Isonzo News

[p]Hello everyone![/p][p]It’s time to dive into V Beach, the second map on the Gallipoli peninsula! Here, British forces attempt to capture the southernmost tip that protects the entrance to the Dardanelles Straits, using the SS River Clyde as a trojan horse.[/p][p]Before we get started, do check out the first episode of our interview with Jonathan Ferguson! We sat down in the weapons vault of the Royal Armouries museum in Leeds to discuss the weapons used on the Ottoman Fronts, and also got to fire a couple. This first episode: British Rifles![/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h2]Landing at Cape Helles[/h2][p][/p][p]Having been thwarted in their attempts to force the Dardanelles Straits in March 1915, the Entente allies planned a series of amphibious landings on the Gallipoli peninsula. The intention was for infantry to land onto the beaches and then march and fight their way overland to attack and capture the Ottoman forts and guns that protected the Dardanelles.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Gallipoli: New Perspectives on the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 1915-16 by Rhys Crawley & Michael Locicero[/p][p][/p][p]A series of landings were planned for Cape Helles, with landing sites being assigned an identifying letter. V Beach was located near the village of Seddülbahir and had strong defenses. The beach lay beneath an old castle which protected both a nearby harbor and the village itself. On the left were a series of more modern fortifications whilst, further inland, the ruins of a pre-Byzantine fort lay atop Hill 141. The castle in particular would be heavily shelled by British warships in preparation for a landing.[/p][p][/p][p]Sedd el Bahr fort photographed from the SS River Clyde, IWM (Q 50473)[/p][p][/p][p]In order to safely deliver soldiers to the beach, the British chose to be inventive. They converted the collier ship, SS River Clyde into a trojan horse. It would, whilst accompanied by smaller steamtugs with row boats in tow, beach itself before releasing the infantry aboard directly onto the beach. However, the River Clyde became beached further out than anticipated and many soldiers drowned or were killed by the Ottoman defenders as they tried to get ashore. Pinned down on the beach, it was only after nightfall and the eventual success of landings and reinforcements on their flank that the attackers were able to move inland, and capture the village itself.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]SS River Clyde beached at Cape Helles, The War Illustrated in June, 1915[/p][p][/p][h2]V Beach in Gallipoli[/h2][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]The battle starts with the landing of the British forces on the beach, consisting of numerous smaller rowboats and the SS River Clyde. Choosing to spawn in a rowboat will get you to shore quicker, provided you can stay alive for the trip. If you opt to board the River Clyde, you have much more cover and a scenic view, but it takes a bit to run aground and come to a complete stop. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Once the River Clyde is parked, you can walk across the gangways and lighters – flat boats used as a bridge – to make it to shore with mostly dry boots. This is now the quickest way to get ashore, but the rowboats remain available if you’re looking to take another avenue.[/p][p]At the beach, you’re already close to the objectives of the first sector. On the right side from the British perspective, you have the old castle that provides the defending Ottomans with a lot of cover. The closest tower already took some big hits, but the walls give excellent elevation and cover from arrowslits, while the narrow entryways force the Brits to funnel into potential machine gun fire. The central courtyard serves as the objective![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]On the other side, the Ottomans are dug into the grassy incline with a clear shot on the water. It may not be a castle, but this position can still hold its own against a frontal assault. If the British manage to capture the castle first, they could try to use the elevation to help with capturing this objective![/p][p]Moving towards the second sector, we’re entering the village of Seddülbahir. The densest part of the village follows on the side of the castle, with two main streets leading you to the next objective. While combat can get close quartered in the side streets and many homes can be entered, these main streets create long sightlines where snipers will feel right at home.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The objective itself is in the remnants of a large building struck by artillery. With half-collapsed walls and debris covering the floor, as well as allies and enemies shooting from across the street, it is sure to be an interesting fight.