As long as a battleship is floating on the water, it cannot be said that it will never sink. Although photos have been taken of its sinking appearance, there are actually very few videos of it.
The oldest of only three examples in the world is a battleship of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Oldest in history! Battleship captured sinking
A battleship that once ruled the seas. There are many photographs and videos left all over the world, but to date in human history there have only been three videos of a sinking ship being attacked by an enemy.
The world’s oldest recorded video! What is the battleship that was captured sinking? Click here for the image of the large size that is no longer available >>
Battleship “St. Stephen”. (Image: Austrian Army)
One is the British battleship Barham, which was attacked and sunk by a German submarine (so-called U-boat) in November 1941. The other is the American battleship Arizona, which sank in December of the same year during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and now has a memorial facility built on its hull.
The oldest video footage is of the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Navy battleship St. Stephen. This ship sank in June 1918 in the Adriatic Sea during World War I. This warship is little known in Japan, but what kind of ship was it?
The Austria-Hungary Empire, which owned St. Stephen, is now divided into many countries, and Austria and Hungary are landlocked countries with no coastline. However, until the empire collapsed during World War I, it was a large country with several bases on the Adriatic Sea. This ship was built as the fourth ship of the Tegetthov class battleship of the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Navy.
Construction took place at a shipyard in Fiume (present-day Rijeka, Croatia) on the Adriatic Sea, but at the time Fiume did not have facilities for building large ships, so they began by building a dock. “St. Stephen” was commissioned in 1915, during the first half of the war.
With a standard displacement of over 20,000 tons, a total length of approximately 152m, and a maximum width of approximately 28m, it was a fairly large ship for its time. The main armament was four 305mm triple turrets with 12 guns, 12 150mm guns, 18 70mm guns, and 4 533mm torpedo tubes, and the maximum speed was 20 knots (approximately 37km/h). Furthermore, since it was built as the final ship, it was equipped with a searchlight from the time of new construction, something that its sister ships did not have, and its deck was also expanded, and it was equipped with an improved engine.
Although commissioned, he could not play an active role due to the naval blockade.
St. Stephen’s home port was Pola (now the Croatian city of Pula), and she spent most of World War I in the waters near Pola. This was because the Strait of Otland, the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea, was blocked by the Allied forces of France and Italy.
The blockade of the Otland Strait was an Allied military operation undertaken to prevent the main ships of the Austro-Hungarian Navy from advancing into the Mediterranean Sea. It was a tactic that took advantage of the abundance and quantity of Allied auxiliary ships, which used boats to obstruct navigation.
The Austro-Hungarian Navy attempts to break through enemy blockading forces using night attacks and submarines. Many of the submarines succeeded in breaking through and went on to play an active role in the Mediterranean and other areas, but surface ships had a hard time succeeding in breaking through, and many ships were damaged.
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Kaiserin Elisabeth, a protected cruiser of the Austro-Hungarian Navy that actually fought against the Japanese army in Qingdao during World War I (Image: Public domain)
Frustrated by this, the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Navy launched a large-scale attack on June 10, 1918. “St. Stephen” was also included in the attack force.
Sortie to open a way out! but……
“St. Stephen” finally departs for the Adriatic Sea to carry out the operation.
However, on the way, she was spotted by the Italian Navy and was hit by a torpedo rig, and as soon as her starboard side was hit by a torpedo, she began to list and soon capsized. It just sank.
Many of the more than 1,000 crew members were thrown overboard, but the death toll remained relatively small at 89. This is because the Austro-Hungarian Navy put a lot of effort into swimming education for the crew, and on the day of the sinking, the sea was calm (the sea surface had no wind or waves) and was not rough. It is said that this helped keep the number of deaths to a minimum.
This is the first time in history that a battleship has been filmed on video, showing the sinking of the St. There are footage of him diving in and then swimming on the surface of the ocean without waves. This video is so clear that it is hard to believe it was taken in 1918, and it is said that it has since been used in Red Cross fundraising efforts.
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On the verge of being struck by lightning and capsized. “St. Stephen” (Image: Public Domain)
By the way, in Japan there are several words used to describe a ship sinking, and one of the most distinctive words is “Gochin”. Generally speaking, a ship that sinks is written as “sinking,” but “todo sinking” apparently means “sinking within one minute of receiving damage.” You can see in the video of “St. Stephen” that it is sinking quite quickly. We don’t know how long it took after the damage occurred, but considering the time it took to sink, it may be safe to say that the ship sank with a bang.
