom  France	Austria-Hungary
Strength
Italian: 2 light cruisers, 4 destroyers British 2 light cruisers French: 5 destroyers, 1 submarine	Land: unknown artillery, ~3 shore batteries Sea: 1 light cruiser, 5 destroyers, 1 submarine
Casualties and losses
1 submarine sunk	1 destroyer sunk, 1 destroyer scuttled, 1 light cruiser damaged, 1 destroyer damaged
One Greek merchant steamer and two schooners were sunk at Durazzo during the battle.

The First Battle of Durazzo was a naval battle of World War I. It was fought off Durazzo, Albania at the end of December 1915 and involved the navies of Austria, the United Kingdom, Italy, and France.

In December 1915, the Austro-Hungarian Navy sent another cruiser Squadron into the Adriatic, this time to interfere with the Serbian Campaign. The new light cruiser SMS Helgoland—accompanied by five Tatra-class destroyers—left Cattaro and headed for Durazzo late on 28 December 1915, with the submarine U-15 and two destroyers already off Durazzo on patrol.

While on passage, the Austro-Hungarians sighted the French submarine Monge on patrol to the south of Cattaro. The destroyer SMS Balaton opened fire before ramming and sinking Monge.

Early the next day, the Austrian squadron arrived off Durazzo and opened fire on the town, with Helgoland sinking a Greek steamer and two schooners. Then the destroyer Lika ran into a minefield and was sunk, then Triglav was badly damaged by another mine. SMS Csepel attempted to take Triglav in tow, but fouled a propeller, and the job was taken over by Tatra. The crippled Austrian force now returned slowly north.

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