In December 1915, the Austro-Hungarian Navy sent a cruiser squadron into the Adriatic Sea to interfere with Allied operations related to the Serbian Campaign.

Early the next day, the Austro-Hungarian squadron arrived off Durazzo and opened fire on the town, with Helgoland sinking a Greek steamer and two schooners.

Allied forces in Brindisi on the coast of Italy were alerted to the Austro-Hungarian force's presence at sea, and the British light cruiser HMS Dartmouth and the Italian protected cruiser Quarto, escorted by five French destroyers, sortied in an attempt to cut off the Austro-Hungarian ships from Cattaro.

The French destroyers headed for the already crippled Triglav and sank her before attempting to rejoin the British and Italian cruisers.

In a long-range gunnery duel fought throughout the afternoon, Tatra suffered a damaged engine from several shell hits, but Helgoland skillfully avoided the Allied cruisers and the surviving Austro-Hungarian ships reached Cattaro safely, albeit after having lost the valuable Lika and Triglav.