The SMS Szent István was an Austro-Hungarian battleship that found its end off the coast of Croatia when it was struck by torpedoes from an Italian MAS motorboat on June 10, 1918. The vessel was one of the largest of its kind in the Austro-Hungarian Navy and had been launched in 1912. As World War I progressed, the battleship faced increasing challenges from enemy naval forces, particularly from Italy, which was actively engaged in operations against Austro-Hungarian assets in the Adriatic Sea.

On that fateful day, the Szent István was sailing in the Adriatic when the Italian MAS motorboat successfully launched a surprise attack, sending two torpedoes that struck the ship. What makes the sinking particularly compelling is that it was captured on film by a nearby ship, providing a unique and immediate visual record of the event. The footage depicted the moment the battleship began to list and ultimately capsize, marking a significant moment in naval warfare.

The rapid sinking of the SMS Szent István demonstrated the vulnerability of even the most powerful ships to smaller craft when tactics and mobility are effectively employed. The loss of the battleship also reflected the shifting naval warfare dynamics during World War I, changing the perception of battleship supremacy. This attack was a contributing factor to the evolution of naval strategies as countries realized the potential of small vessels and torpedo technology in maritime combat.