July 10, 1940 0600 off of Mers El Kebir
Captain Kirk had no reason to be on-board
HMS Hood He was the American naval attache to London. There was no good reason for him to be with a battle fleet in the Mediterranean. But here he was as his friend and colleague, Admiral Somerville had asked him to come. He was a warrior who could perhaps avoid war, a killer looking to not spill blood, a commander without a command but a man whose responsibility called to him. And most importantly, he was a friend to Commander Owenson who had followed the French Fleet to Africa right before the Armistice.
It was a far weaker fleet today than it was only three weeks ago. Two battleships with 13 inch guns and a squadron of destroyers was now the largest concentration. Another battleship was in Alexandria, and a fourth, the oldest and weakest of the lot was tied up in Plymouth. A spattering of cruisers were scattered around the Levant and North African littoral. It would be nice if they were off the board but not critical. Cruisers could be contained. It was the battle fleet that worried the Lords of the Admiralty.
A steward came by and took Captain Kirk’s coffee cup and collected Admiral Somerville’s tea cup. He disappeared as efficiently as the four battle wagons and two aircraft carriers of Force H moved through the sea. He looked across the tossing sea at
HMS Ark Royal. Eight Wildcats were on her deck, the US Navy was very happy with the performance of their new fighter in the hands of the Fleet Air Arm. One of the comments that the Brits had been making was the need for more machines. Norway was at the end of the German supply line and it was a secondary theatre. But even there, twelve or sixteen Wildcats were quickly committed to all missions. Operations in the Mediterranean would need more fighter protection as it was now a central theatre near Italian supply sources. More machines were needed but the question was how to get them aboard. Admiral Somerville came over and looked at his friend. He drew in his breath as a Swordfish took off from
Argus. It dipped and then barely recovered itself feet over the waves. The pilot struggled to get his craft airborne and start his anti-submarine patrol.
“Alan, I thought about what you said last night. You’re right, we should both go ashore. Civility and respect costs us little”
An hour later Force H rounded the headlands of Oran. Twenty minutes after that, the admirals’ barge departed
Hood. They had a message for the French commander and a set of choices.
The message had been worked and reworked and then reworded once again. The final text gave Admiral Gensoul, the commander of the heart of the French fleet numerous options, none of them good. Captain Kirk hoped that he could use the influence of the United States to achieve an outcome that would not be disastrous.
"It is impossible for us, your comrades up to now, to allow your fine ships to fall into the power of the German or Italian enemy. We are determined to fight on until the end, and if we win, as we think we shall, we shall never forget that France was our Ally, that our interests are the same as hers, and that our common enemy is Germany. Should we conquer we solemnly declare that we shall restore the greatness and territory of France. For this purpose we must make sure that the best ships of the French Navy are not used against us by the common foe. In these circumstances, His Majesty's Government have instructed me to demand that the French Fleet now at Mers el Kebir and Oran shall act in accordance with one of the following alternatives;
(a) If you feel bound to stipulate that your ships should not be used against the Germans or Italians unless these break the Armistice, then sail them with us with reduced crews to some French port in the West Indies such as Martinique - where they can be demilitarised and entrusted to the United States and remain safe until the end of the war, the crews being repatriated.
(b) Sail with reduced crews under our control to a British port. The reduced crews would be repatriated at the earliest moment.
(c) sail with us and continue the fight until victory against the Germans and Italians.
If either of these courses is adopted by you we will restore your ships to France at the conclusion of the war or pay full compensation if they are damaged meanwhile.
If you refuse these fair offers, I must with profound regret, require you to sink your ships within 6 hours.
Finally, failing the above, I have the orders from His Majesty's Government to use whatever force may be necessary to prevent your ships from falling into German or Italian hands."
The message was delivered. For the next hour, the small party of an admiral, two captains and an aide from Force H waited. They waited as the rest of Force H steamed within sight of the French coastal batteries. They waited as a flight of Curtis Hawks took off from the nearby airfield. They waited as Martlets intercepted the Hawks and both showed their claws without slashing each other. They waited as signals went back and forth between Oran and Toulon. They waited as signals were sent to London and replies were drafted before transmission. They waited.
Finally, Admiral Gensoul’s aide motioned for them to come into his chambers.
He was a proud man. He was at the top of his profession of arms. His brothers had fought and died in defense of his country. His navy had lost a battleship already and placed the pride of his fleet in hock to the Americans. His honor was being questioned by his allies or former allies.
He offered his interlopers a drink and they sipped in silence.
Finally, the silence broke.
“Captain Kirk, your Commander Owenson has promised that my men and ships will be treated well in Martinique. Can you confirm that as official American policy rather than the smooth words of an incubus?“
“Yes, the United States Navy guarantees that your forces will be treated with utmost respect and honor in these difficult times”
“Admiral Somerville, my ships are not yet ready for an oceanic voyage. We will depart on the morning tide of the 12th for Casablanca and then Martinique after we refuel. Will that be sufficient for your needs?”
“Yes, my friend, that will be more than sufficient”
Two hours later, the admiral’s barge was hauled up on
Hood and Force H turned north to disappear over the horizon. They did not steam too far as a Swordfish maintained a watch over the harbor entrance and the fast ships of the battle line could cut off any break-out but honor had been satisfied.
Throughout the Atlantic and Mediterranean, the French fleet had been neutralized.
Courbet had been seized in Plymouth,
Lorraine was in drydock in Alexandria. She would either stay there or go through Suez to anchor at Reunion. Only two squadrons of heavy cruisers and half a dozen light cruisers were not scooped up.
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