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]This sector’s other objective sits in a more open area of town, right next to the graveyard. How morbid. This position provides low-wall cover and has been prepared with sandbags and a few small trenches. There are also gravestones that work as basic cover, but you wouldn't, right?[/p][p]For the third sector we move back out of the village, into the farmlands. Following the incline, this open area takes you to the final headquarters of the Ottomans at the top of the hill. With only some bushes to break line of sight from the machine guns and artillery impacts to dive into, this final stretch will be a difficult one to cross for the Brits. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]The Arsenal[/h2][p][/p][h3]Lewis Gun[/h3][p]The Lewis Gun is a gas operated light machine gun invented by the American Isaac Newton Lewis. He established Armes Automatique Lewis in Belgium to produce the Lewis Gun, but the production didn’t kick off until the Birmingham Small Arms Company purchased the license, resulting in its adoption by the British Army a year later.[/p][p]The US Army never adopted the Lewis Gun, going as far as taking the gun away from US Marines in France and replacing it with the Chauchat. This was allegedly done simply because General Crozier just really disliked Lewis and his gun.[/p][p]The Lewis Gun struck a healthy balance between ammunition capacity, maneuverability, and versatility. It was well regarded among the troops that used it. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Maxim M1909[/h3][p]The MG09 was one of several export models from Germany based on the MG08 and purchased by a multitude of nations including the Ottoman Empire.[/p][p]Mounted on a tripod (rather than the sled more common for the MG08) its form and function was the same as other Maxim guns from the period. It was, however, chambered in the ottoman 7.65mm cartridge rather than German 7.92mm Mauser.[/p][p]These weapons are frequently seen with optical sights and would wreak havoc on the large open battlefields seen on the Ottoman fronts.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Jam Tin Grenade[/h3][p]Jam Tin Grenades were improvised grenades ‘designed’ by Anzac Troops as a response to a lack of equipment on Gallipoli. They were produced by a ‘factory’ set up in Anzac Cove where soldiers could churn out around 200 grenades a day made from used tins. Incidents weren’t unheard of.[/p][p]The official recipe for Jam Tin Grenades is as follows:[/p][p]“Take a tin jam pot, fill it with shredded guncotton and tenpenny nails, mixed according to taste. Insert a No. 8 detonator and a short length of Bickford's fuse. Clay up the lid. Light with a match, pipe, cigar, or cigarette and throw for all you are worth.”[/p][p]Don’t try this at home.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Type 2 Grenade[/h3][p]The Turkish Type 2 Grenade is similar in design to the British No.5 Mills Bomb. The grooved design made it easier to grip with muddy hands and its form factor was excellent for long-distance fragmentation.[/p][p]It has a fuse in an elongated brass cap as opposed to the Mills Bomb’s percussion cap. Its inscription reads “Type 2 Infantry Grenade”.[/p][p]
[/p][p]That's what we got for you today! We're really looking forward to seeing all of you aboard the SS River Clyde. A part of the team is at the Gallipoli booth at PAX East in Boston as this blog goes live. If you're attending, find us at booth 15102 and play some Gallipoli![/p][p]Remember to check out the video we did with the Royal Armouries Museum. Part 2 is coming soon, see you there![/p]

[p]Hello everyone![/p][p]Today we’re taking a look at how classes work in Gallipoli, as well as the classes you can expect to see![/p][p][/p][p]Gallipoli has a new class system, with each class having a perk and “Kits”, or subclasses, to choose from that give you various advantages and equipment options tailored to a specific role you’re looking to fill.[/p][p]Each class has two kits to pick from. A kit comes with a perk, equipment, a choice of a primary weapon and sometimes a choice of a secondary weapon as well. Based on everything you’ll be carrying around, each kit also has a set weight and ammo count.[/p][p]To illustrate the new class system, let’s look at an example: the Ottoman Engineer. Do keep in mind that Gallipoli is a work in progress and everything mentioned in this blog can still be subject to change, especially when it comes to balancing.[/p][p][/p][p]
In general, your kit options include a more offensive option that provides mobility, better weapon handling or capture weight, as well as a support or defensive option, granting buildables and improved suppressive abilities. You can tell what role each kit fills by the name and the ‘task’ next to it.[/p][p]Looking back at the example above, the Saboteur Kit with the task “Search and Destroy” is great for a more offensive role, with passive equipment spotting, a water bottle for stamina and a pistol primary weapon to keep you lightweight. Frontline Builder is generally better to “Fortify the line!”, with defensive structures and rifles to choose from.
