Operation Albion

Operation Albion
Part of World War I

Operation Albion amphibious operations 12–20 October
Date12–20 October 1917
Location58°30′N 23°0′E / 58.500°N 23.000°E / 58.500; 23.000
Result German victory
Belligerents
 Germany Russian Republic
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
German Empire Oskar von Hutier
German Empire Hugo von Kathen
German Empire Ludwig von Estorff
German Empire Ehrhard Schmidt
Russia Mikhail Bakhirev
Russia Vasily Altvater
Strength
1 battlecruiser
10 dreadnought battleships
9 light cruisers
1 mine cruiser
50 torpedo boats
6 U-boats
19 transports

6 airships
102 combat aircraft

24,500 soldiers
8,500 horses
2,400 vehicles
150 machine guns
54 guns
12 mortars
2 pre-dreadnought battleships
2 cruisers
1 protected cruiser
21 destroyers
3 gunboats
3 submarines

24,000 soldiers
Casualties and losses
1 torpedo boat sunk (S 64)
7 minesweepers destroyed
9 trawlers & auxiliary vessels destroyed
5 aircraft shot down
156 killed
60 wounded (Navy)
54 killed
141 wounded (Army)
1 battleship sunk (Slava)
1 destroyer sunk (Grom)
1 submarine destroyed (HMS C32)
Unknown dead and wounded

20,130 captured
141 guns lost (47 heavy guns)
130 machine guns lost

40 aircraft lost
Panorama of the Tagalaht Bay, Saaremaa, Estonia. This was the location of the German landing on 12 October 1917.
The gun turrets of a battleship. A grey dirigible flies overhead.
German battleship Grosser Kurfürst photographed during Operation Albion in October 1917. Above is the Schütte-Lanz company naval airship S.L.20 (Type 'f').

Operation Albion was a World War I German air, land and naval operation against the Russian forces in October 1917 to occupy the West Estonian Archipelago. The land campaign opened with German landings at the Tagalaht bay on the island of Saaremaa, on 12 October 1917, after extensive naval operations to clear mines and subdue coastal artillery batteries. The Germans secured the island by 16 October and the Russian army evacuated Muhu on 20 October.

After two failed attempts, the Germans landed on Hiiumaa on 12 October, capturing the island on the following day. The Russian Baltic Fleet had to withdraw from the Suur Strait after its losses at the Battle of Moon Sound. The Germans claimed 20,000 prisoners and 100 guns captured during Operation Albion from 12 to 20 October.


© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search