MERS EL KABIR: Britain attacks an ally

The Attack on Mers-el-Kébir on the 3rd of July 1940 was part of Operation Catapult, a British naval attack on French Navy ships at the naval base at Mers El Kébir on the coast of French Algeria. The bombardment killed 1,297 French servicemen, sank a battleship and damaged five other ships with a British loss of five aircraft shot down and two crewmen killed. Why did the British attack the French fleet? That in a moment but first welcome to World’s Worst Maritime Disasters, the channel that chronicles disasters at sea. I’m Allan Stokell. The attack by air and sea on Mers El Kébir was conducted by the Royal Navy after France had signed armistices with Germany and Italy (known as the axis powers) that came into effect on 25 June. This meant the ships of the French navy could easily fall into Axis hands.

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