Chapter 155: The Enemy Has Submachine Guns Now, But We Won’t Retreat
The appearance of submachine guns and grenade launchers abruptly halted the Britannian federal troops’ offensive progress on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Although the Germanians couldn’t send too many troops to directly reinforce the Ottomans for the time being, merely providing tactical staff officers, fire support, and weapons was enough to greatly alter the course of this anti-landing operation.
This was also the second time the Britannian federal ground troops had suffered such heavy losses in an assault battle; the first time was during the Battle of Dunkirk when they were forced to assault Fort Malraux at all costs.
A whole day of bloody battle quickly passed, and after the last wave of enemies was repelled, the triumphant Major General Kemal issued a very cautious yet decisive order:
“All troops immediately withdraw in an orderly manner, still retreating to the trench zone on the reverse slope of the mountaintop! Be careful of the enemy’s retaliatory bombardment! Check the wounded and take them all with you!”
The Ottoman Soldiers who had just achieved a great victory didn’t dare slack off, and with no time to celebrate, they immediately withdrew in strict accordance with the division commander’s orders.
They didn’t even take the heavy machine guns and small-caliber anti-tank guns, just dismounting the barrels from the tripods, placing them on the ground in the trenches, covering them with a few shovelfuls of dirt, and then sprinting back as fast as they could.
Not long after they withdrew from the position, the enemy’s warship bombardment indeed began again. It was estimated to be at least another half hour of air bursts before the navy could fully posture and vent its anger—after the army had lost so many men, if the navy didn’t bombard longer, how could it soothe the army’s frustration?
Major General Kemal seemed oblivious to the cannon fire two miles away. He first inspected the wounded soldiers’ conditions that day, personally consoling each of our still-conscious wounded soldiers.
And watched the military doctor treat, bandage, remove shrapnel from, and amputate limbs for the wounded soldiers.
He also had soldiers whose external wounds didn’t look too severe but showed obvious signs of infection and fever singled out, then fed them the latest generation of Germanian anti-infection drug, sulfonamide.
Kemal was also a bit curious about this drug. He had only been informed of its existence three days ago, said to be specially greenlit for the Ottoman Army by some powerful figures in Germania, especially piloting it out first to the two divisions under Kemal, with the possibility of expanding to all troops in the Gallipoli Campaign in the future.
The wounded soldiers who had just taken the drug today wouldn’t show reactions so quickly, but the first batch who took it three days ago already showed clear differences.
Kemal asked the military doctor, “How effective is this drug exactly? How many infected wounded soldiers can it save?”
The military doctor answered truthfully based on the actual situation over the past few days: “Even without the drug, about three in ten moderately or severely infected wounded soldiers can tough it out with their own immune systems. With the drug, the survival rate rises to around six in ten, but there’s still 5% of patients whose condition accelerates, some dying acutely, accounting for about 2% of total recipients, and another 3% suffering varying degrees of liver and kidney failure as aftereffects.”
Saving an extra 30% of moderately to severely infected patients, but also poisoning 2% to death and 3% with liver and kidney damage.
Pulling back six means losing one; commanders have to weigh it themselves, but they surely all let the wounded take the drug. At most, do an initial screening, like having the wounded self-report, and those with severe liver and kidney disease history skip the risk and tough out the infection on luck.
For Kemal, the fact that the Germanians gave him this “miracle drug” was already immense trust and support. He could fully imagine that the Germanians had kept it so secret before precisely to prevent the Entente Powers from knowing the details of the miracle drug’s existence. Giving it to an allied nation was absolutely an exception.
“It seems someone in the high command or staff of the German 6th Army Group particularly favors us, hence this extra preferential treatment.” Kemal keenly sighed, and while lamenting, he thought of the several wounded enemy officers captured today, perhaps a chance to interrogate some enemy intel, so he hurriedly asked the military doctor,
“By the way, have you given the drug to those wounded captured enemy officers? Can you ensure they don’t know what they took?”
