View source for SMS Triglav (1913)

{{Short description|Austro-Hungarian Tatra-class destroyer}}
{{other ships|SMS Triglav}}
{{good article}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Triglav NH87674.jpg
|Ship caption=''Triglav'' in port, 1915
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = [[Austria-Hungary]]
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Austria-Hungary|naval}}
| Ship name = ''Triglav''
| Ship namesake = 
| Ship original cost = 
| Ship builder = [[Ganz-Danubius]], [[Kraljevica Shipyard|Porto Ré]], [[Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia]], Austro-Hungarian Empire
| Ship laid down = 1 August 1912
| Ship launched = 22 December 1913
| Ship sponsor =
| Ship completed = 8 August 1914
| Ship fate = Sunk during the [[Battle of Durazzo (1915)|
1st Battle of Durazzo]], 29 December 1915
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption= 
|Ship class={{sclass|Tátra|destroyer}}
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|870|LT|t|lk=on}} (normal)
*{{convert|1050|LT|t|}} ([[deep load]])
|Ship length={{cvt|83.5|m|ftin}} ([[o/a]])
|Ship beam={{cvt|7.8|m|ftin}}
|Ship draft={{cvt|3|m|ftin}} (deep load)
|Ship power=*6 × [[Yarrow boiler]]s
*{{cvt|20600|shp|kW|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=2 × shafts; 2 × [[steam turbine]]s
|Ship speed={{convert|32.5|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{cvt|1600|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|12|kn}}
|Ship complement=105
|Ship armament=*2 × single [[Škoda 10 cm K10|{{cvt|10|cm|in|1}} guns]]
*6 × single [[Škoda 7 cm guns|{{cvt|66|mm|in|1}} guns]]
*2 × twin {{cvt|45|cm|in|1}} [[torpedo tube]]s
}}
|}
'''SMS ''Triglav'''''{{refn|"SMS" stands for "''[[Seiner Majestät Schiff]]''", or "His Majesty's Ship".|group=Note}} was one of six {{sclass|Tátra|destroyer}}s built for the {{lang|de|[[Kaiserlich und königlich|kaiserliche und königliche]] Kriegsmarine}} ([[Austro-Hungarian Navy]]) shortly before the [[First World War]]. Completed in August 1914, the ship participated in an unsuccessful attempt to recapture a small island in the Central [[Adriatic Sea]] from the Italians in July 1915. In November and early December ''Triglav'' was one of the ships conducting raids off the [[Albania]]n coast to interdict the supply lines between Italy and Albania. She was crippled by a [[naval mine|mine]] during the [[Battle of Durazzo (1915)|1st Battle of Durazzo]] in late December, but was taken in tow. The ship had to be abandoned when the Austro-Hungarian ships were spotted on the return voyage and she was sunk by French destroyers.

== Design and description==
[[File:SMS Tatra (1912), Modell.jpg|thumb|A model of [[sister ship]] {{SMS|Tátra}} in the [[Heeresgeschichtliches Museum Wien]]]]
The ''Tátra''-class destroyers were faster, more powerfully armed and more than twice as large as the preceding {{sclass|Huszár|destroyer|4}}. The ships had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|83.5|m|ftin|sp=us}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|7.8|m|ftin|sp=us}}, and a maximum [[draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|3|m|ftin|sp=us}}.<ref name=s8>Sieche, p. 338</ref> They [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|870|LT|t|lk=on}} at normal load and {{convert|1050|LT|t}} at [[deep load]].<ref name=g4>Greger, p. 44</ref> The ships had a complement of 105 officers and enlisted men.<ref name=s8/>

The ''Tátra''s were powered by two [[AEG (German company)|AEG]]-Curtiss [[steam turbine]] sets, each driving a single [[propeller shaft]] using steam provided by six [[Yarrow boiler]]s. Four of the boilers were [[fuel oil|oil]]-fired while the remaining pair used coal. The turbines, designed to produce {{convert|20600|shp|kW|lk=on}}, were intended to give the ships a speed of {{convert|32.5|kn|lk=on}}. The ships carried enough oil and coal to give them a range of {{convert|1600|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|12|kn}}.<ref name=g4/>

The main armament of the ''Tátra''-class destroyers consisted of two [[Škoda Works]] [[Škoda 10 cm K10|{{convert|10|cm|in|sp=us|adj=on|1}} K10]] guns, one each fore and aft of the [[superstructure]] in single mounts. Their [[secondary armament]] consisted of six [[Škoda 7 cm guns|{{convert|66|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on|1}}]] guns, two of which were on [[anti-aircraft]] mountings. They were also equipped with four {{convert|450|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on|1}} [[torpedo tube]]s in two twin rotating mountings [[amidships]].<ref>Noppen, p. 48</ref>

