Otranto Barrage

The Otranto lock was a Seehindernis of the Entente in World War I in order to block the KuK Navy the way from the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea through the Strait of Otranto.

Starting position

After the Treaty of London of April 1915 Italy switched sides and joined the Entente. This addition to the Alps were the Adriatic to the front area. Thus Austria - Hungary found itself in a geopolitical unfavorable starting position at sea.

Place and manner of implementation

The Otranto lock was built in 1916 near the Italian city of Otranto. It consisted of fixed power locks, sea mines, listening stations along the Italian and Albanian coast and permanent patrols by warships of the Entente Powers and the Italian Navy. The area was suitable so so good for a blockade, because the transit from the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea, is only 75 kilometers wide and easiest penetration of the KuK Navy could be prevented in the Mediterranean here.

Follow

Despite these measures succeeded submarines of the Imperial and Royal Navy and the German Imperial Navy repeatedly to break through into the Mediterranean or the Adriatic Sea. By night and diving trips, it was possible to drive through the barrier, despite the opponent intensive monitoring.

On May 15, 1917, came to the Battle of Otranto, in which the Austro-Hungarian Navy 's opponents inflicted great damage and it did not lose a single ship. Although the lock could be destroyed, but moved to no advantage from it. Given superior enemy ships have had to withdraw the Austria - Hungarian troops, which the Allies had the opportunity to transform the lock again.

In an attempt to break through on 10 June 1918, the KuK was Battleship Szent István 15 submerged under liner captain Heinrich Seitz off the island Premandura by Italian speedboat MAS by two torpedoes.

Regardless of the KuK Navy actions Otranto lock remained intact until the war ended.