SMS Erzherzog Ferdinand Max
Encyclopedia
SMS Erzherzog Ferdinand Max was a pre-dreadnought battleship built by the Austro-Hungarian navy in 1902. The second ship of the , she was launched on 3 October 1903. She was assigned to the III Battleship Division.
For most of World War I
, Erzherzog Ferdinand Max remained in her home port of Pula
, in present-day Croatia
, except for four engagements. In 1914, she formed part of the Austro-Hungarian flotilla sent to protect the escape of the German ships SMS Goeben and SMS Breslau
from the British-held Mediterranean; she advanced as far as Brindisi
before being recalled to her home port. Her sole combat engagement occurred in late May 1915, when she participated in the bombardment of the Italian port city of Ancona
. She also took part in suppressing a major mutiny among the crew members of several armored cruisers stationed in Cattaro between 1–3 February 1918. She also attempted to break through the Otranto Barrage
in June of that year, but had to retreat when the dreadnought SMS Szent Istvan
was sunk. After the war, Erzherzog Ferdinand Max was awarded to the United Kingdom as a war prize in 1920.
The Erzherzog Ferdinand Max displaced 10472 long tons (10,640 t). She was 414 in 2 in (126.24 m) long, had a beam
of 71 in 5 in (21.77 m) and a draft of 24 in 7 in (7.49 m). She was manned by 700 men. She and her sisters were the last and largest pre-dreadnnought class built by the Austro Hungarian Navy, surpassing the Habsburg class battleship
by approximately 2000 tons. She was propelled by two two-shaft, four cylinder vertical triple expansion steam engines. On trials, they developed 18000 ihp, which could move the ship along at a speed of 20.5 knots (11.2 m/s).
Erzherzog Ferdinand Max carried a primary armament of four 24 centimetres (9.4 in)/40 caliber guns in two twin turrets on the centerline. These guns were an Austro-Hungarian replica of the British 24 cm/40 (9.4") Krupp C/94, which was used on the Habsburgs. Her secondary armament consisted of twelve 19 centimetres (7.5 in)/42 caliber guns, also made by Škoda, mounted in eight single casemates on either wing of the ship and two twin turrets on the centerline. shell 20000 metres (21,872.3 yd) at maximum elevation with a muzzle velocity of 800 metres per second (2,624.7 ft/s). The gun weighed 12.1 tons and could fire three rounds per minute.The ships had a tertiary armament for protection against torpedo boats in the form of the 6.6 centimetres (2.6 in)/45 caliber
gun, too manufactured by Škoda. Anti-aircraft and airship protection was covered by the four 37 millimetres (1.5 in) Vickers
anti-aircraft guns on the ship bought from Britain in 1910 and mounted onto Erzherzog Karl The Erzherzog Ferdinand Max was also fitted with two above water 45 centimetres (17.7 in) torpedo tube
s, although rarely used.
, the Erzherzog Ferdinand Max was in the III division of the Austrian-Hungarian battle-fleet. She was mobilized on the eve of the war along with the remainder of the fleet to support the flight of and . The two German ships were attempting to break out of Messina, which was surrounded by British troops, and make their way to Turkey. The breakout succeeded. When the flotilla had advanced as far south as Brindisi
in south eastern Italy, the Austro-Hungarian ships were recalled.. In company with other units of the Austro Hungarian navy, the Erzherzog Ferdinand Max took a minor part in the bombardment of Ancona
on May 24, 1915. There she and her sisters expended 24 rounds of 240 mm armor-piercing shells at signal and semaphore stations as well as 74 rounds of 190 mm shells aimed at Italian
gun-batteries and other port installations.
