!!!Marine

Navy: Adhesion to the new economic system of  Mercantilism, as well as 
the establishment of  Trading Companies, Privileged paved the way for 
the formation of an Austrian merchant fleet. In 1719 Emperor 
Karl VI granted Trieste and Rijeka (then Fiume) the status of 
free ports. During the first half of the 19%%sup th/%  century 
Austria´s highly efficient navy operated from Trieste, Fiume and 
Venice. Both the  Donau-Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft Erste, 
DDSG(founded in 1829), as well as the Oesterreichischer Lloyd(founded 
in 1836) had ships sailing to the Levant, the Far East, Africa and 
America. In 1850 a Central Shipping Office was founded in Vienna to 
regulate merchant shipping. After the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 
1867, the colours of the Austrian merchant ships (until then striped 
red-white-red) had to be changed. Thus, one half of the lower stripe, 
which had originally been red, was coloured green. Having lost all its 
vessels in 1918, Austria again began to build up a fleet after World 
War II - The first standing navy was formed in 1719 to protect 
Austrian merchant ships against pirates cruising the Mediterranean and 
the Adriatic Sea. In addition, another armed fleet called Danube Fleet 
evolved, which was particularly successful in delivering Austria from 
the Turks. In 1786 Emperor Joseph II bought two naval vessels 
from the Dutch. At approximately the same time the Austrian flag was 
hoisted on all of the Empire´s ships. From 1798-1848 Venetian 
(used in the Italian army) was the common language among members of 
the Austrian naval forces. Having been abolished in 1809 (due to the 
loss of all the Austrian ports to Napoleon), the Austrian Navy was 
re-formed by A. de Coninck in 1814. In addition, an Austrian Naval 
Academy was founded at Fiume). In 1853 German replaced Venetian as 
lingua franca. In 1857 Archduke Ferdinand  Maximilian initiated a 
reorganization of the Austrian Navy. From 1862-1865 a Ministry of 
Naval Affairs existed, which was later on integrated into the War 
Ministry. In 1875 the rank of  Admiral was created. In the years to 
follow A.  Bourguignon, R.  Daublebsky von Sterneck and Admiral Count 
R. Montecuccoli vigorously promoted the introduction of organizational 
reforms, the application of new naval strategies (Bourguignon) and the 
use of new technological equipment. After the Habsburgs had lost 
Venice, Pula (Croatia; then Pola, Italy) became the Empire´s 
main port followed by Kotor (then Cattaro) and Šibenik (then 
Sebenico). At the beginning of World War I the gross tonnage of 
Austria´s ships amounted to one million.

\\
Austrian naval forces often proved highly successful in battle, for 
example they protected Austrian interests during the Greek fight for 
independence (1821-1830); in 1829 they fought Marocco; between 1839 
and 1840 they fought Syria; between 1848 and 1849 they upheld the 
embargo raised against the rebellious province of Venice; in 1859 they 
fought French vessels; they were victorious in the Battle of Helgoland 
(1864) fought during the  German-Danish War; under the command of W.  
Tegetthoff they were successful in the Naval Battle of  Lissa in 1866; 
together with other fleets they crushed the Boxer Revolt in China 
(1900-1902); between 1896 and 1897 they participated in an 
international demonstration of naval forces off Crete; in 1905 the 
Austrian Navy took part in a demonstration of naval forces against 
Turkey.

\\
Under Admiral A.  Haus Austrian naval vessels prevented the advance of 
hostile forces to the Adriatic Sea in World War I and thereby crushed 
an attempt by the allied powers to land in Central Dalmatia. The most 
outstanding Austrian submarine commanders were G. Trapp, R. Singule, 
H. Rigele (awarded the Maria Theresia Cross) and Z. Hudecek. The top 
naval airmen were G.  Banfield (awarded the Maria Theresia Cross) and 
D. Konjovics. When the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy was on the brink of 
falling apart, Austrian sailors rose in revolt at Kotor (then 
Cattaro). On October 31, 1918 Emperor Karl gave the Austrian fleet to 
Yugoslavia, which had not yet been recognized as an autonomous state. 
The truce of Villa Giusti, however, had provided for a transfer of the 
vessels to the allied powers. As a consequence, two Italian frogmen 
sank the imperial-turned-Yugoslavian flagship "Viribus Unitis" by 
means of a time fuse in the port of Pola (Pula) on November 1, 1918. 
Finally, it should be mentioned that the Austro-Hungarian Navy was not 
only engaged in the field of national defence but also vigorously 
promoted and supported science and research.

!Literature
W. Aichelburg, Die Unterseeboote Oesterreich-Ungarns, 
1981; H. F. Mayer and D. Winkler, Als Oesterreich die Welt 
entdeckte, 1991; P. Schupita, Die k. u. k. Seeflieger, 1983; 
A. E. Sokol, Seemacht Oesterreich, 1972; H. H. Sokol, 
Oesterreich-Ungarns Seekrieg 1914-18, 1973; L. Sondhaus, The Naval 
Policy of Austria-Hungary 1867-1918, 1994.


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