Operation Albion
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.
| Operation Albion | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of World War I | |||||||
Operation Albion amphibious operations 12–20 October | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Germany |
Russian Republic United Kingdom | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Oskar von Hutier Hugo von Kathen Ludwig von Estorff Ehrhard Schmidt |
Mikhail Bakhirev Vasily Altvater | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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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 | |||||||
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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 | ||||||
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.