A major mutiny among crews of the armored cruisers stationed in Cattaro, including and , began on 1 February 1918. Two days later, Erzherzog Ferdinand Max and her sisters arrived in the port and assisted with the suppression of the mutiny. Following the restoration of order in the naval base, the armored cruisers Sankt Georg and Kaiser Karl VI were decommissioned and Erzherzog Ferdinand Max and her sisters were stationed in Cattaro in their place. On the morning of 11 June, Admiral Miklos Horthy
planned a major assault on the Otranto Barrage
; the three Erzherzog Karls and the four s were to provide support for the s on an assault on the Allied defenses at the Strait of Otranto
. The plan was intended to replicate the success of the raid conducted one year earlier
. Horthy's plan was to destroy the blockading fleet by luring Allied ships to the cruisers and lighter ships, which were protected from the heavier guns of the battleships, including the guns of the Erzherzog Karl-class. However, on the morning of 10 June, the dreadnought was torpedoed and sunk by an Italian torpedo boat
. Horthy felt that the element of surprise had been compromised, and therefore called off the operation. This was to be the last military action Erzehrzog Ferdinand Max was to take part in, and she and her sisters spent the rest of their career in port.
Near the end of World War I, the Erzherzog Karl-class battleships were handed over to the newly formed State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
but Erzherzog Ferdinand Max was later transferred to Great Britain as a war reparation. She was later broken up for scrap in 1921.
For most of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Erzherzog Ferdinand Max remained in her home port of Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
, in present-day Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, except for four engagements. In 1914, she formed part of the Austro-Hungarian flotilla sent to protect the escape of the German ships SMS Goeben and SMS Breslau
Pursuit of Goeben and Breslau
The pursuit of Goeben and Breslau was a naval action that occurred in the Mediterranean Sea at the outbreak of the First World War when elements of the British Mediterranean Fleet attempted to intercept the German Mittelmeerdivision comprising the battlecruiser and the light cruiser...
from the British-held Mediterranean; she advanced as far as Brindisi
Brindisi
Brindisi is a city in the Apulia region of Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Historically, the city has played an important role in commerce and culture, due to its position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city...
before being recalled to her home port. Her sole combat engagement occurred in late May 1915, when she participated in the bombardment of the Italian port city of Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
. She also took part in suppressing a major mutiny among the crew members of several armored cruisers stationed in Cattaro between 1–3 February 1918. She also attempted to break through the Otranto Barrage
Otranto Barrage
The Otranto Barrage was an Allied naval blockade of the Otranto Straits between Brindisi in Italy and Corfu on the Albanian side of the Adriatic Sea in World War I. The blockade was intended to prevent the Austro-Hungarian Navy from escaping into the Mediterranean and threatening Allied operations...
in June of that year, but had to retreat when the dreadnought SMS Szent Istvan
SMS Szent István
SMS Szent István was a dreadnought , the only one built in the Hungarian part of Austria-Hungary. The Ganz & Company's Danubius yard in Hungarian-owned Fiume was awarded the contract to build the battleship in return for the Hungarian government agreeing to the 1910 and 1911 naval budgets...
was sunk. After the war, Erzherzog Ferdinand Max was awarded to the United Kingdom as a war prize in 1920.
Design
Beam (nautical)
The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point. Generally speaking, the wider the beam of a ship , the more initial stability it has, at expense of reserve stability in the event of a capsize, where more energy is required to right the vessel from its inverted position...
of 71 in 5 in (21.77 m) and a draft of 24 in 7 in (7.49 m). She was manned by 700 men. She and her sisters were the last and largest pre-dreadnnought class built by the Austro Hungarian Navy, surpassing the Habsburg class battleship
Habsburg class battleship
The Habsburg class was a group of pre-dreadnought battleships built by Austria-Hungary at the turn of the 20th century. They were the first sea-going battleship built by Austria-Hungary since the center-battery ship Tegetthoff in 1876. The class was composed of three ships: , , and...
by approximately 2000 tons. She was propelled by two two-shaft, four cylinder vertical triple expansion steam engines. On trials, they developed 18000 ihp, which could move the ship along at a speed of 20.5 knots (11.2 m/s).
Erzherzog Ferdinand Max carried a primary armament of four 24 centimetres (9.4 in)/40 caliber guns in two twin turrets on the centerline. These guns were an Austro-Hungarian replica of the British 24 cm/40 (9.4") Krupp C/94, which was used on the Habsburgs. Her secondary armament consisted of twelve 19 centimetres (7.5 in)/42 caliber guns, also made by Škoda, mounted in eight single casemates on either wing of the ship and two twin turrets on the centerline. shell 20000 metres (21,872.3 yd) at maximum elevation with a muzzle velocity of 800 metres per second (2,624.7 ft/s). The gun weighed 12.1 tons and could fire three rounds per minute.The ships had a tertiary armament for protection against torpedo boats in the form of the 6.6 centimetres (2.6 in)/45 caliber
Caliber
In guns including firearms, caliber or calibre is the approximate internal diameter of the barrel in relation to the diameter of the projectile used in it....
