The Battle of Moon Sound was a significant naval engagement that took place during World War I. Occurring on October 17, 1917, it was fought between the Russian and German naval forces in the Gulf of Riga, situated near Moon Sound, an area of water between the Estonian islands of Hiiumaa and Muhu.
This battle is predominantly remembered for being one of the few commitments of dreadnought battleships during the war. In the encounter, the Russian Baltic Fleet, led by its flagship battleship Slava, engaged the German High Seas Fleet. The Germans, commanded by Vice-Admiral Ehrhard Schmidt, deployed their dreadnoughts, cruiser squadrons, and torpedo boats to challenge the Russian presence in the region. The battle resulted in an intense exchange of fire between the warships, each side attempting to gain a strategic advantage.
Ultimately, the Battle of Moon Sound ended inconclusively, with both sides withdrawing from the engagement. Neither fleet sustained significant losses, and the primary objective of each force—to disrupt enemy supply lines—was ultimately unsuccessful. However, the engagement underscored the strategic importance of the Gulf of Riga during the conflict, as both sides recognized its potential as a key military logistics hub.
The Battle of Moon Sound holds historical significance as one of the last major engagements involving dreadnought battleships in the Baltic during World War I.
