Preparing old battleships to survive mines

The proposed alternative begins by sending older pre-dreadnoughts to Alexandria or Malta for large bulges and sealed forward compartments. These changes were intended to keep a mine explosion from sinking a ship, though they would not make it invulnerable. The refit period would also give troops time to assemble at Malta. That base was close enough for a short move to the Dardanelles, while its position in the Mediterranean left the operation's destination uncertain. Concentrating the troops during the refits would allow the soldiers and ships to be ready together.