The world of naval warfare changed with the launching of the French ironclad la Glorie in 1859 and the British answer the Warrior in 1860. The first ironclad battle was the famous American Monitor vs Merrimac fight in 1862. But the true test came in the battle of Lissa in 1866---a clash of ironclad fleets!
In June of 1866 Italy joined Prussia in her war with Austria. The Italians called it the 3rd war of unification with the goal of gaining more of the northern Italy lands held by Austria. The war went poorly for Italy who quickly lost a battle at Custora that stalled their drive into lombardy. The battle so demoralized the Italian army that it ceased all offensive operations. The Italian loss was followed by Prussia's total victory at Sadowa on July 3rd. The victory was so overwhelming that Austria begain to talk peace. Italy fearing that she had nothing to bargin with at the peace table urgently search for some token victory. They decided on the Austrian island port of vis in the Adriatic sea.
The Italian plan was basicly no plan at all, they drew it up as they were sailing to Vis. All available ships were rush into fighting status and sent to Ancona. They sailed from Ancona on july 16th for Vis. On the 17th the scout ship Messaggeno closed to within sight of Vis for a quick look and returned to the fleet--no Austrian warships in the harbor. The next day the bulk of the Italian fleet arrived and begun a prelimerary bombardment of the harbor. Vis was garrisoned by 1800 soldiers and 88 cannon in forts and coastal batteries. Most of these batteries were sited too high and well protected to be damaged by long range bombardment. They fleet withdrew after cutting the telegraph line on Huar island that connected to the mainland.
On the 19th the Italian ironclads force the entrance of the harbor and in a fierce firefire destroyed 2/3 of the defending cannon. At the same time transports carrying Italian infantry arrived at Vis. The Italian assualt began the next morning after a bombardment. Italian frigates and small ships escorted smaller boats carring the infantry ( 2200 ) towards Vis. At this point the scout ship Sporatore signaled to the Italian admiral Persano---smoke to the northwest--the Austrian fleet was out!
Admiral Persano immediately ordered the recall of the attack on Vis. He sent his wooden warships to protect the withdrawning infantry while he and the ironclads turned towards the Austrian fleet. The Austrians warned by telegraph before it was cut had sailed from Fazana under command of admiral Teggetthoff, a veteran of the naval war with Denmark in 1864.
Italian fleet
ironclads---------------12 carrying 243 guns
large wooden warships--17 carrying 382 guns
small wooden warships-- 5 carrying 16 guns
Austrian fleet
ironclads--------------- 7 carrying 176 guns
large wooden warships-- 7 carrying 304 guns
small wooden warships--12 carrying 52 guns
The Italian fleet was larger, newer, better armoured and armed.
The Austrians sailed in a triangle formation withe ironclads at the tip, the ship of the line Kaiser and 6 frigates in the 2nd line and 12 gunboats in a 3rd line. Teggetthoff ordered battle speed and encouraged used of their rams if possable. Persano sailed with 10 ironclads ( 2 were damaged in the assault of Vis ) to confront them. For unknow reason Persano changed flagships at this time-- this would prove costly later. The Italians formed a standard " line of battle ". Persano however confused his captains by signaling " intervene when it would need most". Each of his captain took it differants ways as some ships turned toward the Austrians, some backed off and some continued in the line of battle--total confusion!! The Austrian wedge struck this confusion and broke the Italian line immediately. The battle broke into 3 smaller fights.
In the center 7 Austrian ironclads faced 4 Italian ironclads, the Austrian 2nd line of wooden warships engaged the Italian rear while the gunboats harrassed the withdrawing Italian frigates and infantry. It was a swirling confusion of ships, smoke--fought at ranges of 50 yards or less sometimes. The ships fired away with little or no effect when the Austrian flagship managed to ram the Ironclad Palestro, the Italian flagship. The Italian battle flag fell onto the deck of the Ferdinand Max were it was recovered--a sign of the way the battle was to go. In the rear, the ship of the line Kaiser ( 91 guns ) proved no match for 2 ironclads and limped away badly damaged. The Italian flagship Palestro also left the fight--the ramming had left her leaking badly.
The battle began to turn in Austria's favor when the ironclad Re'Italia lost her rudder and power--a sitting duck. The Ferdinand Max rammed her at full speed sinking her in under 3 minutes. The Italian fleet was scattered in several unsupporting sections with no direction from Persano, who sent confusing signals like " the fleet should hunt the enemy, free manoeuve,free sailing " and " every ship that is not fighting is not in position " leading to more confusion, indeed some ships were not even watching the flag ship not knowing he had switched ships earlier.
After less than 2 hours the Austrians had completely broken though and reassembled outside of Vis harbor. The Italians retreated after losing the ironclad Palosto exploded after fires reached her magizines. The Italians had lost 2 ironclads with a third badly damaged ( she would later sink from her damage ), the Austrians a ship of the line badly shoot up.
It was a disaster for Italy, her fleet was clearly superior but had performed badly. Austrian sailors would boast that " wooden ships led by an iron admiral had beaten iron ships led by a wooden admiral ". Defenses had outstripped offenses, armour plating could beat off most cannon of the time. The day of the ship of the line was over too, the Kaiser carrying 91 guns was manhandled by ironclads carrying 1/3 the firepower. The true winner was the ram, all the ships sunk were rammed. This led to a false impression that the ram was the future. It did not take into effect the rammed ships in each case were not able to move and were sitting targets. Also artillary improvement jumped leaps and bounds in the next few years to catch up with armoured defenses to make any ramming attempt unlikely to suceded. Naval warfare had changed forever.
