Attack on Mers-el-Kébir: The British bombarded the French Navy base in French Algeria to ensure that the Vichy French government would not turn the fleet over to the Germans. Operation CATAPULT was the British plan under which French warships that would not come under British control would be destroyed.
At Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria British Vice Admiral James F. Somerville had been ordered to present a list of choices for the demobilization of the French ships and their removal to distant ports. Admiral Somerville had at his disposal two battleships, one battle cruiser, and an aircraft carrier. The French fleet commanded by Admiral Marcel Gensoul consisted of four battleships and a large complement of supporting vessels. After the deadline in Somerville’s orders expired the British opened fire on the French Ships. The battleship Bretagne was sunk and the battleships Dunquerque and Provence and the torpedo cruiser Mogador were badly damaged. The battleship Strasbourg and five destroyers managed to escape to Toulon. Many French saw this as a perfidious act that killed more French sailors in a single day than the Germans had killed since the war began. The action was popular in Britain, however, where it was seen as a sign of resolve.
British Navy Vice Admiral Sir Andrew Cunnigham demanded the French warships under French Admiral René-Émile Godfroy, docked at Alexandria in Egypt, to surrender. Godfroy is much more reasonable and not as much of a Vichy supporter. The situation is not as critical there because France is much further away and British power much stronger. The day ends with no conclusion there and negotiations continuing, but prospects are good. Negotiations would continue until 7 July 1940.
Operation GRASP: At Plymouth and Portsmouth in Great Britain two French battleships, nine destroyers, and many smaller ships were taken over with a little bloodshed in some minor skirmishes. At dawn, the British Royal Navy boarded two French battleships, nine destroyers, and a number of other smaller warships that were docked at Plymouth and Portsmouth, England; 3 British and 1 French sailors were killed.
Operation CATAPULT: The Royal Navy’s Force H engages French warships at Mers-el-Kébir. At 0545 hours, Vice Admiral James Somerville and his British Royal Navy Force H arrived off of Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria where a powerful fleet under French Admiral Marcel Gensoul resided. At 1756 hours, after Gensoul refused to surrender, the British fleet opened fire for 10 minutes.
French ships at Mers el Kebir were battleships Dunkerque (Flagship of Amiral Gensoul, Capitaine de Vaisseau H. J. M. Seguin) and Strasbourg (Capitaine de Vaisseau D. A. J. Collinet) of the 1st Line Division, battleships Provence (Flagship Contre Amiral Bouxin, Capitaine de Vaisseau G. T. E. Barois) and Bretagne (Capitaine de Vaisseau L. R. E. Le Pivain) of the 2nd Line Division, large destroyers Volta and Mogador of the 6th Large Destroyer Division (Volta was the Flagship of Contre Amiral E. M. La Croix, Commander of the 2nd Light Squadron), large destroyer Le Terrible of the 10th Large Destroyer Division, large destroyers Lynx and Kersaint of the 4th Large Destroyer Division (Kersaint was under repair), and large destroyer Tigre, Seaplane tender Commandant Teste, sloop Rigault De Genouilly, and trawlers Esterel and Terre Neuve.
At Oran were destroyers Tramontane, Trombe, Typhon, Tornade, Boulonnais, Brestois, Bordelais, Casque, and Le Corsaire, torpedo boat Le Poursivante, and submarines Eurydice, Ariane, Danae, Diane, Pysche, and Oreade.
French ships at Algiers were light cruisers La Galissoniere, Marseillaise, and Jean De Vienne of the 3rd Cruiser Division and Georges Leygues, Gloire, and Montcalm of the 4th Cruiser Division, and large destroyers Indomptable and Malin of the 8th Large Destroyer Division and Fantasque and Audacieux of the 10th Large Destroyer Division.
Destroyer HMS Foxhound, of Force H which departed Gibraltar on the 2nd, anchored one mile from the Mers el Kebir Channel and commenced negotiations with Amiral Gensoul on battleship Dunkerque on the demilitarization of the French ships.
Somerville gives the French commanders the options to surrender the fleet, scuttle it, sail it to the Carribean, or be interned. French Admiral Marcel Gensou remains loyal to the Vichy government. He tells Captain Holland, sent to negotiate, that any attack will be a declaration of war. He refuses to act in concert with the Royal Navy, but drags things out. By 13:00, Somerville tires of Gensou’s obstinacy and mines the harbor but continues talking.
