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 difficulties experienced in battleship funding and construction mirrored the political difficulties and ethnic rivalries within the empire.

This book details the five classes of Austro-Hungarian battleships in service during World War I.