1915 11th January
Dardanelles Attack Plan Submitted
Carden submits a staged plan for reducing Ottoman forts and clearing the Dardanelles minefields.
First World War · Gallipoli · permanent subject timeline
Sackville Carden
Naval commander who developed the early plan to force the Dardanelles. This page combines historical context with 10 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Gallipoli archive.
Historical context
Sackville Carden: overview and significance
What happened?
Vice Admiral Sackville Carden proposed a phased naval attack on the Ottoman defences of the Dardanelles using bombardment, minesweeping and progressive movement through the straits.
Why was it important?
Carden's plan formed the basis of the early naval campaign. Its assumptions and execution became central to later assessments of the Dardanelles strategy.
World History Database records
Sackville Carden timeline
The records below are selected from the 319-record Gallipoli archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1915
1915 19th February
Outer Fort Bombardment Opens
Carden directs the opening Allied bombardment of Ottoman forts guarding the entrance to the Dardanelles.
1915 25th February
Cape Helles Forts Reengaged
Carden resumes the naval assault and heavily engages the outer forts near Cape Helles.
1915 26th February
Marine Demolition Parties Landed
Carden sends demolition parties ashore to destroy abandoned Ottoman guns and fort installations.
1915 February
Four-Stage Strait Reduction Plan Implemented
Carden begins implementing a phased plan to destroy outer forts, clear mines and attack the Narrows.
1915 13th March
Narrows Bombardment Intensified
Carden intensifies attacks on forts covering the Narrows while minesweeping remains incomplete.
1915 15th March
Carden Reports Strain before Decisive Attack
Carden reports severe strain as pressure mounts for a decisive fleet assault.
1915 16th March
Dardanelles Command Passed to de Robeck
Carden leaves command through illness and de Robeck takes over the naval operation.
1916
1916 19th February
Battle of Dardanelles
Involved in the successful bomardment of the outer-Dardanelles
1916 16th March
Battle of Dardanelles
Forced to hand over his command to John de Robeck, due to ill health
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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