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A review by komet2020
MERS EL-KÉBIR 1940: Operation Catapult by Ryan K. Noppen
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book tells the story of a series of bold naval and air strikes by Britain against the French fleet in its anchorage of Mers el-Kébir in French North Africa early in July 1940. These strikes were carried out on the insistence of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who, in the immediate aftermath of the French defeat in June 1940 and France's subsequent signing of an armistice with Nazi Germany, was fearful that that French Navy's warships would be ceded over to Germany, thus augmenting the Kriegmarine's surface fleet.
Mers el-Kébir 1940 fleshes out in considerable detail the intrigue and actions of both the British and French high ranking political and naval officers as both nations, once allies, yet not quite official enemies, warily dealt with each other amid Churchill's fear of some of France's most powerful warships falling into German hands. The book, like all Osprey publications of its kind, has lots of photos and 3d illustrations showing the offensive actions staged by the Royal Navy against the French fleet near Oran (French North Africa)
Mers el-Kébir 1940 fleshes out in considerable detail the intrigue and actions of both the British and French high ranking political and naval officers as both nations, once allies, yet not quite official enemies, warily dealt with each other amid Churchill's fear of some of France's most powerful warships falling into German hands. The book, like all Osprey publications of its kind, has lots of photos and 3d illustrations showing the offensive actions staged by the Royal Navy against the French fleet near Oran (French North Africa)