The military doctor immediately replied: “We administered the pills while they were unconscious from infection; one even choked to death because he couldn’t swallow. They definitely don’t know what they took.”
Giving the drug to enemy officers wasn’t out of humanitarianism, just considering that saving officers might allow extracting useful intel through interrogation.
Confirming no slip-ups, Kemal nodded in satisfaction: “Then, after taking the drug, any who have broken fever and woken up?”
The military doctor didn’t waste words, directly leading Major General Kemal to a ward where a wounded Australian of colonel rank was.
The other was still a bit groggy, and seeing an officer who looked like a division or regimental commander come in to interrogate him, the Australian colonel instinctively shrank back trembling:
“Y-y-you… you’re Colonel Lelouch Hunter?!”
Kemal frowned and turned to ask the military doctor: “Is this guy crazy from too much battlefield trauma? What a waste, saving a lunatic.”
Military doctor: “No, after he was wounded and unconscious, he’s been muttering ‘the devil from Dunkirk is back’…”
Kemal had to patiently soothe and question him, spending quite a while to figure it out.
The Australian colonel gradually came to, but not fully, murmuring: “Good, it’s not… good it’s not. Makes sense, how could that Lelouch Hunter personally come to such a front-line spot to hold the mountain. Back in Dunkirk, the one directly responsible for holding Fort Malraux wasn’t him personally, but a battalion commander under him, said to be named Walter Model.
A few days ago, heard from Italian friendly forces that Walter Model is now on the Isonzo River front line, promoted to lieutenant colonel regimental commander, leading two German Army mountain regiments and two Austrian Army mountain divisions, blocking 300,000 Italian Army troops for a full four months! How could he appear here…
Your mountain-holding tactics and boldness look too much like his, daring to hold so close then countercharge to the death… too terrifying…”
Hearing this, Kemal felt a bit proud, but also amused and exasperated.
Turns out his own combat effectiveness and tactical command ability could already rival that Germanian peer.
Germanian combat effectiveness was always highly respected in the allied camp; neither of the two Austrians dared not admire the German Army’s tenacity and discipline.
But what was funny was that because he used grenade launchers and submachine guns like a veteran the first time, combined with favorable terrain to fully exploit the weapons’ strengths, he was mistaken for that friendly “Walter Model” lieutenant colonel regimental commander… He was clearly a colonel division commander himself; being mistaken like that was quite embarrassing!
But after laughing, Kemal inwardly felt a faint urge to learn from the other.
“That Walter Model held Dunkirk until ANZAC Corps survivors had psychological shadows of him. Now leading a tenth the troops to hold off three to four hundred thousand Italians, he’s definitely no ordinary man.
His direct superior, that important staff officer of the German 6th Army Group, Colonel Lelouch, must be even more extraordinary… Seems like Brigadier General Keitel and others mentioned that Lelouch staff officer multiple times before; really want to meet him face-to-face and consult him…”
And this mindset grew even stronger a few days later when he learned that these sulfonamide drugs were also specially approved by the marshal at the persuasion of Lelouch staff officer for supply.
Kemal decided that after this campaign, he must find a chance to consult with Senior Lelouch.
But for now, he knew he had more urgent matters to handle.
Like continuing to interrogate these captured Australian officers, asking their views on the Ottoman Army’s new weapons and new defensive tactics, and probing possible enemy countermeasures next.
These captives naturally wouldn’t know what their high command would do next, but unwilling to suffer more under heavy wounds, they cooperated on less sensitive questions, figuring it wouldn’t expose military secrets.
But shrewd Kemal still dug out some useful info from their casual confessions.
“Looks like ANZAC Corps morale is extremely low, and ANZAC Corps has a large batch of officers who luckily escaped Dunkirk before; as long as they made it back alive, they were generally promoted at least one rank. So seeing opponents today with tactics and weapons so similar to Dunkirk, their panic stems from recalling their greatest fear.”
