A gamble that began at sea
The Entente sought to open a sea route to Russia and threaten Constantinople. From 19 February to 17 March, its bombardments and minesweeping made little progress. On 18 March, mines—including the line laid by Nusret in Erenköy Bay—and fire from the forts stopped the attempted passage. This defensive success still did not reveal to the Ottomans where a land operation might follow.
