April 18th, 1822.
At the break of dawn, the Gallipoli coast was jolted awake by the thunderous barrage from the Allied fleets. The French, Italian, and Spanish battleships, lined up in an imposing formation, unleashed a torrent of cannon fire toward the Ottoman defenses. The once quiet coast was now a scene of chaos, with each explosion sending shockwaves across the strait.
Admiral Duval, standing on the deck of the lead battleship, watched the bombardment with a critical eye. His binoculars showed him the effectiveness of their strikes; Ottoman bunkers and gun positions were being methodically destroyed.
"Initiate the second phase!" Duval commanded, his voice cutting through the noise of the ongoing artillery fire.
Almost immediately, aircraft from Lemnos took off, adding another layer to the assault. They swooped over the Dardanelles, dropping bombs with precision. The explosions were continuous, creating a smokescreen over the battered coast.
