Europe basked in almost continuously magnificent summer weather as the temporary lull in large-scale hostilities caused all the combatant nations to take stock, regroup, redefine their priorities and discuss what the other side would do next. In France on July 1st, the French Government moved once again, this time to the town that was to become synonymous with French collaboration with Hitler - Vichy. Nine days later on the 10th, the French National Assembly at Vichy gave Petain full power to govern by a massive majority of 569 votes to 80 with only 17 abstentions. The next day, President Lebrun resigned, and Petain proclaimed himself 'Head of the French State', abolished the 1875 constitution and dismissed the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
On July 3rd came the 'Mers-el-Kebir affair'. Believing with some justification that Hitler's and Mussolini's guarantees of the neutrality of the French fleet, given as part of the Armistice agreements, were not to be relied upon, Churchill ordered Royal Navy 'Force H' under Vice-Admiral Sir James Somerville to secure for the Allies the naval squadron of Admiral Gensoul, currently at Mers-el-Kebir in Algeria, or sink them. After protracted negotiations, the French Admiral refused to join the British fleet, and, at 1656 hrs, the British ships opened fire. The French battleship Bretange was sunk, with the loss of 977 lives, and the Dunkerque was badly damaged with 200 lives lost. Provence ran aground; Mogador was badly damaged. Only the battleship Strasbourg escaped to Toulon.
A similar tragedy could have happened at Alexandria, but for the good sense and co-operation of the two admirals concerned, Cunningham of the British Royal Navy, and Godfroy of the French. Despite his orders from Churchill to achieve results by nightfall on July 3rd, Cunningham held his fire and continued to negotiate. Godfroy, despite the appalling news from Mers-el-Kebir, did the same. On July 4th, agreement was reached. Godfroy's eleven ships were to be immobilized in Alexandria Harbour and land their fuel stocks, and the breech blocks of their guns and the detonators of their torpedoes were to be handed over to the French Consulate in Alexandria.
Nearer home for Churchill and England, French ships in British ports were seized on July 3rd, with some fighting on board the giant submarine Surcouf and the destroyer Mistral. Not surprisingly, the Vichy government in France were not happy, and on July 5th Petain broke off diplomatic relations with Britain. On the same day, as a reprisal for the Mers-el-Kebir incident, Vichy warships captured three British merchant ships.
At the Algerian port of Mers-el-Kebir on July 3rd 1940, British ships of Force 'H' under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir James Somerville, acting on Churchill's orders, fired on a French naval squadron. In this picture, the Provence (left) and the 30,000 ton battleship Strasbourg prepare to fire. The Strasbourg was the only French ship of the squadron to escape the encounter
Following the collapse of France on June 22nd, Winston Churchill and his war cabinet came to the conclusion that the French war fleet the fourth largest in the world must not fall into Axis hands, therefore the French naval units would have four options:
Bring out their ships and join the Royal Navy.
Take their fleet to a British port with reduced crews, which would be repatriated.
Sail to a French or West Indian or U.S. Port and decommission the fleet there.
Scuttle the fleet where it lies.
A number of British senior officers (Vice Admiral Sommerville [Cmdr. Force H], Admiral Cunningham [Cmdr Med forces) opposed the plan, fearing that operation catapult would turn every French man against Britain and that the French fleet would resist with determination and the already stretched thin Royal Navy would be crippled in the engagements.
The French fleet at the time of the operation (July3rd41) was scattered in several ports, In Britain at Plymouth and Portsmouth lay 2 Battleships, 4 Cruisers, 8 Destroyers, subs, and numerous light craft. At Alexandria 1 Battleship, 4 Cruisers,3 Destroyers. In Algeria at Mers-el-Kebir Lay the guts of the French Fleet: 2 Battleships, 2 Battle Cruisers, 4 Cruisers, and several destroyers. And scattered across north Africa and the Beirut Coast were 22 Invaluable destroyers which would surely help in the Atlantic on convoy duty.