At 16:46, the Admiralty sends Somerville an order “to settle matters quickly.” Somerville gives Gensou until 17:30 to choose an option. With no response, Somerville’s force opens fire at 17:56. The gunfire continues for 15 minutes, including 15-inch shells. 23,936 ton French battleship Bretagne is sunk, with 977 killed. Battlecruiser Dunkerque is heavily damaged, with 210 killed, and also battleship Provence. The French lose 1,297 killed and 350 wounded.
The French ships attempted to put to sea. The destroyers left first. Large destroyer Mogador was struck by a 15 inch shell which detonated her depth charges and blew off 100 feet of her stern, killing three petty officers and thirty five ratings. Mogador sank in the channel, but was later salved.
Battlecruiser Strasbourg, aircraft carrier Commandant Teste and four destroyers that survive the battle later cross the Mediterranean to the naval base at Toulon under pressure from RAF attacks launched from the Ark Royal. Other ships follow. Both sides launch ineffective air attacks against the other’s ships.
Prime Minister Churchill regrets the whole affair, which is the first Anglo-French naval conflict since the Napoleonic Wars, and later says that he carries its “scars,” but considers it absolutely necessary. He rejects a suggestion by First Lord of the Admiralty Dudley Pound that the Royal Navy should abandon the eastern Mediterranean altogether.
Off the Harbor, large destroyers Le Terrible and Volta attacked Destroyers HMS Foxhound and HMS Forester without damage to either side.
Sloop Rigault De Genouilly was damaged by gunfire from Light cruiser HMS Enterprise.
The submarines at Oran changed berths during the battle causing the British to think they were preparing to go to sea.
Petty Officer T. F. Riddler and his gunner Naval Airman 1/c H. T. Chatterley of 803 Squadron were lost when their Skua was shot down by a French fighter.
Another Skua of 803 Squadron was lost when force landed into the sea near HMS Ark Royal. Petty Officer H. A. Glover and Naval Airman J. A. Burkey were picked up by a destroyer HMS Foresight.
After the bombardment, Force H drew away leaving destroyer HMS Wrestler to watch the port, but French battleship Strasbourg and the destroyers leaving port forced Wrestler to withdraw.
Two Swordfish of 818 Squadron were badly damaged and force landed after attacking the Strasbourg force and one Swordfish was lost shadowing Strasbourg. Their crews were safely picked up. Destroyer HMS Wrestler picked up the two crews of 810 Squadron.
After the Mers el Kebir battle, Amiral Gensoul (Commander Atlantic Fleet Raiding Force) was replaced by Amiral Estava (Commander French Naval Forces, North Africa)
French forces at Dakar on the 3rd were battleship Richelieu, destroyers Milan, Epervier, Fleuret, armed merchant cruisers El D’Jezair, Ville D’Oran, Ville D’Alger, El Mansour, El Kantara, Victor Schoelscher, and Charles Plumier, escort ship Bougainville, submarines Hero and Glorieux, escort vessels Air France I and Air France II, and seven auxiliaries, including the examinations vessel Calais.
Aircraft carrier HMS Hermes departed Freetown to join heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire off Dakar on the morning of 5 July. Heavy cruiser HMAS Australia, which had just arrived with convoy BC F from Capetown, departed Freetown at 0100/4th to join heavy cruiser Dorsetshire as well.
Destroyer HMS Velox on patrol off Casablanca was fired on by French shore batteries. No damage was done to the destroyer. Armed yacht HMS Sayonara, which departed Gibraltar on the 2nd to relieve destroyer Velox, was recalled and destroyer HMS Wishart was sent to relieve Velox.
Berlin publishes captured French government documents about Allied plans to bomb Soviet oilfields.
The British Admiralty considers withdrawal from the eastern Mediterranean. While Admiral Pound supports the idea, Churchill is adamantly opposed and quashes it. The concern involves the Italian Fleet and the fall of France.
The Duke of Windsor, who has fled France, arrives in Lisbon from Madrid. He is widely believed to be pro-German.
ARP-leader and Dutch ex-premier Colijn argues cooperation with Germany.
German occupiers forbid using Dutch royal names.
The Norwegian parliament places pressure on King Haakon to abdicate, but he refuses.
In response to the new pro-German policy, Ion Girgutu became the new Rumanian premier and formed a new cabinet.
Horia Sima agrees to participate in a new Rumanian Government.
