What happened at Mers El Kebir?
What happened at Mers El Kebir?
The British bombardment of the base killed 1,297 French servicemen, sank a battleship and damaged five other ships, for a British loss of five aircraft shot down and two crewmen killed….Attack on Mers-el-Kébir.
| Date | 3 July 1940 |
|---|---|
| Location | Off Mers El Kébir, French Algeria, North Africa 35°43′10″N 0°41′20″W |
| Result | British victory |
Why did Churchill destroy the French fleet?
Operation Catapult: Destruction of the French Navy It was a situation that Churchill and his ministers could not permit, so it was decided that the French Fleet must be put permanently out of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler’s reach.
Why was the Battle of Cape Matapan important?
The British victory at the Battle of Cape Matapan was a resounding success. For the cost of one fighter aircraft and three crew, the British had destroyed three heavy cruisers, two destroyers, caused over 2,000 casualties and captured over 1,000 prisoners. As discussed there were many factors leading to this victory.
Who Sank the French fleet in ww2?
Churchill’s Sinking of the French Fleet (July 3, 1940) On June 13, 1940, Winston Churchill took one of several trips to France during Hitler’s Blitzkrieg. After convincing the French not to sign a separate armistice with Germany just two months prior, Churchill was now being begged to release them from the obligation.
What happened to the French fleet during World War II?
The French fleet was annihilated and only a handful of small ships escaped to assist the Allied forces for the rest of the war. Almost all major warships of the Regia Marina escaped Italy and were available for Italy after the end of World War II. France had to rebuild its whole navy after the war.
Could Admiral Gensoul have averted the tragedy of Mers El Kébir?
Until that tragic day, Gensoul had been considered one of France’s most promising naval officers. Since then, however, the French have known him only as “the man of Mers el-Kébir.” Gensoul did nothing to shake off this unfortunate reputation. He never wrote his memoirs and never offered a public defense of his actions.
What happened to the French fleet?
The scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon was orchestrated by Vichy France on 27 November 1942 to prevent Nazi German forces from taking it over. Anton was judged a failure, with the capture of 39 small ships, while the French destroyed 77 vessels; several submarines escaped to French North Africa.
Is the French navy bigger than the UK Navy?
The Royal Navy is made up of 32,450 regular, trained personnel (including Royal Marines); compared with the French Navy’s 35,000. :: Combat and Support Ships – 69 French (excluding training vessels and tugs) vs 73 British.
How big was the Italian Navy in WW2?
By 1940 the Italian Navy had four battleships, seven heavy cruisers, 14 light cruisers, 119 submarines and 120 destroyers.
How many submarines does Italy have?
8
Ships and submarines Today’s Italian Navy is a modern navy with ships of every type. The fleet is in continuous evolution, and as of today oceangoing fleet units include: 2 light aircraft carriers, 3 amphibious assault ships, 4 destroyers, 13 frigates and 8 attack submarines.
Who had the strongest navy in ww2?
the Royal Navy
At the beginning of World War II, the Royal Navy was the strongest navy in the world, with the largest number of warships built and with naval bases across the globe. It had over 15 battleships and battlecruisers, 7 aircraft carriers, 66 cruisers, 164 destroyers and 66 submarines.
Is Scapa Flow still used?
As such, Scapa was chosen as the war station for the British Grand Fleet during the First World War and as the Royal Navy’s northern base in the Second World War. Although the navy has long since departed Scapa Flow, its legacy survives.