Austro-Hungarian Battleships 1914-18

The primary purpose of Austria-Hungary's navy until the beginning of the twentieth century was the defense of its coastline.

As its merchant marine dramatically grew, admirals believed that the navy should take a more proactive policy of defense. The 1890s saw the beginning of a series of naval building programs that would create a well-balanced modern fleet, including a force of modern battleships.

In this illustrated history, Ryan Noppen examines how these ships came to be, and the difficul...