Petz, Anton von

After graduating from the Naval Academy in Rijeka , in 1837 he entered the service in the Navy of Austria-Hungary . In the summer of 1840, during the Turkish-Egyptian War (1839–1841), on board the SMS, Guerriera participated in the military intervention of the combined forces of Great Britain, the Ottoman and Austrian empires in Syria against the governor of Egypt, Mohammed Ali .

Participated in a number of hikes. As adjutant to Archduke Frederick Ferdinand Leopold of Austria in 1842, SMS Bellona visited England. Then about three years he taught mathematics at the Marine College.

During the First War for the unification of Italy in 1848, the first lieutenant on SMS Vulcan participated in the siege of Venice . In subsequent years, commanded the small ships of the Navy of Austria-Hungary .

He became famous on July 20, 1866 during the Battle of Liss , the first naval battle with the mass participation of armored forces . He fought under the command of Admiral Wilhelm von Tegetgoff , who led the first squadron on the SMS Erzherzog Ferdinand Max battleship, the second line consisting of wooden ships, was headed by the SMS Kaiser battleship commanded by Commodore Anton Petz. The first detachment was to break the Italian order, start a chaotic battle and open the way for flank attacks of the ships of the second detachment, which were ordered to ram the enemy ships and continue to act in accordance with the prevailing situation. The third detachment provided cover for the wooden ships from the second detachment, linking it with combat and diverting the attention of the Italians. The Austrians on 27 warships had 525 guns and 7770 crew members, 34 ships of Italy had a total crew of 11,250 men and carried 695 guns.

The wooden ships of the second Austrian detachment under the command of A. Petz had to engage in battle with the Italian battleships of Rear Admiral Augusto Antonio Riboti, while the detachment of von Tegetthoff fought with the battleships of the central part of the Italian line. The detachment of the Austrian unarmored ships of von Pets was to fight against the Italian frigates and corvettes according to the original plan. However, Vice-Admiral Albino, who commanded them, declined to take part in the battle, and A. Petz's detachment ran into Italian battleships hurrying to the aid of Re d'Italia, as well as the high-speed Affondator. At first, von Pets on the battleship Kaiser forced the Affondator, with the Italian commander himself on board, to face the threat of a collision, and then hurried to help two Austrian frigates that were shot by Italian battleships. Soon the wooden "Kaiser" turned out to be among the four enemy armored ships that approached from different sides, successfully shelling them with its numerous artillery.

Caught against the large Italian battleship "Re di Portogallo", the Austrian wooden ship bravely went to the ram of a much stronger ship, shook it with a bow, but could not sink, and lost the pipe and masts and severely suffered from the fire that the Italians waged on it almost point blank

The crippled Kaiser, together with the frigates, headed towards Lissa, tried to intercept the high-speed Affondator. The old, heavily damaged wooden battleship could no longer evade the attack, but at the crucial moment Admiral Persano refused the ram, and the Kaiser safely hid in the harbor.

Despite a significant advantage in ships and artillery, the Italian fleet was defeated and retreated.

After a victorious battle, July 22, 1866, Petz was promoted to rear admiral for valor and merit, and on August 29 of the same year he was awarded the knightly Order of Maria Theresa , in 1867 granted a baronial title.

From October 1866 to September 1867, von Petz commanded the Naval Academy in Rijeka . Then he served as an assistant to the admiral of the Navy base in Pula . In 1869, he was entrusted with the command of an expedition to East Asia (with a visit to Siam , China and Japan ) - and South America , which had mainly economic goals, the conclusion of treaties with the states of these regions. With the goal handled successfully.

Military service finished commander of one of the districts of Trieste

On May 9, 1878, with the resignation, he received the honorary rank of vice admiral .

Von Petz was married to Elizabeth Naryshkina (August 3, 1825, Moscow, November 1, 1882, Trieste). He was buried in the military cemetery (Cimitero Militare) of Trieste.

• Biography (German)
• Battle of Lisse