Partly inspired by the German's getting their hands on the French Fleet.
POD:
Timeline:
Jun 22 1940 The British ambassador at Bordeaux, Sir Ronald Campbell, communicates these terms to London. British don't object as the ships are placed out of France far from Europe and are not under German and/or Italian control.
(The reality was that the original Article VIII had the fleet return to France to disarm under German/Italian control. The French insisted that the fleet disarm in African ports, the Germans agreed to the change but this wasn't communicated to the British who's Ambassador had already left France.)
Jun 25 Toulon units and Oran based Force du Raid sail for Dakar, French West Africa, Force X (1BB, 3CA, 1CL, 3DD) sails from Alexandra for Diego Saurez, Madagascar via Suez Canal.
Jun 27 GB seizes French ships in UK ports (2BB, DD's and subs including Surcouf).
July 3 French Navy ships begin to gather in Dakar. Leave on Jul 6.
July 10 - August 11 - Channel Battles phase of Battle of Britain
July 13 Ships arrive in Libreville, Gabon. Bearn, Emile Bertin and Jeanne d'Arc arrive from West Indies. Leave on Jul 16. Force X sails for Indochina.
July 24 Force X arrives Kam Rahn Bay via Saigon. Japanese officers oversee as ships are de-fueled and disarmed.
July 30 Japanese report that Kam Rahn Bay is an inadequate internment facility for French Fleet.
July 31 to 4 Aug Ships arrive Diego Saurez (this is 40 days from Toulon (minimum 29days @12 knots), The Russian Baltic Fleet took 53 days in 1904 and Operation Ironclad took 43 days from Clyde to Diego Saurez and that was an invasion)
Aug 12 to 23 Eagle Attack phase of Battle of Britain - main attack on RAF defences
20 Aug Ships sail for Saigon. Arrive 28 Aug. Japanese suggest Port Arthur to lay up ships.
Aug 24 to Sep 6 Airfield attacks phase of Battle of Britain
2 Sep Destroyers for Bases deal announced. 50 over age destroyers are to transfer to Britain from America.
7 Sep onwards - British towns and cities phase of Battle of Britain
9 Sep French Fleet sails for Port Arthur shadowed by USS Augusta and HMAS Australia.
21 Sep French Fleet of 7 BB, 1 CV, 7 CA, 11 CL, 46 DD and 31 SS anchors under the guns of Port Arthur.
27 Sep, Japan signs Tripartite Pact.
2 Oct, Vichy agree to the parole of 750 000 troops in German hands and repatriation of the bulk of the Navy's crews. Crews begin disembarkation for transfer via Trans Siberian Railway to France. Minimal crews and specialists left for security and maintenance. France basically trades captured personnel for ships just as the US trades ships for bases. What does Germany get from Japan as a counterpart to the US Destroyers for Bases deal?
Ships in Japanese hands:
5 BB, (Bretagne, Lorraine, Provence, Dunkerque, Strasbourg)
2 BB partially complete (Richelleu -95% and Jean Bart -70%)
1 CV (Bearn)
1 AV (Commandant Teste)
7 CA (Algerie, 4 Suffren Class, 2 Duquesne Class)
9 CL (3 Duguay Trouin Class, 6 La Galissoniere Class)
1 Training cruiser (Jean 'D Arc)
1 Fast minelayer (Emile Bertin)
26 Large DD (3 Chacal Class DD, 5 Guepard Class DD, 6 Aigle Class DD, 5 Vauqulin Class DD, 5 Le Fantastque Class DD, 2 Mogador Class DD)
16 DD (5 Bourrasque Class DD, 11 L'Adroit Class DD)
31 Large Submarines (24 Redoutable Class, 7 Requin class)
POD:
ARTICLE VIII. (German Terms to France)
The French war fleet is to collect in Cam-Ranh Bay, Indochina and under Japanese observers to demobilize and lay up—with the exception of those units released to the French Government for protection of French interests.
The German Government solemnly declares to the French Government that it does not intend to use the French War Fleet.
It further solemnly and expressly declares that it does not intend to bring up any demands respecting the French War Fleet at the conclusion of a peace.