[/p][h3]Selecting a kit[/h3][p]When you’re in a match or the barracks and wish to select your class and kit, the progress is largely the same as in Isonzo. Once you’ve picked a class, you can select a kit right next to the class button. Here, you’ll see all the same details from the table above. If you select a class, it will default to the last kit you’ve used.[/p][p]Your weapon selection will be saved within the kit, just like with classes in Isonzo. The same thing goes for cosmetics, so you can dress the part for each kit!
[/p][h2]Classes[/h2][p][/p][p]With the explanation out of the way, let’s see what the classes of Gallipoli are! A couple return from Isonzo, but there’s a bunch of new ones we’d like to highlight![/p][p]We won’t give you all the details quite yet, we do want to keep some surprises for launch, but we’ll give you a general description of each.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Other classes[/h3][p]From Isonzo, you’ll also recognise:[/p]

• [p]Officer[/p]
• [p]Rifleman[/p]
• [p]Engineer[/p]
• [p]Light Machine Gunner (similar to Assault)[/p]
• [p]Spotter (previously Mountaineer)[/p]
• [p]Sniper (previously Marksman)[/p]

[p]They’ll fill the same or similar roles in Gallipoli, but with new perks, equipment and buildables from their kits that better suit the Ottoman Fronts.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]That’s all the classes! The abilities and equipment provided by subclasses are mirrored between the British and Ottomans, except for Light Machine Gunners, which are exclusive to the British Empire. Of course, your weapon options do depend on your faction.[/p][p]We'll see you again soon with more Gallipoli information![/p]

[p]Hello soldiers,[/p][p]This week brings a wave of new recruits to Isonzo, and we’d like to welcome everyone joining the fight on the Italian Front![/p][p]If you’re a veteran player, we hope you’ll help show the newcomers the ropes as they experience the rugged mountain warfare of the Great War for the first time.
[/p][h3]The Ascent Event Returns[/h3][p]To celebrate the occasion, Ascent is back for a limited time.[/p][p]This special event highlights the vertical combat that defines warfare on the Alpine front, challenging players to fight uphill through rugged mountain positions and fortified defenses.[/p][p]Play as the Italians who must scale the rocky cliffs of Marmolada using ice picks and ropes to reach the objective at the summit. Or as the Austro-Hungarians, defend the peak and hold your position with limited ammunition, making every shot count. And when supplies run low, gravity can become a weapon of its own; a well-placed rock rolling down the mountainside can be just as effective.[/p][p]Whether you’re a veteran of the front or stepping into the trenches for the first time, now is a great moment to experience the squad-based combat, historical weaponry, and intense mountain warfare of Isonzo.[/p][p]The Ascent event will run from March 12 until March 23, so be sure to sharpen those picks and prepare for the climb!