The Germans reject a Rumanian request for a full military alliance. This would be an obvious provocation to the Soviet Union. However, the Wehrmacht has a free hand and is uncertain what to do next, and this draws their attention to the area. General Franz Halder of OKH asks his staff as a desk exercise to consider military alternatives in the East.
Many wealthy Jews fled to the country today as anti-Semitic rioting spread through Bucharest and other Rumanian cities. Other Jews remained inside their homes as authorities appeared to be making but little headway against the disorders.
In an effort to obtain her territorial aspirations without resorting to war, Hungary was believed ready tonight to negotiate with Rumania concerning the future of Transylvania.
Segregation of Jews in special railway cars is one of the provisions of a new anti-Jewish bill introduced in Parliament today by the Hungarian Nazi party. The bill is even more drastic than Germany’s Nuremberg law. It forbids Jews to drive automobiles, become midwives, hoist the Hungarian flag, buy anything from a peasant or sign any legal document. In order to “restrict the propagation of Jews” in Hungary, the bill also provides that only the eldest sons and eldest daughters of Jewish families may marry. The bill further provides that non-Jewish men who marry Jewish women shall be classed as Jews.
— Jews with “Hungarian family names” would be required to change them to “Hebrew” names.
— Jews would be permitted to buy, sell, or read only books written in Hebrew or Yiddish.
— No foreign Jews would receive visas to enter Hungary.
— Jews would not be permitted to employ Gentile women under the age of 40 years.
— All business establishments employing one or more Jews would be classed as Jewish enterprises.
The No.1 Long Range Patrol Unit (LRP) was mustered into the British Eight Army under the command of Major Ralph A. Bagnold. The unit consisted of two officers and 85 other ranks composed mainly of volunteers from the 2nd New Zealand Division. This unit would be expanded and become the Long Range Desert Group. Its original purpose was to undertake long-range reconnaissance patrols behind the Italian lines in Libya to gather intelligence.
Exiled Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie arrived in Khartoum from Britain to prepare for the reconquest of his country from the Italians with Britain’s help.
Cardiff Blitz: the first German air raid on Cardiff, Wales took place.
There is a marked increase in Luftwaffe activity as it begins with regular attacks on shipping in the Channel.
At around 15:00, three Ju 88s of I/KG51 attack the Portishead docks in Bristol, and some Dornier Do 17s from KG77 bomb the Kent area. Seven Dorniers go down.
At Maidenhead, a lone Dornier 17 attacks the aerodrome and destroys half a dozen Tiger Moths on the ground and damages 25 others.
The RAF’s Fighter Command institutes standing patrols over the Channel.
Due to such heavy losses from the Luftwaffe the British suspended all traffic through the English Channel.
The Royal Air Force redirects its priorities from German industrial targets such as oil installations and airplane factories to German shipping and ports along the Channel coast.
First operational mission of the Spitfire PR Mk.IE. This is the first low-altitude reconnaissance model. Only one was built. The 8 inch cameras are installed under the wing, and look sidewards and slightly downwards.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 33 Blenheims to attack various targets during the day in Germany and occupied Europe. 24 aircraft bombed targets that included for the first time barges being brought up the Rhine near Rotterdam for the intended invasion of Britain. A report from Hamburg tells of 1 Blenheim which suddenly appeared out of the clouds and dropped 4 bombs in a residential area 3 miles from the nearest docks, though industrial premises may have been nearby. There was no warning siren and one of the bombs fell near a group of children playing in a street. 11 children and 8 adults were killed; 31 houses were damaged. Because it was daylight, no first-aid or rescue teams were on duty and many of the wounded were taken to hospital on the fire-engines of Hamburg’s regular fire brigade.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 27 Hampdens and Whitleys to bomb communications, airfields and barges and to lay mines overnight in Germany and occupied Europe. 2 Hampdens lost.
At Malta, the day begins with another air raid alert at 09:45, right on schedule. However, this is just a reconnaissance mission. The Italians lose an SM 79 bomber, while the British lose a Hurricane whose pilot is unhurt. Another raid at 17:55 causes no damage.
Italian bombers attack British base at Aden.
The Regia Aeronautica has lost 60 aircraft to date.
Destroyer HMS Punjabi departed Greenock at 1530 after escorting troopship Andes. Destroyer Punjabi arrived at Scapa Flow at 0900/4th.
