Oceanyka's entry into the war, a result of the Anglo-Oceanykan Alliance which was negotiated in the 1911 Imperial Conference, was a daring bet to flip the nation's international standing. The Oceanykan Council's young republic was seen amongst western elites as bandit country, a pariah state, underhanded and savage. By joining the British sphere, now as a (nominally) equal independent nation, the Council hoped to foster global trade with Oceanyka and gain legitimacy, while the British hoped to once more gain access to Australia's resources (though now they'd have to pay for them). In August, as soon as war was declared, the Council declared Article V of the Constitution and ordered the Federal Army to mobilise; the 100,000 man strong Oceanykan Expeditionary Force began to sail towards Egypt, albeit a few divisions at a time. The first two divisions, which saw combat against Ottoman troops on the Suez, were the following;
- 3rd Mixed Combat Division
- 11th Light Horse Brigade (Volunteer)
- 13th Light Horse Brigade (Nomadic)
- 3rd Mobile Artillery Regiment (K'ith Clansmen)
- 4th Volunteer Rifles Division
- 12th Infantry Brigade
- 13th Infantry Brigade (Tasmanian)
- 18th Marine Infantry Brigade (Farenday)
These troops were joined by the New Zealand Infantry Division, together forming the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. This ad-hoc formation's trial by fire was in the defence of the Suez Canal, which came under assault by Ottoman troops, led by German officers. Recognising the value of Oceanykan soldiers as shock troops during their first encounters, British high command decided that the ANZAC would step head-first into the amphibious operations which would begin the Gallipoli campaign.