View source for Naval operations on Lake Garda (1866)

{{Infobox military conflict
| image       = Gargnano-bombardata-dalle-cannoniere-austriache.-stampa.jpg
| image_size  = 310
| caption     = Gargnano being bombarded by Austrian ships.
| partof      = the [[Third Italian War of Independence]]
| conflict    = Naval operations on Lake Garda (1866)
| date        = 25 June – 25 July 1866
| place       = [[Lake Garda]], [[Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia|Venetia]]
| result      = Austrian victory
| combatant1  = {{flagdeco|Kingdom of Italy}} [[Kingdom of Italy]]
| combatant2  = {{flag|Austrian Empire|name=Austria}}
| commander1  = [[Augusto Elia]]<br>[[Giuseppe Avezzana]]
| commander2  = [[Moritz Manfroni von Montfort]]
| strength1   = 5 gunboats<br>1 regiment of volunteers<br>4 artillery batteries
| strength2   = 22 boats including:
* 2 steamers
* 6 propeller gunboats
* 3 sailing gunboats
| casualties1 = Steamship Benaco captured<br>3 dead<br>8 injured
| casualties2 = 2 damaged gunboats
}}
{{Campaignbox Third Italian War of Independence}}
[[File:The map of Europe by treaty - Austria Italy 1866.jpg|thumb|Map showing Lake Garda on the frontier between Italy and Austria, 1866]]
The naval operations on [[Lake Garda]] in 1866 during the [[Third Italian War of Independence]] consisted of a series of clashes between flotillas of the [[Kingdom of Italy]] and the [[Austrian Empire]] between 25 June and 25 July that year, as they attempted to secure dominance of the lake. The Austrian fleet, based on the eastern bank of the lake, was larger, more modern and better-armed than their Italian counterpart, and successfully maintained control of the waters, hindering the movement of Italian troops.
== Background ==
[[File:Die Gartenlaube (1866) b 396 1.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the Austrian fortress of Peschiera del Garda]]
At the outset of the war, the border between Austria and Italy ran down the middle of the lake.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Times Atlas of World History|title-link=The Times Atlas of World History|publisher=Times Books|year=1989|isbn=0-7230-0304-1|editor-last=Stone|editor-first=Norman|editor-link=Norman Stone|edition=3rd|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780723003045/page/227 227]}}</ref> The [[Brescia]] region to the west lay within Italy while [[Verona]] and the lands east of the lake were Austrian. Austria controlled [[Riva del Garda]] at the northern tip of the lake, as well as the important fortress of [[Peschiera del Garda]] on the west bank of the River [[Mincio]] at its southern end. Peschiera was part of the so-called '[[Quadrilatero]]' of strong core Austrian defences,<ref>Venetia redeemed; Franco-Italian relations, 1864-1866, John W. Bush Syracuse University Press, 1967, p.3</ref> leaving the exposed eastern shore of Lake Garda an area of potential weakness, vulnerable to Italian infiltration.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.avalanchepress.com/1866Gunboats.php |title=Avalanche Press |publisher=Avalanche Press |access-date=2016-09-10 |archive-date=2016-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916095908/http://www.avalanchepress.com/1866Gunboats.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> This might have involved a strike from the north end of the Lake up the valley of the [[Chiese]] river to threaten [[Trento]] and cut off the supply lines of the Austrian forces in the [[Veneto]].<ref>Review of the Austro-Italian War, 1866, Captain Walter James Wyatt, Edward Stanford, London 1867 p.13</ref> It might also have involved a landing of forces behind Peschiera to threaten [[Verona]]. On the Italian side, the buildup of Austrian naval strength caused concerns about a possible Austrian attack across the lake towards Brescia.
