WI: French fleet at Mers El Kébir joins with the British?

On 3 July 1940, the Royal Navy attacked the French Navy at Mers El Kebir. What would have been the ramifications of the French fleet agreeing to join the British, as was the first option in the ultimatum given to them by the Royal Navy? A few battleships could have been quite useful to the RN, and it would be even more advantageous if the fleet at Dakar also joined the British.
 

Saphroneth

Banned
Well, if the Mers el Kebir fleet joins then it's a huge bonus in the Med. If the Dakar fleet does too it's a huge amount of gold to help defray the costs of Cash and Carry!
 
If the fleet does defect, there's the potential of French North Africa flipping to the Allied side entirely. That would end the North African campaign a lot earlier. Besides that, Allied naval dominance in the Mediterranean is ensured.
 

Saphroneth

Banned
If the fleet does defect, there's the potential of French North Africa flipping to the Allied side entirely. That would end the North African campaign a lot earlier. Besides that, Allied naval dominance in the Mediterranean is ensured.
True - I recently put together a list of the French ships available if the French fought on, and the result is basically "yeah, all the ships".

The combined Allied fleet would basically be the RN plus five BBs, four CAs, six CLs and twenty-two DDs.

That's the RN with a big smile.
 
If the fleet does defect, there's the potential of French North Africa flipping to the Allied side entirely. That would end the North African campaign a lot earlier. Besides that, Allied naval dominance in the Mediterranean is ensured.
Yes, because as soon as French North Africa declares for the Allies, Libya's basically taken. And for the French it would be retribution for Benny's invasion of France (minor, but it's an action they can do something about).
 
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