How significant were the Turkish defences as a cause of Allied failure in the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915? Explain your answer. DEPTH STUDY B: GERMANY, 1918-45

Yes
Turkish guns on the shorelines of Gallipoli frustrated Allied landings; mines in the Dardanelles Straits; organisation of German defenders by German General von Sanders who was well versed in tactics on the Western Front; naval raids on the peninsula had meant 70000 new Turkish troops were moved in to reinforce defences; well placed machine guns had a direct line of fire on Allied troops as they landed on Beach V, etc.

No
More significant - poor weather conditions affected the naval bombardments; poor strategy in March 1915 naval raids which made the Turkish defences aware of an offensive; Lord Kitchener only allowed half the recommended number of Allied troops to take part; Hamilton's poor tactics while landing Allied troops led to high casualties - 20000 casualties; British Empire troops mainly ANZACs with minimal experience of modern warfare; Hamilton commanding troops miles offshore so lacked up-to-date intelligence; summer heat and shortages of fresh water made trench conditions worse - disease and malnourishment; General Stopford reluctant to push advantage on new front resulted in stalemate, etc.