CHAPTER 285: CHAPTER 285: THAT IS SHIRE’S ARMY

These days, Shire’s troops did nothing but occasionally take the fleet out for a spin, sometimes heading towards the Dardanelles Strait to gaze distantly at the battlefield smoke and listen to the gunfire and cannon sounds from the shore before turning back.

In fact, the fleet was training, soldiers continued to use landing craft on the ship, sometimes navigating to an open no-man’s land to let soldiers climb ropes to board the ship, while destroyers simulated searching submarines and arriving at the corresponding location to drop "bombs."

The British did not know what they were busy with and only thought Shire was putting on a show.

Then Vice Admiral Robek started to become restless.

The situation of the landing in the strait grew tenser, and the situation gradually began to turn unfavorable toward the British Army.

The failure of the British Army 29th Division to successfully land at V Beach was a major mistake, causing what should have been a continuous defensive line at Helles Point to be split into two:

Three landing sites in the west—Y, X, and W Beaches, and one landing site in the east—S Beach, with an Ottoman defensive line in the middle.

V Beach was the most important landing location, with a road surrounded by hilly highlands on both sides. The Ottomans could use the road to transport large numbers of troops and ammunition supplies to defend the highlands.

This was also the reason why the British chose their most "elite" 29th Division to land at V Beach; it was a beach that had to be taken.

Who could have thought the most "elite" troops performed the worst.

If it weren’t for the strong naval firepower of the Allies, the already landed troops might have been driven back into the sea by the Ottoman Empire.

(The image above shows the five primary assault beaches by the British army, from left to right respectively Y, X, W, V, and S Beach. The location of V Beach is extremely important, and its landing failure almost means that this landing operation is impossible to succeed.)

...

Vice Admiral Robek stood in front of the command post window on the island, looking toward the direction of the Dardanelles Strait, the gunshots and cannon sounds from there, and the occasional Ottoman reconnaissance aircraft flying overhead seemed to indicate the situation was not optimistic.

"General." Staff Officer O’Connell handed Robek a telegram: "The situation has been confirmed, the Ottomans have a plan, they intend to first annihilate our troops at S Beach and then fully encircle the landing troops from other directions. Currently, we do not know how much force they have committed."

Vice Admiral Robek let out a displeased nasal sound.

He had to admit the Ottoman strategy was correct.

The forces at S Beach were the weakest and could not hold out long under enemy attack.

Once the troops at S Beach were annihilated, the Ottomans would not need to fight on two fronts and could concentrate all their forces to encircle the remaining landing troops at the three beaches.

Damn Germans, this must be their plan!

After considering for a while, Vice Admiral Robek ordered: "Send more troops up, we should expand the offensive before they react!"

"General." O’Connell objected: "There is not much space on the island, and the Ottomans hold the high ground with a lot of artillery, sending more troops up will just crowd them into piles to die under enemy artillery."

This was the awkward situation of landing operations; landing troops getting ashore did not mean they were safe.

On the contrary, this could be the most dangerous time because the naval ships could not freely bombard, and the landing troops could not bring enough artillery and ammunition ashore.

Thus, the landing troops could only bitterly hold out under the enemy’s fierce artillery fire, and there was no retreat.

O’Connell hesitated and reminded: "Unless we continue to commit forces at V Beach, this could share the dangers in other directions. Once successful, it could link the eastern and western areas into one."

Vice Admiral Robek immediately thought of Shire’s troops, which might also be what O’Connell hoped for.

Vice Admiral Robek asked: "The French still haven’t responded?"

O’Connell shook his head helplessly, he seemed to want to say something but opened his mouth and said nothing.

Vice Admiral Robek frowned and squeezed a word through his teeth: "Speak!"

O’Connell answered cautiously: "General, I believe this is likely related to what you said to Shire a few days ago!"

Vice Admiral Robek was stunned, then understood.

At that time, he had shown an attitude of letting the French die on the battlefield, and now...

Vice Admiral Robek laughed self-deprecatingly; Shire, that guy, returned his way with its own way. He responded with actual action: British dying on the battlefield, why not?

"We can do without them." Vice Admiral Robek said: "We can win this battle ourselves."

O’Connell said nothing nor left, just stood silently.

Vice Admiral Robek understood his expression. He turned angrily to look at O’Connell: "Do you think the French can successfully land at V Beach? They have already failed once!"

The British 29th Division couldn’t do it, and the French certainly couldn’t do it, otherwise, the face of the Great British Empire would be lost.

But O’Connell reminded: "General, that’s Shire’s troops!"

"What’s different about Shire’s troops?" Vice Admiral Robek rebuked sternly.

O’Connell hesitated for a while, but finally answered: "I know something, General, Shire’s 105th Regiment is equipped with a large number of mortars, this lightweight artillery can be carried to follow the troops landing. At the same time, they are very suitable for bombing targets behind shelters or even at the back of the mountains!"

Vice Admiral Robek was instantly silent.

Landing troops urgently need artillery, but cannot obtain artillery.

This was not only because howitzers and cannons are difficult to transport to shore using landing craft, but also because they cannot function well on the battlefield:

The enemy was hiding in trench positions on high ground and on the other side of the mountain, the British troops’ relatively flat trajectory artillery could hardly hit the targets. Even if they forcibly fired, soon they would be discovered by the enemies on higher ground and redirected artillery would destroy them.

Mortars are different; they can hit any desired places, as long as within their range.

Additionally, they could strike and move, which means they have strong survival capabilities.

Although Vice Admiral Robek was a naval commander, he understood the principle.

He pondered for a while, his face changing several times, seemingly engaged in an internal struggle.

Eventually, a trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes, he ordered O’Connell: "Prepare the boats."

Vice Admiral Robek intended to personally visit Shire to apologize for the previous matter.

"Sorry, General." O’Connell’s expression relaxed: "Shire’s fleet has already set sail. However, I think you can first talk to General Gephardt."

Vice Admiral Robek smiled bitterly, there was no other way, he had to go talk nicely to Gephardt first!