“But this captured regimental commander says their Italian friendly forces also have similar submachine gun weapons? Also newly rushed into production? Just that Italians weren’t in the first wave attackers? After Britannian vassal troops took such a big loss, will they beg Italians to go first next? Can’t not guard against it; Italians’ combat effectiveness isn’t strong, but with new weapons, still need to respect them…”
Kemal pondered thus.
…
Kemal’s guess wasn’t wrong at all.
Because right after the 29th’s disastrous defeat, the remaining ANZAC Corps troops were indeed given severe psychological shadows.
Many officers who had luckily escaped Dunkirk back then showed severe stress symptoms from reopened psychological trauma.
So on the morning of the 30th, when Britannian generals still wanted to press ANZAC Corps to lead as cannon fodder for the offensive, ANZAC Corps’ lower and middle-rank soldiers actually showed widespread mutiny.
These lackeys dared rebel against their masters; this was the first time since the outbreak of this world war.
Expeditionary Force Commander-in-Chief General Hamilton was shocked, and to prevent morale collapse, after hasty mobilization, he had to lead by example, sending one division of Britannia native soldiers and two divisions of Canadian Army from multiple directions to pincer Kilitbahir Plateau, with more thorough fire preparation than before.
The troops fought relatively cautiously; over the whole day, Britannia native soldiers suffered over 1,400 casualties, Lord Canna over 2,300. Total losses dropped nearly half from the previous day, but gains were still negligible, unable to advance at all.
On the 31st, the offensive had to pause for a full day; expeditionary force generals held a day-long meeting to discuss countermeasures, ultimately deciding to urge Italian reinforcements to arrive ASAP, then have Italian elite troops with submachine guns launch a wave—
For this Gallipoli Campaign, Britannia had gathered a total of 800,000 men, of which 300,000 were for Italians to provide. But Italians were good at shirking, dragging their feet, so the first wave didn’t include them.
Until now, nearly half a month into the landing operation, Italians finally arrived belatedly on the battlefield.
After the meeting decision, General Hamilton questioned the Italian liaison officer on when Italian Army would arrive. The Italian liaison officer still shirked, forcing Hamilton to issue an ultimatum with an ashen face:
“Wire General Cadorna again! The Italian Army units participating in this campaign must arrive at the Gallipoli front line and engage by dawn on September 2, ensuring they are main force units equipped with Villar Perosa submachine guns!
Otherwise, Britannia will consider Italians in violation of the treaty, affecting subsequent delivery of North African colonies!”
Historically, Italians developed and mass-produced the world’s first submachine gun by late 1915, named “Villar Perosa M1915”.
But in this plane, due to Lelouch’s butterfly effect, Germanians mass-produced submachine guns early this year and used them in the Dunkirk-Ypres Campaign.
The appearance of German goods also inspired Italians, accelerating their R&D.
Plus Italians formally went to war with Germania and Austria in early May, fruitlessly assaulting Austrian Army defenses on the Isonzo River front for three or four months. Italian Army suffered greatly at the hands of Model and Dieter’s two mountain regiments and the Austrian Army mountain divisions they instructed.
When defending mountain passes, upon facing enemy fire preparation bombardment, first hide on the reverse slope behind the mountain. Only after enemy ceases fire and truly charges do defenders re-enter front-of-mountain-body defense positions for close combat—this tactic was first invented by Model under Lelouch.
Strictly speaking, Dunkirk’s ANZAC Corps was the first victim after this tactic emerged, Isonzo River’s Italians the second, and now ANZAC Corps again the third.
As the second victims, after months of suffering at Model’s hands and being bloodied by over 100,000 Italian troops, Italians finally woke up, poured resources ruthlessly, and developed the “Villar Perosa M1915 submachine gun” a full half-year ahead of historical contemporaries, now urgently mass-produced for three months, cumulatively producing five-digit numbers of submachine guns, but probably not exceeding 20,000.
