SMS Novara (1913)

SMS Novara was a Novara class light cruiser of the Austro-Hungarian Navy which served during World War I.

Construction
In 1912, the cruiser Novara was constructed for the Austro-Hungarian Navy, of the improved Spaun class design. As a smaller cruiser, the four-funnel Novara had a displacement of 3,500 tons, a length of 424 feet, beam 42 feet, and a complement of 318 crew. It carried armament of nine 3.9 inch and one 47mm landing gun, plus four 17.7 inch torpedoes. Its power/speed was 25000 hp/27 knots, and it had an armour belt of 2.5 inches and deck armour of 0.75 inches.

Service history
Novara was the flagship of Admiral Miklós Horthy, later regent of Hungary. The vessel took part in the Battle of the Strait of Otranto on 14/15 May 1917, during which 14 Allied trawlers were sunk. Novara was slightly damaged when an Allied shell fractured one of its steam pipes, leading to a loss of power. She limped home.

Novara was given to France following the end of World War I. The ship was renamed Thionville and incorporated into the French fleet. The ship was scrapped in 1942.