Ships alone cannot force a durable result through the Dardanelles. Minesweepers, troops, and naval gunfire support must be organized together from the outset, rather than warning the defenders with a failed fleet-only attempt. Seizing the straits would create a continuous route into the Black Sea and the ports of southern Russia. Food, weapons, and other supplies could move inward while Russian raw materials moved outward to earn money. The combined operation could improve military readiness, government finance, and civilian confidence at the same time.
Chapter · 20:40-25:33
A successful Dardanelles campaign changes Russia's war
The counterfactual requires a combined naval and land operation that seizes the straits early enough to reconnect Russia with Allied trade.