==Construction and career==
''Triglav'' was [[laid down]] by [[Ganz-Danubius]] at their [[Kraljevica Shipyard|shipyard]] in [[Porto Ré]] in the [[Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia]] of the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]] on 1 August 1912, [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 22 December 1913<ref name=g4/> and completed on 8 August 1914.<ref>Noppen, p. 44</ref> The ''Tátra''-class ships did not play a significant role in the minor raids and skirmishing in the Adriatic in 1914 and early 1915 between the [[Entente Cordiale]] and the [[Central Powers]].<ref>Cernuschi & O'Hara, p. 168</ref> From 9 November to 12 December, ''Triglav'' had her propeller shaft [[bearing (mechanical)|bearing]]s replaced.<ref>Bilzer, p. 121</ref>

===Bombardment of Ancona===
{{main|Bombardment of Ancona}}
The Kingdom of Italy signed a [[Treaty of London (1915)|secret treaty in London]] in late April 1915 breaking its [[Triple Alliance (1882)|alliance]] with the [[German Empire]] and Austro-Hungary and promising to declare war on the Central Powers within a month. Austro-Hungarian intelligence discovered this and Admiral [[Anton Haus]], commander of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, planned a massive surprise attack on Italian ports and facilities on the Northern Adriatic coast, outside of interception range of the modern ships of the {{lang|it|Regia Marina}} stationed at [[Taranto]]. During the bombardment, ''Triglav'' screened the ships involved.<ref>Bilzer, p. 121; Cernuschi & O'Hara 2015, p. 163; O'Hara & Heinz, pp. 152–153</ref>

On 28 July, all six ''Tátra''-class ships and the [[scout cruiser]]s {{SMS|Saida}} and {{SMS|Helgoland|1912|6}}, reinforced by the German submarine {{SMU|UB-14||2}}, attempted to recapture [[Pelagosa]] which had been occupied by the Italians on 11 July. Despite a heavy bombardment by the ships, the 108-man [[landing party]] was unable to overcome the 90-man [[garrison]] and was forced to withdraw.<ref>Cernuschi & O'Hara, p. 169; Halpern, pp. 148–150</ref>

The [[Tsardom of Bulgaria|Bulgarian]] declaration of war on [[Kingdom of Serbia|Serbia]] on 14 October cut the existing supply line from Serbia to [[Thessaloniki|Salonika]], [[Greece]], and forced the [[Allies of World War I|Allies]] to begin supplying Serbia through ports in Albania. This took about a month to work out the details and the Austro-Hungarians took just about as long to decide on a response. Admiral [[Anton Haus]], commander of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, ordered {{lang|de|[[Linienschiffskapitän]]}} (Captain) Heinrich Seitz, ''Helgoland''{{'}}s commander, to take his ship, ''Saida'' and all six ''Tátra''-class destroyers on a reconnaissance mission off the Albanian coast on the night of 22/23 November. They encountered and sank a small [[cargo ship]] and a motor [[schooner]] carrying flour for Serbia; four Italian destroyers were unable to intercept them before they reached friendly territory. Haus was initially reluctant to send his ships so far south, but an order from the {{lang|de|[[Armeeoberkommando]]}} (High Command) on 29 November to patrol the Albanian coast and to disrupt Allied troop movements caused him to transfer ''Helgoland'', her sister {{SMS|Novara|1913|6}} and the ''Tátra''-class ships to [[Cattaro]]. On 6 December, ''Helgoland'' and the ''Tátra''s swept down the coast to Durazzo, sinking five motor schooners, including two in [[Durrës|Durazzo]] harbor.<ref>Cernuschi & O'Hara, pp. 165, 169; Halpern, pp. 153–154</ref>

