The Austro-Hungarian Navy planned to raid the Otranto Barrage with a force of three light cruisers and two destroyers under the command of Commander (later Admiral) Miklós Horthy in an attempt to break the barrier to allow Austro-Hungarian and Imperial German Navy U-boats freer access to the Mediterranean Sea and Allied shipping.

An Allied force composed of ships from three navies responded to the raid, and in the ensuing battle heavily damaged the Austro-Hungarian light cruiser Novara.

However, the rapid approach of the Austro-Hungarian relief force persuaded the Italian Rear Admiral Alfredo Acton, the Allied commander, to retreat.

[2] The destroyers Csepel and Balaton were to mount a diversionary raid off the Albanian coast in order to confuse any Allied counter-attack.

A supporting force composed of the armored cruiser Sankt Georg, two destroyers, and four 250t-class torpedo boats was on standby if the raiders ran into trouble.

The Italian flotilla leader Carlo Mirabello was accompanied by the French Navy destroyers Commandant Rivière, Bisson and Cimeterre.

Rear Admiral Alfredo Acton—the commanding officer of the Italian Scouting Division—ordered Carlo Mirabello's group southward at 04:35, while he embarked on Dartmouth.

The Italian protected cruiser Marsala, flotilla leader Carlo Alberto Racchia, and destroyers Insidioso, Indomito, and Impavido were readying to get underway in support as well.

A shell from Dartmouth struck Novara, at which point the Austro-Hungarian ships laid a smoke screen in order to close the distance.

[10] Novara was hit several more times, and her main feed pumps and starboard auxiliary steam pipe had been damaged, which caused the ship to begin losing speed.

[10] Unaware that Novara had been disabled, and fearing that his ships would be drawn too close to the Austro-Hungarian naval base at Cattaro, Acton broke off the pursuit.

The destroyer Giovanni Acerbi misread the signal and attempted to launch a torpedo attack, but was driven off by the combined fire of Novara, Saida, and Helgoland.

The French destroyer Boutefeu attempted to pursue the German submarine, but struck a mine laid by UC-25 that morning and sank rapidly.

[11] As a result of the raid, the British naval command decided that unless sufficient destroyers were available to protect the barrage, the drifters would have to be withdrawn at night.