Battle of Kunfuda Bay

Battle of Kunfuda Bay
Part of the Italo-Turkish War
The Italian cruiser Piemonte
Date 7 and 8 January 1912 Location Kunfuda, today Saudi Arabia Result Italian victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Italy	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Osvaldo Paladini	Unknown
Strength
1 protected cruiser 2 destroyers	6 gunboats 1 armed tugboat 1 armed yacht
Casualties and losses
None	6 gunboats destroyed 1 tugboat sunk 1 yacht captured

The Battle of Kunfuda Bay was a naval battle of the Italo-Turkish War between small squadrons of the Italian and Ottoman navies. On 7 January 1912, the Italian protected cruiser Piemonte and the Soldato-class destroyers Artigliere and Garibaldino, cruising the Red Sea, discovered six Ottoman gunboats, a tugboat, and a yacht in the harbor at Kunfuda. The vessels engaged for over three hours and five Ottoman vessels were sunk and four dhows were captured. Three of the gunboats were damaged during the battle and grounded on the beach to prevent them from sinking. The following morning, the Italian vessels returned to destroy the remaining three vessels; the yacht, which had been sunk, was later salvaged and seized by Italy. After the battle, the Italian squadron in the Red Sea was able to proclaim a blockade of Ottoman ports in the Red Sea and frequently bombarded Ottoman positions for the rest of the war.