The Austrian armored frigate Drache provides a concrete measure of the fighting that is easy to miss in the broader fleet narrative. She absorbs seventeen heavy-shell hits while the Austrian formation passes through the Italian fire. Heavy shellfire temporarily stops her propulsion, brings down the mainmast, and kills Captain Heinrich von Moll, yet his successor and the ship's officers return her to the battle. The episode illustrates how command continuity and crew cohesion can convert a badly damaged ship from a casualty back into useful combat power.
Notable Point · 39:39-41:06
Drache absorbs punishment and stays in the fight
Seventeen heavy-shell hits, lost propulsion, a fallen mast, and the captain's death do not prevent Drache's officers from restoring the ship to action.