Ottoman anti-submarine measures in the Dardanelles conflict 1915

Harvey BroadbentSenior Research Fellow. Department of Modern History,

Politics and International Relations at Macquarie University

Breslau , re-named Midilli bombards Russian naval units at Novorossiysk, in the Black Sea

British Admiral

Sir John Duckworth

Dardanelles Artillery and Mine Lines Positions (September 1914)

The Narrows Defences (September 1914)

Route Through Minefield

Damaged fort of Seddülbahir

Cevat (Djevat) PashaStrait’s Forts Commander

German Naval Commanders of The Dardanelles Strait

Admiral Guido von Usedom

(right) and his No. 2.

Vice-Admiral Merten (left)

Dardanelles Forts, Batteries, and Mine Lines February-March-April 1915

Bouvet listing and sinking

Strait’s Fortifications Defence Artillery Sites and

Fields of Fire

Ottoman Anti-Submarine Net as used in the Strait

Position of Anti-submarine net

Ottoman propaganda postcard captioned ‘An Ottoman aircraft attacking a British submarine dropping a mine off Bulair’ (i.e. in the Marmara)

Ottoman Ironclad Mesudiye

Lieutenant Commander Norman Holbrook, VC

A Mantelli Gun

Marmara Island

Strait

Sea of Marmara

(Rodosto)

Captured E 15

AE 2AE 2 in the Sea of Marmora, April 1915 Charles Bryant. AWM ART09016

E 14 in Mudros Harbour

Lt. Comdr. Edward Boyle VC

E 11 returning to Mudros from her successful foray to Istanbul and the Marmara

Peyk-i Servet after E 11attack

Battleship Barbaros Hayreddin

U 21

Goodbye …Majestic

Results of Allied Submarine activity in the Dardanelles Campaign

• 8 Ottoman battleships sunk (Total 21 000 tonnes)• 31 Transportation ships sunk (38 000 tonnes)• 200 various sailboats and pontoons damaged

Losses

9 Submarines sunk (5 818 tonnes) 5 British3 French1 Australian

1 captured 1 French

Source: Turkish General Staff Official History of Dardanelles Campaign 1915, quoting British sources, p. 513

AE 2AE 2 in the Sea of Marmora, April 1915 Charles Bryant. AWM ART09016

Battleship Turgut Reis

Sultanhisar and its commander, Captain Riza

Zuhaf

Sultanhisar and its commander, Captain Riza

Karaburun (Black Point)

The Narrows

Marmara Island

Strait

Sea of Marmara

(Rodosto)

Sultanhisar’s Torpedo

Strait

Sea of Marmara

( (Rodosto)

Strait

Sea of Marmara

( (Rodosto)

Erdek

Strait

Sea of Marmara

( (Rodosto)

Erdek

AE 2 Crew surrender to the Sultanhisar

A Happier Ending . . .Officers and Crew of the E

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