Gallipoli

Attack From The Sea

by Victor Rudenno 
published by UNSW Press 
RRP $44.95 (336 pages, 155mm x 234mm) 
  This volume explains clearly just how the Dardanelles land and sea campaigns were interdependent. It recounts how offensive naval operations preceded and were concurrent with the land operations right up to the evacuation. There was a late flurry of activity in January 1918. 
  It details the substantial and costly naval aspects of the campaign, especially the Allied submarine and related German U-boat activities. One of the great ‘what ifs’ of The Great War is what ‘might have been’ had the attempts by the allied British and French navies to force the Narrows and attack Constantinople from the sea had been successful, and of course how the land campaign on Gallipoli should have been conducted. 
  The author concludes that even if the navy had been successful in reaching the Sea of Marmara and threatening Constantinople, it is difficult to see what could have been achieved in the longer term unless the Turkish government had been overthrown by internal dissent and that was unlikely. 
  He does not cover the land campaign in detail as that has been well traversed by others and much of that coverage gives scant attention to the naval operations. 
  The author describes the allied submarines attacks in December and allied naval attempts in February and March 1915 to force the Narrows. The failure of these early 1915 attacks led to the land campaign which was poorly planned and executed by senior allied commanders. The author covers in detail allied submarine activities during 1915 and their effects on the attitudes of allied land commanders as well as on the enemy. Surface naval assets provided gunfire support, resupply, reinforcements and casualty evacuation throughout the land campaign. 
  Dr Rudenno concludes that while the allied submarines did not make a material difference to Turkey’s ability to fight the Gallipoli campaign, they increased the Turks’ difficulties in reinforcement and re-supply. He argues that the allied submarine campaign and the German U Boat counter attacks were comparable to the Battle of the Atlantic fought some 25 years later (which primarily pitted the U-boats and armed merchantmen of the German Navy against Allied convoys). 
  There are compelling photos. Also useful are Appendices on submarine design and operations, anti-submarine warfare, the extensive combat resources (mainly guns and ammunition) provided by Germany and Austria (which also deployed high quality advisers), and an impressive listing of Turkish vessels sunk by submarines. 
  The Index lists Australian Submarine AE2 under ‘British Submarines’ although the Notes acknowledge that AE2 was paid for by the Australian government and had a composite Australian and English crew commanded by Lieutenant Commander ‘Dacre’ Stoker, RN. AE2 was forced to the surface and scuttled. Stoker received a DSO when he returned from captivity by the Turks after the War although several other British submarine commanders, whose exploits became known shortly after they were carried out, were awarded the Victoria Cross. (AE2 and AE1 were built for the RAN by Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness. A recent ABC TV documentary told AE2’s story and considerations affecting its possible recovery from the bottom of the Sea of Marmara). 
  The volume fully justifies the view that the activities of allied submarines in the treacherous Dardanelles represent one of the most inspiring and little-acknowledged events of World War One. It recounts clearly the joint service nature of the allied operations and thus contributes to a full understanding of the strategic and operational aspects of the whole Dardanelles tragedy. As such, it is a valuable addition to that War’s still unfolding tapestry.