[/p][h3]Continue the WW1 Journey[/h3][p]If you enjoy your time on the Italian Front, keep an eye on the next chapter in the WW1 Game Series: Gallipoli, where the conflict moves to the Ottoman Front with new battlefields, weapons, and historical locations. [/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]
Thank you to everyone playing this week, and we’ll see you on the front![/p][p]
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[p]Hello everyone![/p][p]Today is a very exciting day, as we have a brand new trailer in store for you. This brand new look at Gallipoli focuses on the Siege of Kut, where the Ottomans attacked the British Army holed up in the town of Kut Al Amara in lower Mesopotamia.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h2]The Siege of Kut[/h2][p][/p][p]The Indian Expeditionary Force (IEF) captured the Mesopotamian town of Kut al-Amara in September 1915. Situated in a horseshoe bend of the River Tigris it provided a base of operations for the British to consider a further advance towards Baghdad. However, after a defeat by Ottoman defenders at Ctesiphon in November of the same year, Major General Charles Townshend’s 6th (Poona) Division retreated back to Kut, where the Ottomans laid siege. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Aerial view of Kut Al Amara, IWM (Q 107237)[/p][p][/p][p]The British built trench lines out across the horseshoe and incorporated an old fortification - what the British referred to as the ‘Mud Fort’ - into their defensive lines. The Ottomans, commanded by Khalil Pasha, made numerous attacks on the outer defenses but could not break through. With the town besieged - and enough rations for around 60 days - the only hope for the British was for a relief force to be dispatched from Basra to break through the Ottoman lines. In order to accelerate this intervention, Townshend misrepresented his supply stores in messages back to Basra, claiming he had less food than he did. As a result, an ill-prepared British force was defeated by the Ottomans at El Hanna.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Charles Townshend and Khalil Pasha after the surrender of Kut, IWM (Q 79344)[/p][p][/p][p]With no prospect of relief, the supply situation became desperate and some defenders began to eat the animals within Kut. Townshend attempted to negotiate with Enver Pasha - then Minister for War - but he refused any terms. Townshend then surrendered the town after 147 days of siege and was taken to Constantinople. However, his army underwent a series of forced marches to prisoner of war camps where an estimated 70% of the British-Indian rank and file soldiers died during their captivity. The Siege of Kut was one of the worst defeats for the Entente of the entire war.[/p][p][/p][h2]Kut Al Amara in Gallipoli[/h2][p][/p][p][/p][p]Kut is a map of two halves. The battle starts out of town in a no man's land of a scorching desert, dominated by the sun and heavy shelling. The other half transitions into full-on urban combat, with alleyways and doorways allowing threats to pop up from around every corner. However, let’s go back to the start of the battle and follow the Ottoman approach.[/p][p]As the Ottomans begin their charge across the open dunes, their first obstacle is the lovingly nicknamed ‘Mud Fort’ and the fortified redoubt connected to its trench network, both of which make up Sector 1. It has been softened up by prior shelling already, but the British will still be able to put up a fight here; they have cover, the Ottomans have not.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Once past the fort, more opportunities for cover arise. On the left, along the river Tigris, you can ditch the sand and opt for mud instead. As the region’s lifeline, the Tigris allows for vegetation in the shape of palm trees to grow, providing you with some much needed cover to mask your approach to the objective. On the right side, the frontal assault option won’t be as punishing as before. The terrain here has a lot more trenches and prominent dunes, leading you to the kilns that mark the other objective of this sector.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Pushing past the palms & kilns, we dive into Kut proper. Entry into the town is divided into a left and a right approach by a large central building, with some sneakier options in the middle. Once beyond this building, we’re a short jog away from the objectives of Sector 3: the historical British Headquarters on the left and the Mosque on the right. Don’t get too comfortable though, as some of the rooftops are accessible and offer prime ambush opportunities. If you don’t see the enemy in front of you, you may need to look up![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]As we approach Sector 4, the final sector, a perpendicular road opens up a whole lot of options. You can pick from any of 5 lanes that will take you through or past the Bazaar (or Souq) straight to the final objective, but all will bring chaos. The streets are cluttered, there are fires all over the place and the British have dug themselves in for their last stand. Some doors take you to the adjacent lanes, others are a dead end, while others still allow you to hide to reload or ambush a foe.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The long sightlines are a prime opportunity for machine gun fire, but if you manage to break through, you’ll find the final Headquarters in the warehouse at the docks of Kut.[/p][p][/p][h2]The Arsenal[/h2][p][/p][h3]Martini-Henry Mk.IV[/h3][p]The Martini-Henry is a breech-loading lever action rifle from 1871. As it was replaced by the Lee-Metford, all existing Martini-Henry variants were converted to .45 calibre to limit the amount of different calibres in service, creating the Martini-Henry Mk.IV. [/p][p]Even though the Lee-Metford had also already been replaced by the Lee-Enfield by WW1, the Martini-Henry Mk.IV saw service during the war, as reserves of the newer rifles started to run out – especially on the Ottoman Fronts.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Peabody-Martini M1874[/h3][p]As the Ottoman Empire was unable to purchase Martini-Henry rifles from the British, they bought rifles identical to the Martini Henry Mk.I from the United States. The main difference between the weapons was the lack of barrel rifling that gave the Martini-Henry the ‘Henry’ part of its name. Instead, it took the name of the Peabody action both rifles have.[/p][p]Much like the Martini-Henry, the Peabody-Martini was already replaced long before WW1. However, it continued to play a role in Ottoman culture as the every man’s rifle, appearing in tales of outlaws and folk heroes like Hekimoğlu. During WW1, it reappeared on the battlefield as the Ottomans started to run out of Mauser rifles.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Hotchkiss Portative Mk.I[/h3][p]As we’ve established, much of Kut Al Amara provides great opportunities to dig in behind some sandbags or a low wall with a machine gun in hand. So let’s take a look at one of the options for the British Empire!
