The Austro-Hungarian fleet moved with striking speed after Italy entered the war, sending dreadnoughts, older battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and torpedo boats against the Italian coast. The bombardment struck Ancona and a chain of other targets immediately after the declaration of war. The Allies later divided their retaliation among several shelling groups instead of matching that concentration. No major fleet interception followed this large sortie in a confined sea, exposing how poorly the Allies converted nearby strength into a response.
Chapter · 1:07:27-1:09:48
Italy enters the war and Ancona is bombarded
Austria-Hungary answers Italy's declaration of war with a rapid, fleet-wide bombardment of Ancona and other coastal targets.