On which French battleship, sunk by British naval gunfire at Mers-el-Kébir in July 1940 (Operation Catapult), did over 1,200 French sailors perish when Britain acted to prevent the French fleet from falling into German hands?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Bretagne
- Step 1: Following the French armistice with Germany in June 1940, Churchill ordered Operation Catapult to ensure powerful French warships would not be commandeered by the German navy.
- Step 2: When French Admiral Gensoul rejected British ultimatums, Force H opened fire at Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria; the battleship Bretagne suffered a catastrophic magazine explosion and sank in minutes with 977 crew members killed.
Answer
Bretagne
Why not the others: 'Richelieu' The battleship Richelieu was anchored in Dakar, Senegal, where it was damaged by torpedo aircraft before later joining the Free French Allied fleet; 'Jean Bart' Jean Bart was an incomplete modern battleship moored in Casablanca, later joining Allied operations; 'Dunkerque' Dunkerque was heavily damaged and run aground at Mers-el-Kébir, but was not completely blown up like Bretagne.
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