18.03.2026 12:34
It has been revealed that the Nusret Mine Ship, which changed the fate of the Gallipoli Naval Battles with the 26 mines it laid on March 8, 1915, ran aground three months before it deployed the mines. Utkan Emre Er, the Director of the Gallipoli Wars Institute, stated, "The incident of the Nusret Mine Ship running aground clearly demonstrates the challenges of the era and the flawless crisis management that was implemented despite them."
The Nusret Mine Layer changed the course of the war with the 26 mines it laid parallel to the shore in Erenköy Bay on March 8, 1915. Research conducted within the Çanakkale Wars Institute revealed that the Nusret Mine Layer ran aground on December 27, 1914 (14 Kanunuevvel 1330). The Director of the Çanakkale Wars Institute, Utkan Emre Er, stated, "According to the records reflected in the 336th issue of the Naval Journal published in 1935 and the war journals of the Fortified Position Command; the Nusret, which set sail with 32 mines, ran aground near the Yalova Point and Uzunburun areas on the Rumeli coast, approximately one hour away from Nara Point on December 27, 1914 (14 Kanunuevvel)."
SAMSUN STEAMER SENT TO THE AREA Er noted that this incident occurred at a time when the Allied forces were showing serious activity at the entrance of the strait, stating, "According to military journal records; that same morning, submarines, torpedo boats, and 3 cruisers belonging to the French and British were reported to be operating off the coasts of Imbros and Bozcaada. A telegram was immediately sent to the İsa Reis gunboat via Sarıkule for the rescue of the naval element stranded in shallow waters, and it was ordered to go to the rescue urgently. Following the guidance of German Admiral Merten Pasha, who closely monitored the process, the Samsun steamer, which was considered more suitable for the rescue operation, was also sent to the scene without delay. As a result of the successfully executed joint operation, Nusret was rescued from the shallow waters on December 30, 1914 (17 Kanunuevvel 1330) without suffering any structural damage."
A TOTAL OF 18 DIFFERENT MINE FIELDS WERE LAID Utkan Emre Er pointed out that the studies conducted within the Çanakkale Wars Institute continue to illuminate the lesser-known turning points of military history, stating, "The incident of the Nusret Mine Layer running aground, which is mentioned in the academic literature, clearly demonstrates the difficulties of the period and the flawless crisis management that was implemented despite them. Between August 3, 1914, and December 11, 1915, a total of 18 different mine fields were laid in the waters as part of the defense of the Dardanelles. According to the data reflected in our research; not just a single ship, but different elements of our navy coordinated to create these critical obstacles. The İntibah steamer, which showed the most intense activity during the process, established 11 different mine fields itself. Selanik, which played a role in the first and last obstacles within the strait, created 3 mine fields. The Nusret Mine Layer, which has the highest strategic importance from a military perspective, also laid the famous 11th field consisting of 26 mines, in addition to the 9th, 12th, and 16th obstacles."
"MARCH 18 VICTORY IS NOT A RESULT OF COINCIDENCE OR LUCK" Emphasizing that it is not a correct approach to base historical writing on assumptions, Er stated, "This accident that Nusret experienced proves that the defense of the strait was not dependent on a thread and how professionally the available resources were managed. The 11th mine field, which definitively prevented the passage of the Allied naval forces through the strait, was created through Nusret. This move, which received great appreciation from important figures of the time, including Winston Churchill, resulted in catastrophic consequences for the Allies. The Allied battleships that struck the mentioned mine fields were rendered out of action, and with the elimination of the possibility of passing by sea, military strategy inevitably shifted to land battles. As a result, the March 18 Victory is not a result of coincidence or luck; it is an example of the unwavering will of the Turkish soldier and the joint and qualified efforts of our German allies. Happy March 18 Çanakkale Naval Victory."