Italy’s Beretta and other light weapons companies were going all-out to ramp up submachine gun production, also taking plenty of funds and raw materials from France and Britannia.
As for expecting Britannians to design “submachine gun” automatic weapons themselves, current Britannians were still too green; they lacked accumulation in this area and the time.
War demands were too rushed; directly buying Italian goods or paying for Italian authorization to produce and slightly improve was already pretty good.
General Hamilton’s stern wire finally worked. Italians promised to arrive on the battlefield and launch the main attack by dawn on September 2.
But Italians also made new demands via liaison officer to Britannian Army: they believed previous Britannian offensives failed due to poor army-navy coordination and navy slacking in battle. So when Italian Army main attacks, Royal Navy must provide full fire support.
General Hamilton was baffled by this reply.
Though angry, he wasn’t directly responsible, so didn’t retort immediately, instead passing it to Mediterranean Fleet Commander Admiral Sackville Carden.
Upon learning he’d been called out by Italian peers, Admiral Carden wouldn’t indulge them, immediately arguing with the Italian liaison officer.
But credit where due, the Italian liaison officer made decent points: “We’ve carefully observed these days; the failure to assault Kilitbahir Plateau is because enemies cleverly learned the Germanian instructors’ trick: ‘When facing fire preparation on mountaintops, whole army withdraws to reverse slope defense zones on the mountaintop back side, returning only after bombardment fully ends.’
This trick we’ve seen plenty in our Italo-Austrian border Isonzo River defense zone! Best counter is wide-angle flank fire coverage of the hilltop, ensuring no ‘reverse slope’ to exploit! But why has Royal Navy only bombarded from the peninsula’s south-side strait entrance these days?
Why not move warships into the narrow gulf on the peninsula’s north side, forming over-90-degree wide-angle bombardment of Kilitbahir Plateau with the south fleet? With two fleets obliquely pincer-bombarding the hilltop, enemies can’t find safe ‘reverse slope positions’!”
Carden was left speechless by this reasoned argument, ultimately making excuses: “But the peninsula north-side gulf is very narrow and long, surely mined heavily; mine clearance difficult. That route’s a dead end, valuable only for bombardment, not normal navigation—want navy to pay huge cost to sweep a one-time-use sea area?
Moreover, land width near Kilitbahir Plateau is fully 11 km; naval guns must close to very near shallow coastal waters across 11 km, battleships can’t pass, only old protected cruisers can approach shore to fire…
And peninsula north shore has some hilly high ground, not as high as Kilitbahir Plateau but enough to block line-of-sight between north sea level and Kilitbahir Plateau, preventing north-shore bombardment warships from direct visual observation of impacts.
For south-shore main fleet, those shells land on reverse slopes, so artillery observers can’t see hits clearly; for north-south crossfire, must dispatch large numbers of fighter reconnaissance aircraft for aerial observation and spotting, and such deep enemy-controlled airspace recon-spotting is huge threat to our pilots!
Don’t you know Germanian pilots and fighter jets are even more elite! Even if our planes just got gun synchronizers, still avoid offensive air combat as much as possible!”
Admiral Carden listed four or five Royal Navy hardships in a row, justifying why he hadn’t fully cleared north gulf mines before or sent fleet for cross-bombardment from that direction.
But no help for it; these were just post-hoc excuses. What needed doing still had to be done.
Ground offensive failures forced him to sacrifice some navy interests, take greater risks, pay the price for “obtuse-angle crossfire bombardment of high ground.”
Ultimately, Admiral Carden promised from the 31st, full effort on clearing north peninsula gulf mines, especially near-shore shallows, ensuring by September 2 Italian general offensive, navy could crossfire Kilitbahir Plateau from north and south, leaving defenders nowhere to hide!
…
Generals move lips, subordinates’ legs break running.
