Force de Raid
Encyclopedia
The Force de Raid was a French naval unit based at Brest
until 1940. It included some of the most modern capital ship
s of its day organised into two squadrons, commanded at the outbreak of World War II by Vice Amiral Marcel Gensoul. The Force effectively ceased to exist as a separate unit after the British attack on Mers-el-Kébir.
) in the Atlantic and supported the Norwegian Campaign
. In June, all the ships that could sail were moved to North Africa to avoid capture by the Germans.
The wartime British Government of Winston Churchill
was greatly alarmed by the possibility that these ships might be acquired, with or without French agreement, by the Axis powers and, when agreement over their fate was not reached, they were bombarded by the Royal Navy.
, Strasbourg
Montcalm
, Georges Leygues
, Gloire
, Le Triomphant
, L'Indomptable, Mogador
, Volta
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
until 1940. It included some of the most modern capital ship
Capital ship
The capital ships of a navy are its most important warships; they generally possess the heaviest firepower and armor and are traditionally much larger than other naval vessels...
s of its day organised into two squadrons, commanded at the outbreak of World War II by Vice Amiral Marcel Gensoul. The Force effectively ceased to exist as a separate unit after the British attack on Mers-el-Kébir.
History
Until June 1940, the Force de Raid operated against the German Navy (KriegsmarineKriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
) in the Atlantic and supported the Norwegian Campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
. In June, all the ships that could sail were moved to North Africa to avoid capture by the Germans.
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
was greatly alarmed by the possibility that these ships might be acquired, with or without French agreement, by the Axis powers and, when agreement over their fate was not reached, they were bombarded by the Royal Navy.
Battlecruisers
DunkerqueFrench battleship Dunkerque
The Dunkerque was the first unit of a new class of warships of the French Navy built in the 1930s, officially rated as battleships, or even «navires de ligne» , as Dunkerque and Strasbourg constituted, from the commissionig of Strasbourg to some days after Mers-el Kebir, the «1ère Division de Ligne»...
, Strasbourg
French battleship Strasbourg
The Strasbourg was a more heavily armoured Dunkerque-class battleship of the French Navy, labeled as a "fast battleship". Faster than full battleships, but not as heavily armed or armoured as them, they were designed to counter the threat of the German "pocket battleships" - the Deutschland-class...
Cruisers
French cruiser Montcalm
The Montcalm was a French light cruiser of the La Galissonnière class, named in honour of Louis-Joseph de Montcalm. During World War II, she served with both Vichy France and the Allies.-Pre-war:...
, Georges Leygues
French cruiser Georges Leygues
The Georges Leygues was a French light cruiser of the La Galissonnière class. During World War II, she served with both the Vichy France and Allies. She was named for the prominent 19th and 20th century French politician Georges Leygues....
, Gloire
French cruiser Gloire
The Gloire was a French light cruiser of the La Galissonnière class.After completing trials, Gloire arrived in Brest on 18 November 1937, then left for French Indochina on 1 December, returning to Brest on 16 April 1938. Gloire joined the 4th Cruiser Division in January 1939, with which she visited...
Destroyers
L'Audacieux, Le Fantasque, Le Malin, Le TerribleFrench destroyer Le Terrible
The Terrible was a large destroyer of the French Navy in service during World War II.-History:Terrible was launched in 1933 and displaced 2,570 tonnes with 74,000 HP...
, Le Triomphant
French destroyer Le Triomphant
The Triomphant was a Fantasque class destroyer of the French Navy-Phony war:At the outbreak of World War II, in September 1939, Triomphant under capitaine de frégate Pothau, was part of the 2nd Light Squadron, in the 8th Large Destroyer Division, which also included her sister-ships Malin and...
, L'Indomptable, Mogador
French destroyer Mogador
Mogador was the lead ship of the French Navy's . Named for the Moroccan town, she was built before the outbreak of World War II. The ship was heavily damaged during the British attack on Mers-el-Kébir on 3 July 1940, but was later repaired and sailed to Toulon...
, Volta
French destroyer Volta
Volta was a of the French Navy. Named for the West African river, she was built before the outbreak of World War II and was the penultimate contre-torpilleur built by the French Navy. Along with her sister ship , Volta was designed in an effort to build a ship capable of out-fighting every other...