Sound idea, rushed execution

Opening the Dardanelles could have kept Russia supplied, supported its economy and helped keep its army in the war. The critique identifies the demand to act immediately as the point where a defensible objective became an ill-prepared operation. Mine protection and a landing force ready to advance with the ships both required preparation time. A ships-only attack is considered a possible alternative if the pre-dreadnoughts had first been converted to withstand mines. The assessment is that the actual naval attack came close, but its losses caused the commanders to pull back. The proposed conversions are therefore central to the claim that the naval attack could have succeeded.