===1st Battle of Durazzo===
{{main|Battle of Durazzo (1915)}}
Austro-Hungarian aircraft spotted a pair of Italian destroyers in Durazzo harbor on 28 December and Haus dispatched Seitz to take ''Helgoland'', ''Triglav'' and her sisters {{SMS|Csepel}}, {{SMS|Lika}}, {{SMS|Tátra}} and {{SMS|Balaton}} south and search the area between Durazzo and Brindisi for them. If they were not found he was to arrive at Durazzo at dawn and destroy any ships found there. Seitz's ships sailed later that day and sank the {{ship|French submarine|Monge|1908|6}} at 02:35. He was unable to find the destroyers and dutifully arrived off Durazzo at dawn. At 07:30 he ordered four of his destroyers into the harbor to sink the cargo ship and two schooners anchored there while ''Helgoland'' engaged the [[coastal artillery]] defending the port. A well-camouflaged {{convert|75|mm|adj=on|sp=us|0}} [[artillery battery]] opened fire at 08:00 at [[point-blank range]]. While maneuvering to avoid its fire, ''Triglav'' and ''Lika'' entered a minefield. After striking two mines in quick succession, ''Lika'' sank at 08:03 and ''Triglav'' was crippled when her [[Fire room|boiler rooms]] flooded after hitting one mine.{{refn|There are no figures available for either the killed or rescued crewmen of ''Lika'' in the sources consulted.|group=Note}} After she was maneuvered out of the minefield, ''Csepel'' attempted to pass a towline, but it got tangled in one of her propellers, badly damaging it. ''Tátra'' was finally successful in securing a tow at 09:30, but was limited to a speed of {{convert|6|kn|spell=in}} when Seitz led his ships northwards. He radioed for assistance at 10:35 and was informed an hour later that the [[armored cruiser]] {{SMS|Kaiser Karl VI}} and four [[torpedo boat]]s were en route to support him.<ref>Cernuschi & O'Hara, pp. 165, 169; Halpern, pp. 155–157; Noppen, pp. 60–61; O'Hara & Heinz, pp. 157–158</ref>

Italian observers had spotted Seitz's ships at 07:00 and the Allied [[quick-reaction force]] of the British [[light cruiser]] {{HMS|Dartmouth|1910|6}} and the Italian scout cruiser {{Ship|Italian cruiser|Quarto||2}}, escorted by five French destroyers, [[sortie]]d in an attempt to cut off the Austro-Hungarian ships from their base at Cattaro. These were followed two hours later by the Italian scout cruiser {{Ship|Italian cruiser|Nino Bixio||2}}, the British light cruiser {{HMS|Weymouth|1911|6}} and four Italian destroyers. Seitz had ordered ''Triglav''{{'}}s crew taken off before any of the columns of smoke from these ships were spotted by his ships and he ordered ''Tátra'' to drop her tow at 13:15 and abandon ''Triglav''. Five minutes later the Austro-Hungarian ships were spotted and the French destroyers were ordered to deal with ''Triglav'' at 13:38 while the cruisers pursued Seitz's ships. The French commander was deceived by smoke coming from ''Triglav''{{'}}s [[funnel (ship)|funnel]]s and opened fire at {{convert|5500|yd|m|order=flip|sp=us}}. He was surprised when there was no return fire and decided to sink her with gunfire rather than expending torpedoes. This took over half-an-hour and left his ships well out of position for the pursuit of the other Austro-Hungarian ships.<ref>Cernuschi & O'Hara, pp. 165; Halpern, pp. 156–157; Noppen, p. 61; O'Hara & Heinz, pp. 157–159</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==Citations==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last=Bilzer|first=Franz F.|title=Die Torpedoschiffe und Zerstörer der k.u.k. Kriegsmarine 1867&ndash;1918|year=1990|publisher=H. Weishaupt|location=Graz|isbn=3-9003-1066-1}}
*{{cite book|editor1-last=Jordan|editor1-first=John|publisher=Conway|location=London|year=2015 |title=Warship 2015|isbn=978-1-84486-276-4|chapter=The Naval War in the Adriatic Part 1: 1914–1916 |last1=Cernuschi |first1=Enrico|last2=O'Hara|first2=Vincent|name-list-style=amp |pages=161–173}}
*{{cite book|last=Greger|first=René |title=Austro-Hungarian Warships of World War I|location=London |publisher=Ian Allan|year=1976|isbn=0-7110-0623-7}}
*{{cite book|last=Halpern|first=Paul G.|title=A Naval History of World War I|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|date=1994|isbn=1-55750-352-4}}
*{{cite book |last1=Noppen |first1=Ryan K. |title=Austro-Hungarian Cruisers and Destroyers 1914-18 |date=2016 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford, UK |isbn=978-1-4728-1470-8|series=New Vanguard|volume=241}}
*{{cite book |last1=O'Hara |first1=Vincent P. |last2=Heinz |first2=Leonard R. |title=Clash of Fleets: Naval Battles of the Great War, 1914-18 |date=2017 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=978-1-68247-008-4|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert|editor2-last=Gray|editor2-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|year=1985|location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0-85177-245-5|name-list-style=amp|last=Sieche|first=Erwin|chapter=Austria-Hungary}}
{{Tátra class destroyers}}
{{December 1915 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Triglav (1913)}}
[[Category:Tátra-class destroyers]]
[[Category:1913 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Austria-Hungary]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1915]]
[[Category:World War I shipwrecks in the Adriatic Sea]]