Horthy was determined to use the fleet to attack the Otranto Barrage. Planning to repeat his successful raid on the blockade in May 1917, Horthy envisioned a massive attack on the Allied forces with his four "Tegetthoff"-class ships providing the largest component of the assault. They would be accompanied by the three ships of the "Erzherzog Karl"-class pre-dreadnoughts, the three s, the cruiser "Admiral Spaun", four s, and four torpedo boats. Submarines and aircraft would also be employed in the operation to hunt down enemy ships on the flanks of the fleet.