Lessons Learned from the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915.

Abstract

Abstract : Operational lessons learned from the Gallipoli Campaign that are applicable to modern day joint littoral operations are analyzed. Lessons learned from the failure of the Gallipoli Campaign are particularly significant for operational commanders today given the Navy's current emphasis on joint littoral operations. The Gallipoli Campaign offered the opportunity for Allied leaders in World War I to break the deadly stalemate on the Western Front and to open up critical lines of communication between the Western Allies and Russia. Poor planning, a lack of guidance, the failure to communicate clearly the concept of operations, along with poor on scene assessment and follow up were key factors that converged to destroy operational synchronization. This is best illustrated by the events on Y Beach and Suvla Bay, both of which were pivotal junction points in the Gallipoli Campaign. The failure of operational synchronization at these key points marked the failure of the Gallipoli Campaign and a lost opportunity to end the war early. The decisive role that operational synchronization plays in the ultimate success of joint littoral operations and the factors that lead to it are as vald today as they were in 1915. (MM)