Who nowadays goes to Austria doesn’t realize that this country has a naval history, which abrupt ended at the end of the Great War (1914-1918). Except for a minor discussion in 1784 when the Dutch refused Austrian merchant ships entering/departing the river Schelde, neither countries collided. While the Netherlands had in the 19th century not more than a minor navy, Austria-Hungary was developed in a major naval power. A comparison of the strengths in 1913, just for the outbreak of the Great War, confirms this. Both navies were active in different regions. The Austrian-Hungarian navy was concentrated in the (Eastern) Mediterranean while the Dutch Navy was responsible to protect the Dutch coastline and our colonies in the Caribbean, South-America and Dutch Indie (nowadays Surinam).
The history of the Austrian-Hungarian navy is despite several books and articles not well known except for relatively small group of interests. You hardly can compare the naval history of the Netherlands and the Austria-Hungary. The main reason is the fact that in contrary to the Netherlands Austria-Hungary was a continental power. And although there were for instance warships active on the river Donau and the possession of the port Trieste there wasn’t a large navy but it was the army what protected the Empire. The Napoleonic Wars changed this. In 1797 thanks to the Treaty of Campoformio between Austria and the French Republic, Austria ‘herited’ Venice with the resting parts of the navy of La Serenissima including 10 ships-of-the-line. Until in the sixties the official language within the Austrian navy was Italian due to this ‘heritage’. In the years 1848-1849 the Austrian navy changed Venice as main base for Trieste and Pola [Pula, Croatia]. Despite a battle with the Danish navy at Helgoland in 1864 the Austrian navy was active in the Mediterranean. In 1866 was in this region her first major battle. The Austrian admiral Tegethoff forced the Italian navy to leave the battle scene after destroying the Italian ironclad Re d’Italia when he rammed her with his flagship Ferdinand Max. Since 1867 it’s the Austrian-Hungarian navy and which met her end at the Great War.
For someone who wants to know more about the early stage of the Austrian navy I recommend the book written by Lawrence Sondhaus. The Habsburg Empire and the Sea. Austrian Naval Policy, 1797-1866. Indiana, 1989.
The history of the Austrian-Hungarian navy is despite several books and articles not well known except for relatively small group of interests. You hardly can compare the naval history of the Netherlands and the Austria-Hungary. The main reason is the fact that in contrary to the Netherlands Austria-Hungary was a continental power. And although there were for instance warships active on the river Donau and the possession of the port Trieste there wasn’t a large navy but it was the army what protected the Empire. The Napoleonic Wars changed this. In 1797 thanks to the Treaty of Campoformio between Austria and the French Republic, Austria ‘herited’ Venice with the resting parts of the navy of La Serenissima including 10 ships-of-the-line. Until in the sixties the official language within the Austrian navy was Italian due to this ‘heritage’. In the years 1848-1849 the Austrian navy changed Venice as main base for Trieste and Pola [Pula, Croatia]. Despite a battle with the Danish navy at Helgoland in 1864 the Austrian navy was active in the Mediterranean. In 1866 was in this region her first major battle. The Austrian admiral Tegethoff forced the Italian navy to leave the battle scene after destroying the Italian ironclad Re d’Italia when he rammed her with his flagship Ferdinand Max. Since 1867 it’s the Austrian-Hungarian navy and which met her end at the Great War.
For someone who wants to know more about the early stage of the Austrian navy I recommend the book written by Lawrence Sondhaus. The Habsburg Empire and the Sea. Austrian Naval Policy, 1797-1866. Indiana, 1989.
