Canakkale
Minka of Southampton - Cruising Log
Edmund Wigan
Sat 24 May 2014 06:31
The Marina is very friendly and not too expensive charging 65TL for up to 13mt boats per night. That's about £20. They sorted out all my entry papers and a new transit log for. Minka.
The marineros showed me this photo of a fish drinking raki.
They thought it very funny but I am not so sure.
Last year when I came up this way I visited quite a few war cemeteries mainly from the Gallipoli campaign. On my way into the harbour here I passed this old mine laying ship.
It is called the Nusret and was responsible for laying the mines which sunk some of our and some French ships in March 1915. The picture below tells a bit about it.
I went onboard and had a guided tour by one of its crew. It has been extensively restored and fitted with Diesel engines so it is in commission.
There is an open air museum by the castle which has a lot of First World War armaments on display.
This is one of the anchors used to hold the antisubmarine netting in place. It is about 12 feet high.
A British mine cutter. The mines were laid with anchors at 50 metre depths so that they were 5 metres below the surface. This device was towed under water by ships with less draught and could cut through the wire anchor cables.
The Turks used a range of artillery to keep allied shipping out of the straits. The guns were mostly British or French built which has a certain irony to it. This is a French one made in 1905.
The museum has quite a few art works celebrating the Turkish success in this action.
This is a huge memorial or tribute to the Turkish forces with lots of ceramic pictures of all vessels involved. The inscription puzzled me for a moment "they've gone, could not and will never pass" celebrates the allied navy being turned back. Later on an Australian submarine did get through.
Not all the armaments were reliable but this still serves as shade for a tired cat.