==The opposing forces==
[[File:SMS Hess.jpg|thumb|The Austrian paddle steamer ''Hess'']]
During the years before 1866 war Austria had built up a powerful flotilla of steam-powered screw gunboats on Lake Garda.<ref name=":0" /> The Garda flotilla had seen some action during the 1859 war against France, when the Austrian gunboat ''Benaco'' was sunk off [[Salò]] by a [[Kingdom of Sardinia|Piedmontese]] battery on 20 June 1859. Afterwards the Emperor [[Franz Josef I of Austria|Franz Josef]], on the suggestion of his brother, Navy Commander [[Maximilian I of Mexico|Archduke Ferdinand Max]], moved it from army to navy control. With its headquarters in [[Torri del Benaco]] on the east bank of the lake, supported by the fortified bases at Peschiera and Riva del Garda, it Included 22 boats: 6 modern screw-driven gunboats—''Wildfang'', ''Raufbold'', ''Wespe'', ''Uskoke'', ''Scharfschütze'' and ''Speiteufel'', 2 large armed paddlesteamers ([[:it:Principe Oddone (avviso)|''Hess'']] and [[:it:San Marco (avviso)|''Franz Joseph'']]), a dozen launches, a pair of armed barges at Peschiera for use as floating batteries, a half-dozen unarmed sailboats for scouting purposes and the 3rd Marine Infantry Company stationed at Peschiera,<ref name=":0" /> giving a total armament of 62 cannons and 10 mortars. In May this flotilla was placed under the command of Corvetten-Capitän [[:it:Moritz Manfroni von Manfort|Moriz Manfroni von Manfort]], a well-known gunnery expert. He first placed his flag on board the ''Hess'', with its larger and more comfortable accommodation, but shifted his command to the more effective ''Speiteufel'' on 10 June as war appeared imminent.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Augusto Elia.jpg|thumb|Augusto Elia|alt=Augusto Elia.jpg]]
The Italian Garda squadron had its headquarters on the west bank of the lake in Salò. It consisted of two Italian-built wooden steam gunboats, the ''Solferino'' and ''San Martino,'' a third steam gunboat, the [[:it:Torrione (cannoniera)|''Torrione'']], donated by [[Napoleon III]] in 1859 (the [[:it:Frassineto (cannoniera)|''Frassineto'']], [[:it:Castenedolo (cannoniera)|''Castenedolo'']] and [[:it:Pozzolengo (cannoniera)|''Pozzolengo'']], also donated by Napoleon, were out of service at the start of the conflict), and the paddle steamer ''Verbania'', later renamed the ''Benaco''. It also included a company of light infantry, the "Cacciatori di Garda", and once war broke out more ground forces were attached, including the 1st Battalion of the 10th Volunteer Regiment from Garibaldi's corps and a detachment of seven heavy guns. The Italians gathered as many sailboats and other small craft as they could and concentrated them at their base at Salò at the southwestern corner of the lake for possible use in amphibious assaults across the lake. The flotilla was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel [[:it:Augusto Elia|Augusto Elia]].<ref>Bezzecca 1866: la Campagna Garibaldina fra l'Adda e il Garda, Ugo Zaniboni Ferino, Museo Trentino del Risorgimento e della Lotta per la Libertà, 1987 p.183 </ref>
== Operations ==
[[File:Gargnano-bombardata-dalle-cannoniere-austriache.-stampa.jpg|thumb|Gargnano being bombarded by the Austrian navy, 1866]]
At the start of hostilities of 25 June, the Austrians immediately sailed out to threaten Salò and prevent any movement of Italian troops. On June 30, the Austrian ships bombarded the railway station at [[Desenzano]], a supply and communications point for the Italian Volunteer Corps of Giuseppe Garibaldi, but caused only minor damage.<ref name=":0" /> More substantial action took place on July 2, at 5 am, when four Austrian gunboats, including the ''Hess'' and ''Franz Joseph'', bombarded the centre of [[Gargnano]],<ref name=":2"> Guerra Italo-Prussiana contro l'Austria nel 1866, Giovanni Cecchini, Giovanni Cecchini, Venice 1871 p.767 </ref> where there was a strong concentration of Garibaldi's forces. The bombardment caused extensive damage to homes, one dead and eight wounded among the defending volunteers of the 2nd Regiment. The Austrian flotilla was eventually compelled to withdraw under fire from an Italian battery commanded by Captain [[:it:Achille Afan de Rivera|Achille Afan de Rivera]].
