Chapter 422 Gallipoli Campaign
April 18th, 1822.
At the break of dawn, the Gallipoli coast was jolted awake by the thunderous barrage from the Allied fleets. The French, Italian, and Spanish battleships, lined up in an imposing formation, unleashed a torrent of cannon fire toward the Ottoman defenses. The once quiet coast was now a scene of chaos, with each explosion sending shockwaves across the strait.
Admiral Duval, standing on the deck of the lead battleship, watched the bombardment with a critical eye. His binoculars showed him the effectiveness of their strikes; Ottoman bunkers and gun positions were being methodically destroyed.
"Initiate the second phase!" Duval commanded, his voice cutting through the noise of the ongoing artillery fire.
Almost immediately, aircraft from Lemnos took off, adding another layer to the assault. They swooped over the Dardanelles, dropping bombs with precision. The explosions were continuous, creating a smokescreen over the battered coast.
In tandem, the Amphibious Assault Ships moved closer to the shore. Their heavy doors opened, releasing tanks and troops onto the beaches. The ground troops, under heavy fire, pushed forward with urgency. Their objective was clear – secure a beachhead and break through the Ottoman defenses.
The Ottomans, despite the intense shelling, retaliated fiercely. Their artillery answered back, targeting the incoming ships and landing forces. Machine gun fire raked the beaches, trying to hold back the invading soldiers. The fight was brutal and direct, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.
The battle turned into a grind, with each side trying to gain the upper hand. Tanks pushed forward under covering fire, their presence on the beach a significant boost for the Allied forces. Troops moved in formation, using whatever cover they could find, inching closer to their objectives.
Admiral Duval remained focused on the operation, coordinating the complex movements of his forces. The initial beachhead was just the first step; the real challenge was to maintain the momentum and push deeper into the Ottoman defenses.
The Gallipoli coast was now a battlefield. As the Allied forces secured their positions on the beach, the Ottoman defenders were digging in, ready for a prolonged fight. The air was filled with the constant noise of gunfire and explosions, a harsh reminder of the battle's intensity.
Admiral Duval, from his vantage point on the battleship, kept a close eye on the unfolding chaos. The beach was a mess of craters and burning wreckage, but his forces were slowly making progress. The tanks, despite taking heavy fire, were proving their worth, knocking out Ottoman gun positions one after another.
Allied soldiers, moving in tight groups, were inching forward under the cover of tank fire. They were met with fierce resistance, as Ottoman soldiers, well-entrenched and determined, fired relentlessly.
In the skies, the Allied aircraft continued their assault, targeting Ottoman reinforcements and supply lines.
On the beach, the battle was intense and direct. The Allied troops were slowly gaining ground, but the Ottomans were not giving up easily. Their snipers, positioned on higher ground, were taking a toll on the advancing forces. The Allied response was immediate – more troops and heavier artillery were brought in, escalating the fight.
The afternoon saw the battle intensifying. The Allied forces, now with a stronger foothold, began pushing inland, targeting strategic points. The Ottomans, aware of the threat, launched counterattacks. The fighting was close and brutal, with both sides engaging in hand-to-hand combat in some areas.
***
Meanwhile, as all of that was happening, the Ottoman Empire Sultan, Mahmud II convened an emergency meeting with his military advisors in the Topkapi Palace.
"Your Majesty," General Osman Pasha began gravely, "the situation at Gallipoli is deteriorating rapidly. The Allied forces have established a strong beachhead and are pushing inland despite our defenses."
Field Marshal Mustafa added, "Our artillery has inflicted significant losses, but their tanks and air support are overwhelming. Our troops are fighting valiantly, but we're losing ground."
The Sultan, his expression somber, responded, "What are the implications if Gallipoli falls?"
Admiral Kemal, looking at the maps spread out on the table, spoke up. "Losing Gallipoli would be a strategic disaster, Your Majesty. It would open the Dardanelles Strait to the Allied fleets, allowing them unimpeded access to the Sea of Marmara. This would not only threaten our supply lines but also put Constantinople within their reach."
General Osman interjected, "The Allies could use Gallipoli as a staging ground for a larger invasion. Our coastal defenses in the strait are strong, but with Gallipoli in their hands, they could bypass them entirely."
The Sultan nodded, "What measures can we take to reinforce our positions and repel the invasion?"
Field Marshal Mustafa responded, "We must mobilize additional troops and reinforce our defensive lines. We should also consider deploying more snipers and anti-tank units to slow their advance."
General Osman suggested, "Increasing our naval patrols in the Sea of Marmara could disrupt their supply lines and provide some relief to our forces on land. We could also launch counter-
strikes against their fleet to challenge their naval superiority."
Admiral Kemal raised a hand, interjecting. "That's easier said than done. First of all, our naval forces in the Sea of Marmara wouldn't be able to confront the state-of-the-art warships of the Allied Forces."
Admiral Kemal's words hung heavily in the air of the council room in Topkapi Palace. Sultan Mahmud II, his brow furrowed in concern, considered the dire implications.
General Osman Pasha, not one to shy away from tough decisions, spoke up. "We might not match their naval technology, but we can employ guerilla tactics at sea. Hit-and-
run attacks, using our lighter and faster vessels, could disrupt their operations without engaging them directly in battle."
Field Marshal Mustafa nodded in agreement. "And on land, we can fortify our positions around Gallipoli. We need to set up more defensive lines, minefields, and traps. Make every inch they advance cost them dearly."
The Sultan listened to their exchange of words before flickering his gaze back to the Admiral. "Admiral, what do you propose as you are the expert in naval warfare?"
Admiral Kemal rubbed his beard and then spoke. "We could use the submarines that we got from the Russians. They are, if not, one of the best submarines to be made."
"Okay…we will do that."
"The problem is, Your Majesty, there's only ten of them left. We lose those submarines, it's the end of the Ottoman Navy."
"Then we must request more from the Russians," the Sultan proposed and Admiral Kemal shook his head.
"The Russians are stretched thin, fighting the army, air forces, and naval forces of the coalition forces in Europe. Not to mention the French have captured their capital city, Saint Petersburg. We can't expect the Russians to give us some of their crucial resources under these circumstances," Admiral Kemal explained with a hint of frustration in his voice.
"So we are on our own huh…" the Sultan muttered under his breath.
"There's also the worst part, our colonies in the Balkans are starting to rise up and committing acts of rebellion, influenced by the Allied powers," Field Marshal Mustafa informed
General Osman Pasha added, "This means our forces are spread even thinner. We're fighting a multifront war, and our resources are already stretched to their limits."
The Sultan, considering the dire state of affairs, spoke decisively, "We must prioritize our efforts. Our primary focus should be on defending Gallipoli and the Dardanelles Strait. As for the Balkans, we'll need to allocate some forces to suppress the uprisings, but we can't afford to divert too much attention from the main front."
Admiral Kemal nodded in agreement. "I'll coordinate the naval strategy with the resources we have. The submarines will be deployed strategically to cause maximum disruption to the Allied supply lines."
General Osman Pasha interjected, "And on the ground, we need to intensify our defensive efforts. We should consider calling up more reservists and even enlisting local militias to bolster our numbers."
The Sultan concluded the meeting with a firm resolve, "Make it so. We'll use every tool at our disposal to hold our ground. We will not let ourselves be defeated by those barbarians."
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