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French battle-cruiser/fast battleship Dunkerque, Spithead, May 1937
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BUILT & PURPOSE
Dunkerque was built in Arsenale de Brest in France. She was launched in 2 October 1935, and later Commissioned on the 1st May 1937. She can perform up to 29.5 knots which is equivalence to 33.9 mph, and is classified as a Battle-cruiser such as KMS Graf Spee(Kriegsmarine) and HMS Hood (Her Majesty Ship) and Fast battleship such as IJN Kongou (Imperial Japanese Navy) KMS Scharnhorst (Kriegsmarine). She was built to counter the Deutschland-class which were all Battle-cruiser, And Scharnhorst was the answer to counter Dunkerque.
SERVICE & WINSTON CHURCHILL DARKEST DECISION
She spend most of 1030 operating in supporting the Atlantic convoys, also attempting to intercept German raiders, ending in a join sortie with HMS Hood. Dunkerque sustained damage, and have to under go repair back in Brest
Dunkerque was built in Arsenale de Brest in France. She was launched in 2 October 1935, and later Commissioned on the 1st May 1937. She can perform up to 29.5 knots which is equivalence to 33.9 mph, and is classified as a Battle-cruiser such as KMS Graf Spee(Kriegsmarine) and HMS Hood (Her Majesty Ship) and Fast battleship such as IJN Kongou (Imperial Japanese Navy) KMS Scharnhorst (Kriegsmarine). She was built to counter the Deutschland-class which were all Battle-cruiser, And Scharnhorst was the answer to counter Dunkerque.
SERVICE & WINSTON CHURCHILL DARKEST DECISION
She spend most of 1030 operating in supporting the Atlantic convoys, also attempting to intercept German raiders, ending in a join sortie with HMS Hood. Dunkerque sustained damage, and have to under go repair back in Brest
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| Dunkerque bow damaged from torpedo |
After the fall of France in the hand of Nazi Germany, the British were worried that the French fleet(one of the largest fleet) will soon be in the hand of the Nazi Germany, which can out overpower the British navy force. Winston Churchill ordered the French Navy to either join with the Royal Navy or face neutralization in some way to stop the French navy to Nazi Germany
Winston Churchill final demand to the french navy:
(A) Sail with us and continue the fight until victory against the Germans
(B) Sail with reduced crews under our control to a British port. The reduced crews would
sent back
"If you refuse these fair offers, I must with profound regret, require you to sink your ships within
6 hours"6 hour has passed, The Royal Navy than attack the French fleet that was anchored at dock. Shell after shell the French fleet were severe damage
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| French Battleship Bretagne magazine exploded, Killed 977 of her crew. |
AFTERMATH OF MERS EL KEBIR:1,297 French sailor were killed and about 350 were wounded, the relationship between Britain and France were worsen, and some might say it was a war crime.
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| Dunkerque during reconstruction |
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| Dunkerque after getting scuttled |
When the French Admiral heard about the arrival of the Nazi Germany, he did a heroic act scuttling their precious fleet in order to not let it fall to the Axis, Admiral than wrote to Winston churchill "Prime minister you said to me ' i hope you will never surrender the fleet'. I replied.' There is no question of doing so" He later prove that he never forget his promise on the destruction of the french fleet at Toulon and later proved that he kept his promise.
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| Before the mass scuttle at Toulon |
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