Battle of Durazzo (1915)

The Battle of Durazzo (also known as the Second Battle of Durazzo) was a naval engagement fought on December 29, 1915, during World War I, between a combined Allied fleet (principally composed of Italian, French, and British warships) and an Austro-Hungarian naval force. The battle took place off the coast of Durazzo (modern-day Durrës, Albania).

The primary Allied objective was to disrupt Austro-Hungarian naval operations in the Adriatic Sea and protect the evacuation of Serbian troops and refugees from Albania. Following the Serbian Army's retreat through Albania after being overrun by Central Powers forces, the Allies had established a naval blockade to prevent Austro-Hungarian interference with the evacuation process.

The Austro-Hungarian force, led by Admiral Anton Haus, sought to attack and disrupt this Allied operation. The Austro-Hungarian fleet comprised primarily light cruisers and destroyers.

The engagement was relatively brief but intense. The Allied fleet, possessing superior firepower, inflicted significant damage on the Austro-Hungarian vessels. While the Austro-Hungarians managed to damage some Allied ships, they were ultimately forced to retreat.

The outcome of the battle was a strategic victory for the Allies. The evacuation of Serbian troops from Albania continued largely unimpeded. Although the Austro-Hungarian navy wasn't decisively defeated, its ability to interfere with Allied operations in the southern Adriatic was significantly curtailed. The battle further solidified Allied naval control of the area during this period. The engagement also highlighted the limitations of the Austro-Hungarian fleet in confronting a more powerful Allied naval presence.