[/p][p]The Hotchkiss Portative is an Austrian design sold to Hotchkiss in 1893. It was improved upon by the American manager of the manufacturer and saw limited production by Springfield and Colt. Production officially began in the Hotchkiss factory in Paris, but the factory was moved to Lyon when the Germans threatened the city. The following year, Hotchkiss was invited to set up a factory in the UK, where 40,000 units were made. Quite the journey.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]That’s everything for today! We hope you enjoyed the new look at the game and are excited for Kut Al Amara. If you haven’t already, add Gallipoli to your wishlist! It really helps us out by giving us more opportunities to spread the word about the new game.[/p][p]We have some exciting collaborations coming up soon as well as some substantial news next month. See you soon![/p]

[p]Hello everyone! Today we’d like to take a look at the movement improvements we’ve made to Gallipoli. Not only have we really improved the animations when switching stance and improved collisions so you don’t run into smaller objects, we’re also making gameplay changes to stamina and sprinting. Let’s get into it![/p][p]Can't see the images? Check out the Reddit version![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Stamina[/h2][p]In Gallipoli, stamina plays a bigger role than before. Many more actions will now drain your stamina: sprinting, meleeing, jumping, vaulting will all tire you out. However, we’ve also changed stamina to be a bit more forgiving. You’ll never be prevented from doing an action if you’re exhausted. Your movement is less rigid, your aim sways more and you’ll sprint slower, but you can still get the job done.[/p][p]Your maximum amount of stamina depends on your state. As you get hurt more and more, the limit is decreased more and more, until about half if you’re downed. This means that if you’re injured, you won't be able to run as far, or keep your weapon as steady as before.[/p][p]The speed at which you regenerate your stamina depends on the equipment and weapons you have on you. Heavy weaponry like the Lewis Gun will slow regeneration down quite a bit, while only carrying a humble side arm will get you back on the road in a jiffy.[/p][p][/p][h2]Sprinting[/h2][p]How fast and far you can sprint varies. If your stamina is nearly full, you’ll sprint faster. As it starts to drain through your actions, like sprinting for a longer time or getting involved in a brawl, you’ll slowly lose speed. Once you’re out of stamina, you’ll still be able to run, but at a slower pace. If you’re not smack dab in the middle of no man's land, it may be better to catch your breath instead of running on.[/p][p]If you’re in need of a momentary speed boost, be sure to take a sip from your water flask. Hydration is important![/p][p][/p][h3]Crouched Sprinting[/h3][p]If you start sprinting while crouched, you’ll no longer stand up automatically. Instead, you’ll sprint while remaining crouched, combining speed and a low profile. Very useful if you’d like to keep your head in the safety of a trench while still keeping pace, but you’ll drain stamina quicker than regular sprinting, and you’re not as fast.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Proned “Sprinting”[/h3][p]You can also “sprint” while prone. I wouldn’t really consider it sprinting per se, but you can get out of a sticky situation while keeping the lowest possible profile a bit quicker, at the cost of much of your stamina. Useful when you’re suppressed![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]That’s it! You’ll be doing a lot of running around in Gallipoli, so we hope these improvements and extra features will make movement more grounded and tactical. 
[/p][p]The keen eyed amongst you may have noticed that Gallipoli is listed in the IGN Fest lineup. ‘Tis true! We have a brand new trailer to showcase live during the event, so be sure to tune in.[/p]