Battles of the Italo-Turkish War
1911–1912 · 3 battles covered, in date order. Click a battle on the map for its summary.
Battle (size: ships engaged)
Italian movement
Routes are approximate.
1911
29–30 September 1911 · Off Preveza and Gomenitsa, Epirus
Battle of PrevezaItalian victory
Hours after war was declared, Italian destroyers planned by the Duke of the Abruzzi and led by Commander Biscaretti di Ruffia swept the Ottoman coast of Epirus. Off Preveza they drove the torpedo boat Tokad ashore while Antalya escaped into the harbour. The next day at Gomenitsa they sank two more torpedo boats and seized an armed yacht. Austria-Hungary protested at fighting so close to its Adriatic interests, and Italy kept clear of the coast afterwards.
5
vs
7 (4 lost)
1912
7–8 January 1912 · Kunfuda Bay, Red Sea coast of Arabia
Battle of Kunfuda BayItalian victory
Part of the Italian squadron guarding Eritrea found an Ottoman flotilla in Kunfuda Bay. In about three hours, three gunboats were sunk and three ran aground to avoid sinking; the Italians destroyed those the next morning. The tug Muha was sunk and the yacht Şipka was later raised and taken into Italian service.
3
vs
8 (8 lost)
24 February 1912 · Beirut harbour
Battle of BeirutItalian victory
Rear Admiral Thaon di Revel's two armoured cruisers appeared off Beirut and demanded the surrender of the Ottoman ships in the harbour. When this was refused they opened fire. Avnillah was set ablaze, struck her colours and was torpedoed; the cruisers came back in the afternoon and sank the torpedo boat Angora. Stray shells and fires killed 66 civilians, and the Ottoman government expelled Italian citizens from Syria in reprisal.
2
vs
2 (2 lost)