Royal Navy feared Gallipoli Peninsula north gulf for good reason.
Royal Navy hadn’t mastered Lelouch’s new moored mine sweeper; they still relied on traditional floating sweeping cables to cut moored mine chains, very unreliable, often missing some.
Urged to clear this sea area in two-three days, many old protected cruisers cautiously dragged nets, with minesweepers following to burst surfaced mines with small-caliber guns after chains cut.
Result: over three full days, 3 protected cruisers, 2 destroyers, 6 small minesweepers sunk by this vast dense minefield.
Good thing sea control remained with Royal Navy; mine-hit ships sank slowly, personnel mostly unharmed.
Besides over 100 crew directly killed or wounded cumulatively, others escaped via lifeboats, with friendly destroyers nearby for rescue.
To handle this dangerous minesweeping, Carden specially sent the oldest ships. Deployed destroyers were late 19th-century builds, around 1895 products. Protected cruisers even 1888 models, not much loss if sunk.
Italians’ casual demand cost Royal Navy 5 more ships. Finally, General Hamilton comforted Carden: even if Empire’s own elite troops later assault, still need ensure cross-pincer fire preparation.
So this thorough minesweeping was for Empire itself; Italians just first to enjoy smooth offense post-clearance.
Admiral Carden had no choice but to psychologically comfort himself thus.
Also due to these ship losses, Admiral Carden began preparing ahead, requesting Naval Ministry hastily repair even older protected cruiser hulks, as long as engines ran, no need fire system checks, directly drag for net minesweeping.
As mentioned, Britannia Royal Navy previously had about 40 old protected cruisers; after prior battles plus this cumulative 7 sunk, now exactly 30 left.
But then stats targeted 1890s-built ships. Widening to 1876-1888 Royal Navy antiques dug up could add another 20-30 junkers. These had zero combat power, but barely sufficed for dragnet minesweeping; sinking them no pity.
…
September 2 arrived quickly. Admiral Carden barely completed minesweeping.
Belated Italian Army finally landed on time and launched frontal assault.
Leading Italian general was Lieutenant General Corps Commander Luigi Capello, commanding 2 Italian Army corps, 6 divisions, total 110,000 men.
Of course, on September 2, both corps couldn’t arrive simultaneously; only 1 corps’ 2 divisions arrived, remaining 4 in 3-5 days.
2 vanguard divisions sufficed for offense, so early that day, Britannia Royal Navy began fire support, paving way for Italian assault.
But in actual combat, Admiral Carden still found many bombardment snags; nothing went smoothly.
First, during bombardment start, 2 more 1888 old protected cruisers hit mines sequentially in preset shallow firing positions and settled.
Furious upon hearing, Admiral Carden phoned demanding: “Didn’t give you two and a half days to sweep properly? How still hitting mines at war start?”
Responsible minesweeper fleet deputy could only sincerely self-criticize: “Report Commander! Target shallows have residual bottom mines! Enemy pre-war planted, likely sand-covered with only feelers exposed. Our sweep gear mainly targets moored mines; success rate on complex nearshore bottom mines unassurable…”
Admiral Carden helpless; thing done. Those 5m even 4m depth nearshore shallows were indeed minesweeping no-go zones; misses common. Weren’t for army forcing 11km overland north-shore firing at peninsula southern sector coast targets, wouldn’t send old cruisers so deep into shallows for close fire.
Luckily shallow enough; old ships holed and settled in place, still outputting 152mm main guns, tilt just hurt accuracy a bit; coastal coverage bombardment didn’t need precision anyway.
Barely solved re-mining issue, new problems soon emerged.
Because 11km shoot blocked by peninsula north hills, Britannian Army forced to dispatch dozens of fighter reconnaissance aircraft in formation over Kilitbahir Plateau north side for aerial visual spotting to provide fleet correction info.
