March 18, 1915 | The Strait of Çanakkale (Gallipoli) 

When analyzing the naval victory of March 18, which altered the course of World War I, history often focuses on the broader strategic strokes. However, to truly understand how the strait was defended against the modern armored dreadnoughts of the Allied fleet, one must look at the specific hardware behind the camouflage nets: the 240/35 German Krupp Coastal Guns.

Hardware Specifications 

Commissioned in 1885 during the reign of Abdulhamid II, these heavy coastal batteries formed the defensive backbone of the strait. The hardware specifications were formidable for their time: an 8.4-meter barrel length, a 24-centimeter caliber, and a rifling system consisting of 56 grooves.

The Human-Machine Interface: A 37-Node System 

Firing these massive weapons was not a simple matter of pulling a trigger. Operating a single 240/35 Krupp gun required the flawless physical synchronization of a 37-person crew, functioning together like a perfectly timed, high-output factory.

The loading sequence required immense manual labor. Steel projectiles weighing between 140 and 217 kilograms were carried by the bombardiers and hoisted to the breech via a manual crane operated by the Mataforacı (craneman). Lifting this tonnage entirely by human power while under heavy enemy bombardment was a monumental test of physical endurance.

Real-Time Processing Under Fire 

These batteries lacked modern, automated fire-control systems. The accuracy of the artillery relied entirely on the Top Üstadı (Master Gunner) and the Dirisacı (Traverse Operators). They had to function as human computers, manually calculating wind variables, distance, and trajectory adjustments (in mils) flawlessly and within seconds, directly observing the splash of the previous round.

Critical Safety Protocols 

Immediately after a round was fired, the Uskuncacı (Swabber) had to execute the most critical and dangerous safety protocol. Using a massive swab, they had to thoroughly clean the inside of the barrel. If any burning powder residue remained, the newly loaded hartuç (powder charge) would prematurely detonate, blowing up the entire gun and crew.

System Optimization in Combat 

During peacetime drills, this complex firing procedure was notoriously slow. Yet, on March 18, under a rain of earth and enemy shrapnel, the crew’s extraordinary effort optimized the system to its absolute limits. The guns reached a firing rate of two rounds per minute. This was not a technological feature; it was a pure override of technological limitations through absolute merit, discipline, and human willpower.

Conclusion 

The victory at Çanakkale was not forged by faith alone. It was the product of sharp minds calculating ballistics under extreme stress, superior artillery discipline, and the seamless integration of man and machine. Today, we remember with profound respect and gratitude the heroes who stood behind those giant barrels, making Çanakkale unpassable.

The technical specifications, crew task distributions, and artillery hardware details in this article are compiled from the research papers and the book "Boğazın Fedaileri" (Defenders of the Strait) by researcher Bayram Akgün.