A naval and military campaign fought between the Ottoman Empire and the attacking forces of the British and French empires between February 1915 and January 1916. The campaign was conceived in London, where the stalemate on the Western Front led to considering other options. One suggestion, championed by the first lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, was that a naval attack be made against the Ottoman Empire at the Dardanelles. The aim of the attack was to destroy enemy control of these straits, allowing the fleet to steam on to Constantinople where, it was hoped, the Ottoman Empire would surrender. Besides knocking one of Germany's allies out of the war it might encourage the Balkan states to join the British—French cause, would aid Russia and, moreover, the attack could be made by older ships not required for main fleet duty. The Ottoman defenses consisted of established forts with suitable guns, several barriers of naval mines, and mobile batteries of guns which protected both. …