When Britannian air group appeared, Germanian side indeed caught off-guard, not expecting enemy planes so soon; let them spot over 20 minutes free. Group radioed impacts to warships, corrected trajectories, really hammered Ottoman Army on mountaintop reverse slope.
On-ground Major General Kemal dared not withdraw too far, fearing enemy stop fire then charge before returning to positions, so only partial soldier dispersal, tanked the bombardment.
But 20 minutes later, Germanian fighter group rushed in, Colonel Oswald Boelcke personally leading, charging Britannian fighters ferociously.
Sides clashed briefly, both sides startled.
Britannian pilots shocked by Germanian pilots’ superb air combat skills—from flying technique to tail-chasing to light machine gun shooting accuracy, all elite.
Germanian pilots shocked that—opponents finally had gun synchronizers too! Their planes could fire bullets through propellers straight ahead from cockpit!
Though Germanian used this five months already, discovering long monopoly finally learned by enemy still psychologically jarring.
Fair fight with both sides even on weapon tech!
First time since world war outbreak Britannians matched opponents on fighter principles.
“Good grief, they can spiral tail-chase too; let’s see whose skills better!”
Colonel Boelcke fired up, Immelmann Turn shook pursuing enemy, rolled to counter-bite, “rat-tat-tat” two bursts smoked and downed the other.
Enemies had synchronizers but apparently not learned “Immelmann Turn” this still advanced maneuver! Hardware without software still needs practice!
On battlefield, other Germanian pilots fought desperately; their flying and combat skills clearly crushed.
Ultimately another glorious victory: 21 enemy fighters downed, own loss 5.
And battlefield over Kilitbahir Plateau north airspace, Ottoman Army controlled area.
Pilots shot down, even parachuting successfully, land in north-side valley town Eceabat.
So 3 Germanian pilots parachuted safe, rescued by friendlies. Britannian 9 successful parachuters all captured by town garrison.
Pure pilot losses: Germanian only 2 dead, Britannia 17 dead, 9 captured; ratio 2 to 26. Several Britannian recon planes two-seaters, rear radio operator, so downing kills 2）.
With air superiority regained, Britannian warships lost further spotting; north-shore over-mountain ships could only continue firing on last reported points.
Ground Major General Kemal quickly noticed, decisively adjusted troops to evade, discounting enemy mountaintop reverse slope suppression.
Finally, enemy fire preparation ended; 2 Italian Army divisions’ infantry charged uphill everywhere.
Kemal’s Ottoman troops, hindered by crossfire, slower re-entering positions; by hard-won hilltop hold, Italians easily broke within 200m.
Ottoman hastily mounted heavy machine guns mowed few hundred Italians; rest stormed trench network for close combat.
“Rat-tat-tat~”
“Rat-tat-tat~”
Both had submachine guns, brutal bloody shootout; grenades flew around communication trench corners, grenade launchers desperately lobbed, shredding Italian soldiers in bloody sprays.
But anyway, today’s battle ferocity far exceeded prior ANZAC offensives.
“Enemies have submachine guns too!”
“Their submachine guns look like light machine guns? But clearly much lighter.”
Ottoman soldiers felt fear and wavering; discovering proud weapon edge evened by enemy was huge shock.
Original MP15 slaughter of Lee Enfields one-sided bloodbath became at least 37 or 46 meat-grinder trades.
Batches of both sides’ soldiers fell in savage close combat.
Finally distances closed too tight, fearing auto-fire friendly hits, some positions devolved to bayonet vs entrenching tool hacks, few Mauser C96 pistols sustained sniping.
“Hold! No retreat! If this wave breaks us we’re done! If enemies seize positions, capture all those submachine guns, we got nothing left to hold with!”
“If front-liners can’t hold, send division HQ guard company up! Guards done, I go up personally!”
Major General Kemal face gravely stern; good he knew Italians had submachine guns, just not in combat yet, so wanted desperate fight. Now firsthand, slight regret:
Should’ve known enemies so prepared, no need die-hold mountain; anyway Commander-in-Chief Zanders tasked him hold Kilitbahir Plateau one week, already dragged enough time.
