Hello everyone!
It’s time to dive into V Beach, the second map on the Gallipoli peninsula! Here, British forces attempt to capture the southernmost tip that protects the entrance to the Dardanelles Straits, using the SS River Clyde as a trojan horse.
Before we get started, do check out the first episode of our interview with Jonathan Ferguson! We sat down in the weapons vault of the Royal Armouries museum in Leeds to discuss the weapons used on the Ottoman Fronts, and also got to fire a couple. This first episode: British Rifles!
Landing at Cape Helles
Having been thwarted in their attempts to force the Dardanelles Straits in March 1915, the Entente allies planned a series of amphibious landings on the Gallipoli peninsula. The intention was for infantry to land onto the beaches and then march and fight their way overland to attack and capture the Ottoman forts and guns that protected the Dardanelles.
Gallipoli: New Perspectives on the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 1915-16 by Rhys Crawley & Michael Locicero
A series of landings were planned for Cape Helles, with landing sites being assigned an identifying letter. V Beach was located near the village of Seddülbahir and had strong defenses. The beach lay beneath an old castle which protected both a nearby harbor and the village itself. On the left were a series of more modern fortifications whilst, further inland, the ruins of a pre-Byzantine fort lay atop Hill 141. The castle in particular would be heavily shelled by British warships in preparation for a landing.
Sedd el Bahr fort photographed from the SS River Clyde, IWM (Q 50473)
In order to safely deliver soldiers to the beach, the British chose to be inventive. They converted the collier ship, SS River Clyde into a trojan horse. It would, whilst accompanied by smaller steamtugs with row boats in tow, beach itself before releasing the infantry aboard directly onto the beach. However, the River Clyde became beached further out than anticipated and many soldiers drowned or were killed by the Ottoman defenders as they tried to get ashore. Pinned down on the beach, it was only after nightfall and the eventual success of landings and reinforcements on their flank that the attackers were able to move inland, and capture the village itself.
SS River Clyde beached at Cape Helles, The War Illustrated in June, 1915
V Beach in Gallipoli
The battle starts with the landing of the British forces on the beach, consisting of numerous smaller rowboats and the SS River Clyde. Choosing to spawn in a rowboat will get you to shore quicker, provided you can stay alive for the trip. If you opt to board the River Clyde, you have much more cover and a scenic view, but it takes a bit to run aground and come to a complete stop.
Once the River Clyde is parked, you can walk across the gangways and lighters – flat boats used as a bridge – to make it to shore with mostly dry boots. This is now the quickest way to get ashore, but the rowboats remain available if you’re looking to take another avenue.
At the beach, you’re already close to the objectives of the first sector. On the right side from the British perspective, you have the old castle that provides the defending Ottomans with a lot of cover. The closest tower already took some big hits, but the walls give excellent elevation and cover from arrowslits, while the narrow entryways force the Brits to funnel into potential machine gun fire. The central courtyard serves as the objective!
On the other side, the Ottomans are dug into the grassy incline with a clear shot on the water. It may not be a castle, but this position can still hold its own against a frontal assault. If the British manage to capture the castle first, they could try to use the elevation to help with capturing this objective!
Moving towards the second sector, we’re entering the village of Seddülbahir. The densest part of the village follows on the side of the castle, with two main streets leading you to the next objective. While combat can get close quartered in the side streets and many homes can be entered, these main streets create long sightlines where snipers will feel right at home.
The objective itself is in the remnants of a large building struck by artillery. With half-collapsed walls and debris covering the floor, as well as allies and enemies shooting from across the street, it is sure to be an interesting fight.
This sector’s other objective sits in a more open area of town, right next to the graveyard. How morbid. This position provides low-wall cover and has been prepared with sandbags and a few small trenches. There are also gravestones that work as basic cover, but you wouldn't, right?
For the third sector we move back out of the village, into the farmlands. Following the incline, this open area takes you to the final headquarters of the Ottomans at the top of the hill. With only some bushes to break line of sight from the machine guns and artillery impacts to dive into, this final stretch will be a difficult one to cross for the Brits.
The Arsenal
Lewis Gun
The Lewis Gun is a gas operated light machine gun invented by the American Isaac Newton Lewis. He established Armes Automatique Lewis in Belgium to produce the Lewis Gun, but the production didn’t kick off until the Birmingham Small Arms Company purchased the license, resulting in its adoption by the British Army a year later.
The US Army never adopted the Lewis Gun, going as far as taking the gun away from US Marines in France and replacing it with the Chauchat. This was allegedly done simply because General Crozier just really disliked Lewis and his gun.
The Lewis Gun struck a healthy balance between ammunition capacity, maneuverability, and versatility. It was well regarded among the troops that used it.
Maxim M1909
The MG09 was one of several export models from Germany based on the MG08 and purchased by a multitude of nations including the Ottoman Empire.
Mounted on a tripod (rather than the sled more common for the MG08) its form and function was the same as other Maxim guns from the period. It was, however, chambered in the ottoman 7.65mm cartridge rather than German 7.92mm Mauser.
These weapons are frequently seen with optical sights and would wreak havoc on the large open battlefields seen on the Ottoman fronts.
Jam Tin Grenade
Jam Tin Grenades were improvised grenades ‘designed’ by Anzac Troops as a response to a lack of equipment on Gallipoli. They were produced by a ‘factory’ set up in Anzac Cove where soldiers could churn out around 200 grenades a day made from used tins. Incidents weren’t unheard of.
The official recipe for Jam Tin Grenades is as follows:
“Take a tin jam pot, fill it with shredded guncotton and tenpenny nails, mixed according to taste. Insert a No. 8 detonator and a short length of Bickford's fuse. Clay up the lid. Light with a match, pipe, cigar, or cigarette and throw for all you are worth.”
Don’t try this at home.
Type 2 Grenade
The Turkish Type 2 Grenade is similar in design to the British No.5 Mills Bomb. The grooved design made it easier to grip with muddy hands and its form factor was excellent for long-distance fragmentation.
It has a fuse in an elongated brass cap as opposed to the Mills Bomb’s percussion cap. Its inscription reads “Type 2 Infantry Grenade”.
That's what we got for you today! We're really looking forward to seeing all of you aboard the SS River Clyde. A part of the team is at the Gallipoli booth at PAX East in Boston as this blog goes live. If you're attending, find us at booth 15102 and play some Gallipoli!
Remember to check out the video we did with the Royal Armouries Museum. Part 2 is coming soon, see you there!