[Video]”Oh, the ship…” This is a video of the sinking of the “St. Stephen”
**How did the “St. Stephen”‘s technological advancements, as detailed by Dr. Vance, compare to those of other battleships of its time, and how might these advancements have contributed to its vulnerability during the sinking?**
## Interview: The Sinking of St. Stephen – A Glimpse into History
**Editor:** Welcome viewers to today’s discussion, where we delve into the fascinating history of naval warfare through a rare and historic lens. Today, we’re joined by two esteemed guests: Dr. Eleanor Vance, a renowned naval historian specializing in WWI, and Mr. Thomas Blackwood, a film archivist and expert in historical film analysis.
Our topic revolves around the Austro-Hungarian battleship “St. Stephen” and its remarkable capture on video during its sinking in 1918. This footage, believed to be the oldest of its kind, provides a stark and moving testament to the realities of war at sea.
**I. The Setting: A Divided Empire at War**
**Editor:** Dr. Vance, can you provide some context regarding the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s naval ambitions and its position in WWI?
Dr. Vance: Certainly. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, often overlooked in discussions of WWI naval power, possessed a formidable fleet despite being landlocked. Their navy aimed to control the Adriatic Sea, a vital waterway for trade and access to the Mediterranean. However, the Allied blockade of the Strait of Otranto severely hampered their operations.
**Editor:** Mr. Blackwood, the article mentions “St. Stephen” as one of only three battleships ever filmed during a sinking. What makes this particular footage so remarkable?
Mr. Blackwood: This footage is exceptional for several reasons. Its clarity is astonishing given its age. We see “St. Stephen” being struck, listing dramatically, and then disappearing beneath the waves. The clip also captures the reactions of the onlookers, adding a layer of grim humanity to the event.
**II. The “St. Stephen”: A Technological Marvel**
**Editor:** Dr. Vance, tell us more about the “St. Stephen.” What kind of ship was it, and what technological advancements did it incorporate?
Dr. Vance: “St. Stephen” was a powerful battleship, part of the Tegetthov class known for its impressive firepower.
Its size and armament were substantial for its time. Importantly, as the last battleship in its class, “St. Stephen” incorporated enhancements like a searchlight and a wider deck, reflecting evolving naval technology.
**III. The fateful Day**
**Editor:** Mr. Blackwood, the article describes the sinking as happening very quickly. How does the video corroborate this account?
Mr. Blackwood: The footage clearly shows “St. Stephen” capsizing rapidly after Azerbaijani torpedo strike. The ship disappears beneath the surface in a matter of minutes. This lends credence to the concept of a “todo sinking,” where a vessel goes down rapidly due to severe damage, as mentioned in the article.
**IV. Historical Legacy and Ethical Considerations**
**Editor:** Dr. Vance, what are some of the key historical lessons we can learn from the sinking of “St. Stephen” and the wider context of WWI naval warfare?
Dr. Vance: The sinking of “St. Stephen” highlights the vulnerability of warships, even those considered formidable. It also underscores the devastating impact of blockades and the desperate measures empires resorted to during wartime.
**Editor:** Mr. Blackwood, beyond its historical value,
the survival of “St. Stephen’s” video raises ethical questions about the depiction of tragedy.
How do we balance the historical significance of such footage with respect for those who perished?
Mr. Blackwood: This is a crucial consideration. It’s important to treat this footage with sensitivity and respect. It’s a reminder of the human cost of war and should encourage reflection rather than sensationalism.
**V. Looking Ahead: The Future of Historical Film**
**Editor:** Looking to the future, what role do you see such historical footage playing in our understanding of the past, Mr. Blackwood?
Mr. Blackwood: As technology advances, we can expect to uncover more hidden treasures like this video. They offer a unique window into the past, allowing us to see and hear events long gone. Preserving and studying these films is crucial for keeping history alive.
**Editor:** Thank you both for sharing your expertise and insights with us today. This fascinating discussion sheds light on a poignant moment in history, reminding us of the enduring power of visual storytelling.
(End interview)