But he wanted see Italo-Britannian full-coop new tactics, enemy new weapon actual combat effects, stubbornly held to this point.
Thing done, absolutely can’t retreat! Retreat also heavy losses!
Under Kemal’s resolute command, Ottoman 19th Division officers and soldiers endured huge casualties but kept feeding reserves, deadlocked with Italians to the end.
Finally, Italian weak combat will and low morale flaws gradually showed.
Even these pre-war veteran Italian troops, elite enough for submachine guns, couldn’t endure sustained bloody trades.
At least Italian division commanders dared not personal charge; not even regimental commanders.
Kemal positioned his division HQ on mountaintop, personally wielding submachine gun and Mauser C96 pistol to oversee.
He, a division commander, pistol-killed 4 Italians in close combat, lobbed several grenades at distant trench enemies.
Kemal’s left shoulder hit by stray bullet; luckily no collarbone break, just flesh wound leaving bloody gash.
Right sleeve shot through by bullet, but no body hit, just clothing.
Had to say, this heaven-destined guy had tough fate; in Earth plane Gallipoli Campaign, repeatedly had clothes pierced by bullets/shrapnel but never injured.
Left shoulder blood soon soaked half body, front chest and back left side blood-red.
But Major General Kemal persisted drawing saber, waving to rally officers and soldiers for fight to death. Ultimately under division commander’s leading-by-example oversight, Ottoman momentum surged, life-for-life stance pushed back Italians.
“Rat-tat-tat~ rat-tat-tat~” Fierce MG08 heavy machine gun wove death crossfire net, seeing off retreating Italian soldiers.
“How still lost!” Rear allied Commander-in-Chief General Hamilton saw Italians also repelled in bloody melee, quite regretting.
But couldn’t complain; he saw Italians fought better than Britannian and ANZAC.
Those spineless pasta could fight like that, what to blame? Enemy losses probably not small.
Finally, day’s results: Italians blood-battled all day, over 4,000 casualties.
What they didn’t know: opposite Ottomans also lost over 2,600.
Of which 1,900 killed in position bloodbath, over 700 from initial surprise—not expecting Britannia Royal Navy crossfire Kilitbahir Plateau from north and south shores, killed by shells blanketing mountaintop back-side reverse slope.
This battle, Kemal’s division single-day casualty rate neared 20%! Speed to collapse troops.
Good thing held through the day. Kemal resolved: next such three-dimensional assault, if can’t hold, just go.
Post-battle, Kemal immediately had battlefield cleared, all wounded/dead comrades’ leftover MP15 submachine guns transferred; heavy machine guns could stay, might need again.
Italians’ attacking dead-leaver “Villar Perosa M1915 submachine guns” all captured; though maybe less reliable than MP15, still enemy novelty worth study.
If even 1-2 tech points learnable, good—and factually, Kemal right, Italy’s “Villar Perosa M1915” world’s first non-inertia bolt submachine gun.
Prior Germanian designer Hugo Scheisser cut corners using inertia bolt—no full lock, spring-held bolt, shooting inevitably some blowback/flash.
Italian gun less reliable but full-lock mechanism, ensuring no smoke/flash from breech.
Later high-end submachine guns also aimed full ban breech flash, so worth learning.
Kemal’s cleanup found own dead/wounded left full 1,300 MP15 submachine guns. Dead Italians dropped 850 Villar Perosa submachine guns on field.
All hauled back, especially Italian ones direct to Germania Advisors for study.
—
PS: To avoid leaving protagonist view too long, side story must rush progress.
So today’s first update exactly 10,000 words, to ensure pull view back to protagonist line today.
Noon second update may have more words too, to clearly depict Gallipoli Campaign opening phase.
Rest assured, this attrition war lasts months; now just opening, protagonist personally returns to close net later.