Other skirmishes took place on the lake every few days. On 6 July, Italian volunteers forces, equipped with nine long-range guns borrowed from a coastal battery at [[Toscolano-Maderno|Maderno]], ambushed the Austrian gunboat ''Wildfang'' at Gargnagno. The gunboat was hit twice, for no losses for Garibaldi's army. At the same time, the Italian flotilla sailed out from Salò to chase the armoured gunboat ''Wespe'', on patrol off Maderno. The Austrian vessel managed to disengage after receiving support from ''Speiteufel'' and ''Scharfschütze.''<ref name=":0" /> Italian sources claim that the ''Wespe'' was forced to seek shelter at [[Malcesine]].<ref name=":2" /> The next significant combat occurred on July 19 when the Italian paddle steamer ''Benaco'' head out from Salò for Gargnano towing the sailboat ''Poeta'', both ships carrying reinforcement troops and loaded with supplies for the volunteers in the mountains of Valvestino and Tremosine. The ''Benaco'' was suddenly attacked by two Austrian gunboats, the ''Wildfang'' and ''Schwarzschütze'', which forced it in to shore near Gargnano, where most of the crew, troops and supplies were landed during the night. The next morning Austrian whalerboats were able to capture the abandoned ''Benaco'', still with a small gun and some rifle ammunition in her holds, and tow it away as a prize to Peschiera. One of the whalerboats capsized under Italian fire, but was eventually recovered by the Austrian flotilla. Three Austrian sailors were wounded,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.avalanchepress.com/1866Gunboats2.php|title=Avalanche Press|website=www.avalanchepress.com|access-date=2019-01-22|archive-date=2019-01-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122062452/http://www.avalanchepress.com/1866Gunboats2.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> while heavy shelling on Gargnano killed two Italian volunteers. The ''Poeta'' managed to sail away, only to sink shortly after off San Carlo.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://navisulgarda.blogspot.com/2015/12/piroscafo-hess.html|title=La Pagina Non Ufficiale della Navigazione Lago di Garda: Piroscafo Hess|last=Savignano|first=Paolo|date=31 December 2015|website=La Pagina Non Ufficiale della Navigazione Lago di Garda|language=it|access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref> A second convoy from Salò, consisting in another sailboat escorted by the Italian flotilla, was forced back two days later by the Austrian gunboats ''Speiteufel'', ''Uskoke'' and ''Wespe''.<ref name=":1" /> The ''Benaco'' was handed back to the Italian government at the end of the hostilities.<ref name=":3" />
The final action of the war took place at the north end of the lake. After skirmishes on the lake on 24 July, Manfroni learned that the Austrian army had abandoned Riva del Garda, which was one of his key supply points. To prevent the town falling to Garibaldi, he steamed north and occupied the fortifications in the town with his marines, and on 25 July his forces were able to hold off Garibaldi's volunteers until nightfall. At 10 p.m. the ''Hess'' arrived with a telegram confirming that a ceasefire had been declared between Austria and Italy.<ref name=":1" />
== Conclusion ==
The Austrian fleet succeeded in dominating the lake until the end of the war, preventing any movement of Italian forces onto the eastern shore. It also hindered the movement of Italian supplies along the west coast and slowed down any effective attack into the Chiesa valley.
The Austrian flotilla did not long outlive the war. The armistice of 25 July was followed by the [[Treaty of Vienna (1866)|Treaty of Vienna]] in which Austria ceded Venetia to Italy. After this all of Lake Garda fell within Italian territory except for the northern tip around Riva del Garda, which remained part of Austria. Austria therefore sold its Garda fleet to Italy for one million florins.<ref name=":0" />
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{coord missing|Italy}}
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[[Category:Italian Navy]]
[[Category: Austro-Hungarian Navy]]
[[Category:1866 in Italy]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1866]]
[[Category:Naval battles of the Third Italian War of Independence|Garda]]
[[Category:1866 in the Austrian Empire]]
[[Category:June 1866 events]]
[[Category:July 1866 events]]