Destroyer HMS Mashona and submarine tender HMS Breda passed May Island at 0700 escorting British steamer Shoal Fisher (698grt) to Scapa Flow. Destroyer HMS Warwick and Canadian destroyer HMCS Skeena departed Scapa Flow at 2245 on the 3rd to relieve destroyer Mashona and submarine tender Breda. Destroyers Warwick and Skeena to report to the Commander in Chief, West Approaches on arrival at Greenock on July 5th.
Destroyer HMS Hambledon arrived at Scapa Flow at 2000 from Portland to work up with the Commander in Chief Home Fleet.
Five Skuas of 801 Squadron, escorted by three Blenheims from 18 Group, departed Hatston to attack concentrations of German prepared boats and oil tanks at Bergen. All five Skuas returned safely without sighting the boats.
A submarine was reported off Marwick Head by shore watchers. Anti-submarine trawlers HMS Coventry City, HMS Whitehorn, and HMS Buttermere, returning from their search off Strathie Point, were dispatched to search.
Submarine HMS Seawolf landed reconnaissance parties near Lindesnes in Operation THWART.
Submarine HMS Snapper sank Norwegian steamer Cygnus (1333grt) off Egersund in 58-18N, 5-13E. A second ship attacked was not damaged. Submarine HMS Sealion attacked a German convoy off Skudesnshavn in Boknafjord at 1550/3rd. She came under heavy counterattack for forty five hours and withdrew.
Temporary Lt (A) T. Miller RNVR, was killed when his Shark of 774 Squadron crashed near Evanton.
British steam barge Bijou (98grt) was sunk by German bombing at Mistley Quay, near Harwich. The crew of the barge was rescued.
Special services ship James 83 (397grt) was sunk as a blockship.
Mate T. W. Cole of trawler HMS Damito died of injuries on this date.
German armed merchant cruiser Komet departed Gydnia for Bergen.
Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney departed Alexandria to cover an Aegean convoy. The light cruiser arrived back at Alexandria the same day.
Light cruiser HMS Delhi arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown.
Destroyer HMS Jervis at Malta was near missed by Italian bombing. The destroyer spent no time out of service due to the slight damage.
U.S. Navy destroyer USS Dickerson departed Bilbao, Spain, for Lisbon, Portugal.
Upon hearing the news of British attacks on French warships, six French cruisers and 4 destroyers left various ports in Algiers for Toulon, France. They were attacked by British Swordfish carrier aircraft from HMS Ark Royal en route, but they would arrive at Toulon on 4 Jul 1940.
Convoy OA.178 departed Southend on the 3rd escorted by corvette HMS Clarkia from 3 to 6 July and destroyer HMS Broke from 5 to 6 July. This was the last Channel routed OA.convoy.
Convoy OB.178 departed Liverpool on the 3rd escorted by sloop HMS Leith from 3 to 7 July and destroyer HMS Whirlwind on 3 to 5 July. Sloop Leith was detached to convoy HX.53. Destroyer Whirlwind was badly damaged by U-34 on the 5th and scuttled after destroyer HMS Westcott took off the crew.
Convoy OB.177G, which departed Liverpool on the 1st escorted by destroyers HMS Vanoc and HMS Volunteer, and convoy OA.177G, which departed Southend on the 1st escorted by destroyer HMS Vanessa on the 1st and destroyer HMS Witherington on 1 and 2 July and Plymouth on the 1st escorted by sloop HMS Enchantress and corvette HMS Camelia, merged as OG.36 with twenty one ships. The convoy was escorted by sloop Enchantress from 3 to 8 July when she was detached to convoy HG.37. Destroyer Vanoc from convoy OB.176 joined the convoy on the 1st. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 8th with storeship Palomares and destroyer Volunteer. Fifteen ships of the convoy with French troops for repatriation had had company earlier and proceeded unescorted to Casablanca.
Convoy MT.101 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 4th.
Convoy FS.211 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop HMS Lowestoft. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 4th.
The War at Sea, Wednesday, 3 July 1940 (naval-history.net)
Destroyer PUNJABI departed Greenock at 1530 after escorting troopship ANDES.
Destroyer PUNJABI arrived at Scapa Flow at 0900/4th.
Destroyer MASHONA and submarine tender BREDA passed May Island at 0700 escorting British steamer SHOAL FISHER (698grt) to Scapa Flow.
Destroyer WARWICK and Canadian destroyer HMCS SKEENA departed Scapa Flow at 2245 on the 3rd to relieve destroyer MASHONA and submarine tender BREDA.
