THE LANDING AT ANZAC.
Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 8:07 am
Hello to all ; an interesting article on this........................
THE LANDING AT ANZAC.
On 24 March 1915, Enver Pasha, the Turkish war minister, placed the defense of the Dardanelles under the German General von Sanders. This officer estimated that the main landings would be attempted at Bulair on the European side, and Besika Bay on the Asiatic shore. Thus for the defense of the western coast of the Gallipoli peninsula, from Suvla to Sedd el Bahr, some twenty miles in length, only one division (9th) was allotted.*
At Ari Burnu, where the Australian and New Zealand Corps eventually landed, two front-line company sectors (27th Infantry) joined, each of these companies being responsible for the defense of about a mile and a half of coast line. The reserve company was about a mile east of Gaba Tepe. One mountain battery was in a position on 400 plateau (see sketch), and guarding the coast at Gaba Tepe were two 120-mm. guns, while two 150-mm. guns were a little inland from that point.
Although the coast was weakly defended, reserves were well situated to oppose a deep penetration. The two battalions forming the reserve of the 27th Infantry were four miles from Ari Burnu in the direction of Maidos, and the general reserve of eight battalions (19th Division), with artillery, was located at Boghali, about four miles east of the landing place.
Concerning this portion of the front, it was thought at British general headquarters that two or even more divisions might be available for the defense of this western shore of the peninsula. The lack of accurate information about the enemy was attributable to the shortage of aircraft. This shortage was to be felt in many ways. By the first week in April 1915 no photographs had been taken over the enemy lines owing to a shortage of cameras. Bombing missions, however, were carried out and a certain amount of information collected. It is interesting to note that on 23 April the reserve battalions of the 27th Infantry were bombed out of the village of Maidos, but unfortunately moved into bivouacs 1 1/2 miles nearer Gaba Tepe. At this stage, and particularly in this type of operation; air photographs would have been invaluable in checking the many inaccuracies in the maps provided. Adequate reconnaissance of the terrain over which the first battle has to be fought must always have priority when landing on a little known enemy coast.
The area into which the Anzac Corps was to advance may be described as a tangle of nullas, ravines, precipices, and small plateaus. In addition to these difficulties of terrain, the high ground on the north flank of the operation was for the most part covered with a low brush. This could be seen from the see, but the resisting nature of that brush was never suspected before the operations began. Standing some three feet high and interspersed with prickly dwarf oak, its stubborn bushes are often so close together, and so thorny, that even a strong man has difficulty in forcing his way, through. In the attack therefore, it is a serious obstacle to movement while it has the further disadvantage that men lying down in it are unable to see their neighbors on either flank. But for snipers; or for infantry delaying a hostile advance, the cover that it affords is almost Ideal.
* The Turkish 9th Division consisted of three regiments of infantry, three batteries of field artillery, and two mountain batteries, A regiment consisted of three battalions and a machine-gun company. Each battalion had four companies.
Source: Review of Military Literature. Sep 1936.
Cheers. Raúl M .
THE LANDING AT ANZAC.
On 24 March 1915, Enver Pasha, the Turkish war minister, placed the defense of the Dardanelles under the German General von Sanders. This officer estimated that the main landings would be attempted at Bulair on the European side, and Besika Bay on the Asiatic shore. Thus for the defense of the western coast of the Gallipoli peninsula, from Suvla to Sedd el Bahr, some twenty miles in length, only one division (9th) was allotted.*
At Ari Burnu, where the Australian and New Zealand Corps eventually landed, two front-line company sectors (27th Infantry) joined, each of these companies being responsible for the defense of about a mile and a half of coast line. The reserve company was about a mile east of Gaba Tepe. One mountain battery was in a position on 400 plateau (see sketch), and guarding the coast at Gaba Tepe were two 120-mm. guns, while two 150-mm. guns were a little inland from that point.
Although the coast was weakly defended, reserves were well situated to oppose a deep penetration. The two battalions forming the reserve of the 27th Infantry were four miles from Ari Burnu in the direction of Maidos, and the general reserve of eight battalions (19th Division), with artillery, was located at Boghali, about four miles east of the landing place.
Concerning this portion of the front, it was thought at British general headquarters that two or even more divisions might be available for the defense of this western shore of the peninsula. The lack of accurate information about the enemy was attributable to the shortage of aircraft. This shortage was to be felt in many ways. By the first week in April 1915 no photographs had been taken over the enemy lines owing to a shortage of cameras. Bombing missions, however, were carried out and a certain amount of information collected. It is interesting to note that on 23 April the reserve battalions of the 27th Infantry were bombed out of the village of Maidos, but unfortunately moved into bivouacs 1 1/2 miles nearer Gaba Tepe. At this stage, and particularly in this type of operation; air photographs would have been invaluable in checking the many inaccuracies in the maps provided. Adequate reconnaissance of the terrain over which the first battle has to be fought must always have priority when landing on a little known enemy coast.
The area into which the Anzac Corps was to advance may be described as a tangle of nullas, ravines, precipices, and small plateaus. In addition to these difficulties of terrain, the high ground on the north flank of the operation was for the most part covered with a low brush. This could be seen from the see, but the resisting nature of that brush was never suspected before the operations began. Standing some three feet high and interspersed with prickly dwarf oak, its stubborn bushes are often so close together, and so thorny, that even a strong man has difficulty in forcing his way, through. In the attack therefore, it is a serious obstacle to movement while it has the further disadvantage that men lying down in it are unable to see their neighbors on either flank. But for snipers; or for infantry delaying a hostile advance, the cover that it affords is almost Ideal.
* The Turkish 9th Division consisted of three regiments of infantry, three batteries of field artillery, and two mountain batteries, A regiment consisted of three battalions and a machine-gun company. Each battalion had four companies.
Source: Review of Military Literature. Sep 1936.
Cheers. Raúl M .