1915 17th March
Dardanelles Fleet Command Assumed
De Robeck assumes command of the Allied naval force on the eve of the major Dardanelles attack.
First World War · Gallipoli · permanent subject timeline
John de Robeck
Admiral who commanded the fleet during the main Dardanelles naval attack. This page combines historical context with 11 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Gallipoli archive.
Historical context
John de Robeck: overview and significance
What happened?
John de Robeck assumed senior naval command before the major fleet assault on 18 March 1915 and continued to direct naval support during the land campaign.
Why was it important?
His decisions after the battleship losses of 18 March influenced the transition from an attempted naval forcing of the straits to the land invasion.
World History Database records
John de Robeck timeline
The records below are selected from the 319-record Gallipoli archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1915
1915 17th March
Eighteenth March Battle Plan Confirmed
De Robeck confirms the plan for battleships to silence the forts while minesweepers clear a passage.
1915 18th March
Fleet Withdraws after Battleship Losses
De Robeck withdraws after mines and Ottoman fire sink three Allied battleships and damage several others.
1915 18th March
Inflexible Damaged by Erenkoy Mines
HMS Inflexible is badly damaged by a mine while withdrawing from the Narrows.
1915 18th March
Irresistible Lost during Strait Assault
De Robeck's fleet loses HMS Irresistible after the battleship strikes a mine during the assault.
1915 18th March
Main Dardanelles Naval Assault Ordered
De Robeck orders the principal British and French battleship attack against the Ottoman straits defences.
1915 18th March
Ocean Lost during Withdrawal
HMS Ocean is lost after striking a mine while attempting to assist damaged ships.
1915 19th March
Fleet Assault Suspended after Eighteenth March
De Robeck suspends another immediate battleship assault after the heavy losses of 18 March.
1915 22nd March
Land Support Declared Necessary
De Robeck tells Allied commanders that troops are required to capture shore batteries before another naval advance.
1915 25th April
Invasion Convoys Escorted to Gallipoli
De Robeck provides naval escort, bombardment and landing craft support for the invasion.
1915 27th May
Battleship Support Reduced after U-Boat Losses
De Robeck withdraws major warships from close offshore support after submarine attacks sink Triumph and Majestic.
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database.
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database Gallipoli and Dardanelles records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
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