The Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition' was an expedition from 1872-74 and discovered Franz-Josef Land. According to Julius von Payer, one of the leaders, the journey was to find the north-eastern passage. It actually explored the area northwest of Novaya Zemlya. According to the other leader, Karl Weyprecht, the north pole was a secondary target. The financing was an estimated total costs 175,000 florins from Austro-Hungarian nobles.

The main ship was the "Tegetthoff", named from an Austrian Admiral under whom Weyprecht served, built by Teklenborg & Beurmann in Bremerhaven. It was a three-masted schooner of 220 tons, 38.34 m long, with a 100 hp (75 kW) steam engine.