 An allied force had already sailed from Brindisi, with the aim to intercept them.It was composed of the British light cruisers HMS "Dartmouth" and "Weymouth", the Italian light cruisers RN "Quarto" and "Nino Bixio" and five French destroyers.In support of the retreating force, the Austrians despatched the armoured cruiser SMS "Kaiser Karl VI" and the light cruiser "Novara" from Cattaro.