Group in discussion overlooking ANZAC Cove
Exercise ARRCADE BUGLE 1 / 22
Major Titus Jordan
Exercise ARRCADE BUGLE 1 / 22 saw 40 participants from across HQ ARRC and 104 Bde deploy to Turkey to conduct a battlefield study of the Dardanelles Campaign , 1915 .
The first major opposed amphibious operation in modern warfare , the Allies ’ initial intent was to open the straits and relieve pressure imposed on Russia at the Western Front . Such was the tremendous loss of life on both sides , with no discernible advantage made by the Allies over the course of almost a year , it is little surprise the Dardanelles adventure has received such damning criticism .
“… few military operations could have begun with such a cavalier disregard for the elementary principles of war in a campaign driven by wish-fulfilment rather than a professional assessment of the strategy and tactics required .”
Peter Hart , Historian
Raising the flag at GULLY Beach
objective with a handful of Navy vessels alone , the Allies put ashore a multinational force of British and French troops . It was these beaches , on the southern and western edge of the peninsula where we began our study .
Securing the beach head was hard won but the next challenge was gaining the high ground . By the close of the first day , we had traced the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps ( ANZAC ) advance along the gullies and ridges of Achi Baba to the trench network . Across gaps of no more than a few meters , both sides took part in a bitter struggle , unable to seize the initiative or dominate in the close battle .
The second day began in Suvla , the site of the ‘ August Offensive ’ of Allied landings to attempt to break the deadlock . Discussions turned from tactical action , to leadership , and how a paucity of strong leadership and poor understanding of commanders ’
Visit to the Turkish Multinational Joint Warfare Centre
intent prevented battle-winning opportunities from being seized and exploited . The lack of bold manoeuvre and informed risk-taking was palpable , prompting us to consider whether our own training is truly representative of peer-on-peer conventional warfare ; accurately simulating the loss of key capabilities from the fight , and embodying the real-life constraints of austere expeditionary environments .
The final day on the peninsula took the group back to the beaches and the site of the Allied evacuation . Arguably their greatest success , stark comparisons were drawn in comparison with our recent departure from Afghanistan . Drawing the study phase to an end , the group visited the Turkish Memorial to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice . Throughout the study we were struck by the impressive resistance of the Turkish forces and the universal bravery and surprising compassion demonstrated by soldiers from both sides .
Istanbul by night
Departing the peninsula for Istanbul , the group spent the final day visiting the Turkish Armed Forces National Defence University and touring the newly established Multinational Joint Warfare Centre . There was just time to visit the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar before a final farewell meal in the heart of the city to reflect on a superb week of collective professional development .
If it is true that we learn from failure and not from success , then this critical indictment was an appropriate prelude to our journey .
A gateway between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean , the Dardanelles Strait ( or Çanakkale Strait as it is known today ) remains a route of significant geo-strategic importance . After a failed attempt to secure the
@ HQARRC Allied Rapid Reaction Corps the imjin SUMMER 2022 7