gun, too manufactured by Škoda. Anti-aircraft and airship protection was covered by the four 37 millimetres (1.5 in) Vickers
Vickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
anti-aircraft guns on the ship bought from Britain in 1910 and mounted onto Erzherzog Karl The Erzherzog Ferdinand Max was also fitted with two above water 45 centimetres (17.7 in) torpedo tube
Torpedo tube
A torpedo tube is a device for launching torpedoes. There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units installed aboard surface vessels...
s, although rarely used.
Service history
At the outbreak of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Erzherzog Ferdinand Max was in the III division of the Austrian-Hungarian battle-fleet. She was mobilized on the eve of the war along with the remainder of the fleet to support the flight of and . The two German ships were attempting to break out of Messina, which was surrounded by British troops, and make their way to Turkey. The breakout succeeded. When the flotilla had advanced as far south as Brindisi
Brindisi
Brindisi is a city in the Apulia region of Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Historically, the city has played an important role in commerce and culture, due to its position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city...
in south eastern Italy, the Austro-Hungarian ships were recalled.. In company with other units of the Austro Hungarian navy, the Erzherzog Ferdinand Max took a minor part in the bombardment of Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
on May 24, 1915. There she and her sisters expended 24 rounds of 240 mm armor-piercing shells at signal and semaphore stations as well as 74 rounds of 190 mm shells aimed at Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
gun-batteries and other port installations.
A major mutiny among crews of the armored cruisers stationed in Cattaro, including and , began on 1 February 1918. Two days later, Erzherzog Ferdinand Max and her sisters arrived in the port and assisted with the suppression of the mutiny. Following the restoration of order in the naval base, the armored cruisers Sankt Georg and Kaiser Karl VI were decommissioned and Erzherzog Ferdinand Max and her sisters were stationed in Cattaro in their place. On the morning of 11 June, Admiral Miklos Horthy
Miklós Horthy
Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya was the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary during the interwar years and throughout most of World War II, serving from 1 March 1920 to 15 October 1944. Horthy was styled "His Serene Highness the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary" .Admiral Horthy was an officer of the...
planned a major assault on the Otranto Barrage
Otranto Barrage
The Otranto Barrage was an Allied naval blockade of the Otranto Straits between Brindisi in Italy and Corfu on the Albanian side of the Adriatic Sea in World War I. The blockade was intended to prevent the Austro-Hungarian Navy from escaping into the Mediterranean and threatening Allied operations...
; the three Erzherzog Karls and the four s were to provide support for the s on an assault on the Allied defenses at the Strait of Otranto
Strait of Otranto
The Strait of Otranto connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and separates Italy from Albania. Its width at Punta Palascìa, east of Salento is less than . The strait is named after the Italian city of Otranto.- History :...
. The plan was intended to replicate the success of the raid conducted one year earlier
Battle of the Strait of Otranto (1917)
The 1917 Battle of the Strait of Otranto was the result of an Austro-Hungarian raid on the Otranto Barrage, an Allied naval blockade of the Strait of Otranto. The battle took place on 14–15 May 1917, and was the largest surface action in the Adriatic Sea during World War I...
. Horthy's plan was to destroy the blockading fleet by luring Allied ships to the cruisers and lighter ships, which were protected from the heavier guns of the battleships, including the guns of the Erzherzog Karl-class. However, on the morning of 10 June, the dreadnought was torpedoed and sunk by an Italian torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
. Horthy felt that the element of surprise had been compromised, and therefore called off the operation. This was to be the last military action Erzehrzog Ferdinand Max was to take part in, and she and her sisters spent the rest of their career in port.
Near the end of World War I, the Erzherzog Karl-class battleships were handed over to the newly formed State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
The State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs was a short-lived state formed from the southernmost parts of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy after its dissolution at the end of the World War I by the resident population of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs...
but Erzherzog Ferdinand Max was later transferred to Great Britain as a war reparation. She was later broken up for scrap in 1921.