 Although the flotilla was based in Pola, the site of the main Austro-Hungarian Navy base, boats of the flotilla operated out of the Austro-Hungarian base at Cattaro which was located farther south and closer to the Mediterranean.German U-boats typically returned to Pola only for repairs.On 17 August, Steinbauer and "UB-47" achieved their first success when they sank the Italian steamer south of Cape Matapan.