By the end of 1910, construction on the "Tegetthoff"-class ships was well underway. Two ships were being assembled in Trieste's slipways, and more were in preparation. Aside from a brief strike in May 1911, construction on the battleships continued at a fast pace. Less than a year after being laid down in Trieste, "Viribus Unitis" was launched on 24 June 1911 at a large ceremony featuring Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the Austrian Minister of War, General Moritz von Auffenberg. "Viribus Unitis"s sponsor at the ceremony was Archduchess Maria Annunziata, sister to Franz Ferdinand. Seven months later, "Prinz Eugen" was laid down on 16 January 1912. She was followed by "Szent István" on 29 January. "Tegetthoff" was launched on 21 March following delays due to poor weather around Trieste. Despite strikes in August 1912 and March 1913 by mechanics working on her engines, "Prinz Eugen" was launched on 30 November, while construction on "Szent István" took longer due to the fact that the shipyards in Fiume had to be expanded for a ship of her size. She was launched two years later on 17 January 1914.