All warships outside France are to sail to Indochina with the exception of that portion of the French War Fleet which shall be designated to represent French interests in Europe.
The French war fleet is to collect in Cam-Ranh Bay, Indochina and under Japanese observers to demobilize and lay up—with the exception of those units released to the French Government for protection of French interests.
The German Government solemnly declares to the French Government that it does not intend to use the French War Fleet.
It further solemnly and expressly declares that it does not intend to bring up any demands respecting the French War Fleet at the conclusion of a peace.
All warships outside France are to sail to Indochina with the exception of that portion of the French War Fleet which shall be designated to represent French interests in Europe.
Timeline:
Jun 22 1940 The British ambassador at Bordeaux, Sir Ronald Campbell, communicates these terms to London. British don't object as the ships are placed out of France far from Europe and are not under German and/or Italian control.
(The reality was that the original Article VIII had the fleet return to France to disarm under German/Italian control. The French insisted that the fleet disarm in African ports, the Germans agreed to the change but this wasn't communicated to the British who's Ambassador had already left France.)
Jun 25 Toulon units and Oran based Force du Raid sail for Dakar, French West Africa, Force X (1BB, 3CA, 1CL, 3DD) sails from Alexandra for Diego Saurez, Madagascar via Suez Canal.
Jun 27 GB seizes French ships in UK ports (2BB, DD's and subs including Surcouf).
July 3 French Navy ships begin to gather in Dakar. Leave on Jul 6.
July 10 - August 11 - Channel Battles phase of Battle of Britain
July 13 Ships arrive in Libreville, Gabon. Bearn, Emile Bertin and Jeanne d'Arc arrive from West Indies. Leave on Jul 16. Force X sails for Indochina.
July 24 Force X arrives Kam Rahn Bay via Saigon. Japanese officers oversee as ships are de-fueled and disarmed.
July 30 Japanese report that Kam Rahn Bay is an inadequate internment facility for French Fleet.
July 31 to 4 Aug Ships arrive Diego Saurez (this is 40 days from Toulon (minimum 29days @12 knots), The Russian Baltic Fleet took 53 days in 1904 and Operation Ironclad took 43 days from Clyde to Diego Saurez and that was an invasion)
Aug 12 to 23 Eagle Attack phase of Battle of Britain - main attack on RAF defences
20 Aug Ships sail for Saigon. Arrive 28 Aug. Japanese suggest Port Arthur to lay up ships.
Aug 24 to Sep 6 Airfield attacks phase of Battle of Britain
2 Sep Destroyers for Bases deal announced. 50 over age destroyers are to transfer to Britain from America.
7 Sep onwards - British towns and cities phase of Battle of Britain
9 Sep French Fleet sails for Port Arthur shadowed by USS Augusta and HMAS Australia.
21 Sep French Fleet of 7 BB, 1 CV, 7 CA, 11 CL, 46 DD and 31 SS anchors under the guns of Port Arthur.
27 Sep, Japan signs Tripartite Pact.
2 Oct, Vichy agree to the parole of 750 000 troops in German hands and repatriation of the bulk of the Navy's crews. Crews begin disembarkation for transfer via Trans Siberian Railway to France. Minimal crews and specialists left for security and maintenance. France basically trades captured personnel for ships just as the US trades ships for bases. What does Germany get from Japan as a counterpart to the US Destroyers for Bases deal?
Ships in Japanese hands:
5 BB, (Bretagne, Lorraine, Provence, Dunkerque, Strasbourg)
2 BB partially complete (Richelleu -95% and Jean Bart -70%)
1 CV (Bearn)
1 AV (Commandant Teste)
7 CA (Algerie, 4 Suffren Class, 2 Duquesne Class)
9 CL (3 Duguay Trouin Class, 6 La Galissoniere Class)
1 Training cruiser (Jean 'D Arc)
1 Fast minelayer (Emile Bertin)
26 Large DD (3 Chacal Class DD, 5 Guepard Class DD, 6 Aigle Class DD, 5 Vauqulin Class DD, 5 Le Fantastque Class DD, 2 Mogador Class DD)
16 DD (5 Bourrasque Class DD, 11 L'Adroit Class DD)
31 Large Submarines (24 Redoutable Class, 7 Requin class)