July 3, 1940 Execution of Catapult
Despite the Starsbourgs escape the Dunkerque, Bretagne, Providence and Mogador were beyond escape and lay crippled or sinking. more than 1,200 men who had been fighting beside the British had died under the guns of their former allies. For the British effort they lost not a man. In Alexandria Cunningham had been ordered to present virtually the same ultimatum to his friend Admiral Godfroy and sent an formal invitation to meet on board the Warspite at 7a.m. As Cunningham read off his ultimatum Godfroy strained to keep in control of his features. Gofroy asked for time to study the proposals, and the men agreed to decide by 11:30. At noon Godfroys response came, He had decided that he could neither join the British or disarm his ships without authorization of the Vichy government. He therefore would take his ships to sea and scuttle them however this would take 48hrs to complete. Admiral Cunningham agreed to this, but since London was skeptical of the plan, the Admiral personally sent a message asking for Godfroy to make some sign to prove to the British government that he did not intend to escape. Godfroy agreed almost at once, and began draining fuel oil from his bunkers. Cunningham relaxed thinking the crisis adverted. At 8:15 came a message from London: "Admiralty note that the fuel oil is being discharged by French ships. Reduction of crews, especially ratings, should however begin at once by landing or transfer to merchant ships. Before Dark tonight do not RPT Do not fail". this was tantamount to taking over the ships, Cunningham Ignored this order. Then Godfroy learned the ultimatum at Mers-el-Kebir, and had been ordered to take his fleet to sea by the French Admiralty. He would attempt to confirm this order but in the meantime would halt the offloading of fuel. Godfroy told Cunningham that these orders had removed the option of scuttling his fleet. However he had made a promise and would keep it. If directly ordered to do so by the Royal Navy, He would scuttle the squadron under Cunningham's guns. He added in a nice gallic way he would scuttle them to block the harbor as little as possible. Cunningham before retiring around midnight cabled London about the new situation and that he planned to order the French fleets scuttling in the morning. Cunningham was awoken before 7am with a urgent message: An angry message from Godfroy who had learned of the action at Mers-el-Kebir. and due to this engagement repudiated all promises, claiming the British had made them to an officer who was dealing in bad faith. Godfroy intended to head for sea, fighting his way out if necessary. Across the harbor French ships were raising steam and preparing for action. Cunningham wrote later "the Crisis had come there seemed to be no chance of evading what I wished to avoid at all costs, a battle in Alexandria harbor. Orders went cracking thought the British fleet. Battleships maneuvered to bring their guns to bear on the French, Tampions came out of the muzzles and the guns were trained. Destroyers and subs were ordered out of the harbor to intercept any escaping vessel. Cunningham called his staff and laid out his plan. Clearly Godfroy had to fight to preserve honor, and he needed an excuse not to fight. The British would go over Godfroys head to his officers, hopefully spurring them to peaceful rebellion. Immediately a message was flashed to all the French ships in the open. explaining the helplessness of the French and the British's desire not to kill the French. And assured them that the terms offered by the British would not cause a loss of honor. Also all French ships had British Liaisons who went and talked with the ships commanders. Godfroy then summoned his commanders to the Duquesne where they deliberated for over an hour. Then the British received an signal, Godfroy requested to come over aboard the Warspite. Upon arriving he said with great dignity he was yielding to overwhelming force. Over the next few days several skirmishes occurred between the French and British, At Dakar the French Battleships Richelieu was torpedoed, and Gibraltar bombed by the French. These actions left a decidedly anti British sentiment in French North Africa. In England before dawn naval patrols boarded the French Ships and overpowered the sailors on watch and sent the crews ashore. only one incident of violence occurred, this was on the French submarine Surcouf where one French Sailor was killed and 1 British sailor was killed and 3 wounded. However smooth the operation in England went was no precursor of what was to happen in North Africa. At Mers-el-Kebir Force "H" Including the Battleship Hood, and Carrier Ark Royal. blockaded the harbor and delivered an ultimatum outlining the above mentioned options. French Admiral Gensoul in a buy for time to get his ships in shape for a fight, kept up a dialog with the British officer sent to negotiate. Shortly after 1pm Swordfish from the Ark Royal mined the harbor entrance, This enraged the Gensoul and made him believe the British were negotiating in bad faith. at 4:46pm with negotiation still in progress the Admiralty radioed Sommerville to "Settle matters quickly or you will have reinforcements to deal with". At 5:15 Sommerville signaled the Dunkerque "If none of the proposals are acceptable by 5:30 It will be necessary to sink your ships. The negotiation team headed by Captain Holland had failed and as he stepped onto the gangway he heard "Action stations" Blair across the French fleet. Holland then raced for the harbor entrance. The Hood opened fire with her 15in Guns shells began smashing into the French Bretange. The Port nearly disappeared in a caldron of flame and greasy smoke. The French fleet returned fire, but ineffectively. In less than a quarter of an hour the harbor had become a smoldering tangle of blackened steel. Gensoul signaled for a cease-fire, then Somerville messaged "Unless I see your ships sinking I shall open fire again". To save any accidental loss of life Somerville took force H out of range, Confident in his mines. But the French Battle cruiser Strasbourg made a daring escape, picking its way through the wrecks and minefield. The Strasbourg was nearly free when a Swordfish from the Ark Royal spotted her, promptly 6 more swordfish were sent in pursuit. And even the Hood turned to chase briefly, but rather than leave the harbor unguarded again Sumerville broke off.