In June of 1866 Italy joined Prussia in her war with Austria. The Italians called it the 3rd war of unification with the goal of gaining more of the northern Italy lands held by Austria. The war went poorly for Italy who quickly lost a battle at Custora that stalled their drive into lombardy. The battle so demoralized the Italian army that it ceased all offensive operations. The Italian loss was followed by Prussia's total victory at Sadowa on July 3rd. The victory was so overwhelming that Austria begain to talk peace. Italy fearing that she had nothing to bargin with at the peace table urgently search for some token victory. They decided on the Austrian island port of vis in the Adriatic sea.
The Italian plan was basicly no plan at all, they drew it up as they were sailing to Vis. All available ships were rush into fighting status and sent to Ancona. They sailed from Ancona on july 16th for Vis. On the 17th the scout ship Messaggeno closed to within sight of Vis for a quick look and returned to the fleet--no Austrian warships in the harbor. The next day the bulk of the Italian fleet arrived and begun a prelimerary bombardment of the harbor. Vis was garrisoned by 1800 soldiers and 88 cannon in forts and coastal batteries. Most of these batteries were sited too high and well protected to be damaged by long range bombardment. They fleet withdrew after cutting the telegraph line on Huar island that connected to the mainland.
On the 19th the Italian ironclads force the entrance of the harbor and in a fierce firefire destroyed 2/3 of the defending cannon. At the same time transports carrying Italian infantry arrived at Vis. The Italian assualt began the next morning after a bombardment. Italian frigates and small ships escorted smaller boats carring the infantry ( 2200 ) towards Vis. At this point the scout ship Sporatore signaled to the Italian admiral Persano---smoke to the northwest--the Austrian fleet was out!
Admiral Persano immediately ordered the recall of the attack on Vis. He sent his wooden warships to protect the withdrawning infantry while he and the ironclads turned towards the Austrian fleet. The Austrians warned by telegraph before it was cut had sailed from Fazana under command of admiral Teggetthoff, a veteran of the naval war with Denmark in 1864.
Italian fleet
ironclads---------------12 carrying 243 guns
large wooden warships--17 carrying 382 guns
small wooden warships-- 5 carrying 16 guns
Austrian fleet
ironclads--------------- 7 carrying 176 guns
large wooden warships-- 7 carrying 304 guns
small wooden warships--12 carrying 52 guns
The Italian fleet was larger, newer, better armoured and armed.
The Austrians sailed in a triangle formation withe ironclads at the tip, the ship of the line Kaiser and 6 frigates in the 2nd line and 12 gunboats in a 3rd line. Teggetthoff ordered battle speed and encouraged used of their rams if possable. Persano sailed with 10 ironclads ( 2 were damaged in the assault of Vis ) to confront them. For unknow reason Persano changed flagships at this time-- this would prove costly later. The Italians formed a standard " line of battle ". Persano however confused his captains by signaling " intervene when it would need most". Each of his captain took it differants ways as some ships turned toward the Austrians, some backed off and some continued in the line of battle--total confusion!! The Austrian wedge struck this confusion and broke the Italian line immediately. The battle broke into 3 smaller fights.
In the center 7 Austrian ironclads faced 4 Italian ironclads, the Austrian 2nd line of wooden warships engaged the Italian rear while the gunboats harrassed the withdrawing Italian frigates and infantry. It was a swirling confusion of ships, smoke--fought at ranges of 50 yards or less sometimes. The ships fired away with little or no effect when the Austrian flagship managed to ram the Ironclad Palestro, the Italian flagship. The Italian battle flag fell onto the deck of the Ferdinand Max were it was recovered--a sign of the way the battle was to go. In the rear, the ship of the line Kaiser ( 91 guns ) proved no match for 2 ironclads and limped away badly damaged. The Italian flagship Palestro also left the fight--the ramming had left her leaking badly.
The battle began to turn in Austria's favor when the ironclad Re'Italia lost her rudder and power--a sitting duck. The Ferdinand Max rammed her at full speed sinking her in under 3 minutes. The Italian fleet was scattered in several unsupporting sections with no direction from Persano, who sent confusing signals like " the fleet should hunt the enemy, free manoeuve,free sailing " and " every ship that is not fighting is not in position " leading to more confusion, indeed some ships were not even watching the flag ship not knowing he had switched ships earlier.
After less than 2 hours the Austrians had completely broken though and reassembled outside of Vis harbor. The Italians retreated after losing the ironclad Palosto exploded after fires reached her magizines. The Italians had lost 2 ironclads with a third badly damaged ( she would later sink from her damage ), the Austrians a ship of the line badly shoot up.
It was a disaster for Italy, her fleet was clearly superior but had performed badly. Austrian sailors would boast that " wooden ships led by an iron admiral had beaten iron ships led by a wooden admiral ". Defenses had outstripped offenses, armour plating could beat off most cannon of the time. The day of the ship of the line was over too, the Kaiser carrying 91 guns was manhandled by ironclads carrying 1/3 the firepower. The true winner was the ram, all the ships sunk were rammed. This led to a false impression that the ram was the future. It did not take into effect the rammed ships in each case were not able to move and were sitting targets. Also artillary improvement jumped leaps and bounds in the next few years to catch up with armoured defenses to make any ramming attempt unlikely to suceded. Naval warfare had changed forever.
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