In late 1914, the Entente armies were completely beaten back to the Seine and forced to defend Paris. The Russian Army had been mauled at the Battle of Tannenberg and practically had to rebuild itself. However, the triple alliance still held a decisive advantage in terms of manpower, industry and raw materials. The Russian Army could be reinforced and rearmed by sea, but the Ottoman Empire was a loyal German ally, and had declared war on the Entente. In order to resupply Russia and bring Germany's attention away from the western front, it was decided that the Royal Navy would blast open the Dardanelles. 32 capital ships (28 battleships, 3 battlecruisers and one super-dreadnought) from all across the triple alliance went in guns blazing. Unfortunately, the minesweepers that had been brought to clear the strait of naval mines were staffed by civilians, who turned away when they began to receive accurate Ottoman artillery fire. Furthermore, minelayers were operating in secret during the night.
It was one of these secret mine rows that hit the French battleship Bouvet on the 18th of March, when the most intense naval battle took place. Bouvet and two more battleships were sunk, many other ships damaged. The naval operation to force the Dardanelles open was suspended. The Royal Navy was informed that ground troops were necessary for a decisive strike against the Ottomans. For this operation a number of French, British, Oceanykan and New Zealander troops were assembled; the latter was organised into the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps or ANZAC.
Next: WWI - Formation of the ANZAC