Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:04:06-2:04:22

Were pre-dreadnoughts suitable for the Dardanelles?

An obsolete battle-fleet type could still be useful in a confined shore-bombardment campaign.

DardanellesPre-DreadnoughtsQueen Elizabeth Class BattleshipsShore BombardmentWorld War I
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Question

Did Germany and the Allies use pre-dreadnoughts in the early Dardanelles campaign?

Short answer

Yes; older battleships were suitable for bombardment work, although HMS Queen Elizabeth also joined the operation.

Notes

Pre-dreadnoughts no longer belonged in the front line against modern dreadnoughts, but their heavy guns remained useful against fixed coastal defenses. They were therefore serviceable for Dardanelles bombardment, although the Allies also committed the modern super-dreadnought HMS Queen Elizabeth.