Destroyers WARWICK and SKEENA to report to the Commander in Chief, West Approaches on arrival at Greenock on the 5th.
Destroyer HAMBLEDON arrived at Scapa Flow at 2000 from Portland to work up with the Commander in Chief Home Fleet.
Five Skuas of 801 Squadron, escorted by three Blenheims from 18 Group, departed Hatston to attack concentrations of German prepared boats and oil tanks at Bergen.
All five Skuas returned safely without sighting the boats.
A submarine was reported off Marwick Head by shore watchers. Anti-submarine trawlers COVENTRY CITY, WHITEHORN, and BUTTERMERE, returning from their search off Strathie Point, were dispatched to search.
Submarine SEAWOLF landed reconnaissance parties near Lindesnes in Operation THWART.
Submarine SNAPPER sank Norwegian steamer CYGNUS (1333grt) off Egersund in 58-18N, 5-13E. A second ship attacked was not damaged.
Submarine SEALION attacked a German convoy off Skudesnshavn in Boknafjord at 1550/3rd. She came under heavy counterattack for forty-five hours and withdrew.
Temporary Lt (A) T. Miller RNVR, was killed when his Shark of 774 Squadron crashed near Evanton.
British steam barge BIJOU (98grt) was sunk by German bombing at Mistley Quay, near Harwich.
The crew of the barge was rescued.
Special services ship JAMES 83 (397grt) was sunk as a blockship.
Convoy OA.178 departed Southend on the 3rd escorted by corvette CLARKIA from 3 to 6 July and destroyer BROKE from 5 to 6 July.
This was the last Channel routed OA. convoy.
Convoy OB.178 departed Liverpool on the 3rd escorted by sloop LEITH from 3 to 7 July and destroyer WHIRLWIND on 3 to 5 July.
Sloop LEITH was detached to convoy HX.53.
Destroyer WHIRLWIND was badly damaged by U-34 on the 5th and scuttled after destroyer WESTCOTT took off the crew.
Mate T. W. Cole of trawler DAMITO died of injuries on this date.
Convoy OB.177G, which departed Liverpool on the 1st escorted by destroyers VANOC and VOLUNTEER, and convoy OA.177G, which departed Southend on the 1st escorted by destroyer VANESSA on the 1st and destroyer WITHERINGTON on 1 and 2 July and Plymouth on the 1st escorted by sloop ENCHANTRESS and corvette CAMELIA, merged as OG.36 with twenty-one ships. The convoy was escorted by sloop ENCHANTRESS from 3 to 8 July when she was detached to convoy HG.37.
Destroyer VANOC from convoy OB.176 joined the convoy on the 1st. The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on the 8th with storeship PALOMARES and destroyer VOLUNTEER. Fifteen ships of the convoy with French troops for repatriation had had company earlier and proceeded unescorted to Casablanca.
Convoy MT.101 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 4th.
Convoy FS.211 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop LOWESTOFT. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 4th.
German armed merchant cruiser KOMET departed Gydnia for Bergen.
Operation CATAPULT was the British plan under which French warships that would not come under British control would be destroyed.
French ships in England
Plymouth (Amiral L. M. G. Cayol, all ships were under repair) – battleship PARIS, large destroyer LE TRIOMPHANT, destroyers MISTRAL and OURAGAN, torpedo boat BOUCLIER, sloops COMMANDANT DUBOC, COUCY, and BELFORT, submarines SURCOUF, JUNON, and MINERVE, and submarine chasers CH.8, CH.11, CH.12, CH.15.
Portsmouth (Amiral R. M. A. Gaudin de Vilaine, all ships were under repair – battleship COURBET, large destroyer LEOPARD, sloops CHEVREUIL, AMIENS, ARRAS, DILIGENTE, EPINAL, QUENTIN ROOSEVELT, SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA, and LA CAPRICIEUSE, corvette LA MALOUINE, torpedo boats BRANLEBAS, CORDELIERE, INCOMPRISE, FLORE, and MELPOMENE (these torpedo boats and BOUCLIER at Plymouth were later formed into the 23rd Destroyer Flotilla), minelayer POLLUX, armed patrol vessel REINA DES FLOTS, submarines ORION and ONDINE, and submarine chasers CH.5, CH.6, CH.7, CH.10, CH.13, CH.14, CH.41, CH.42, CH.43, C 98, and C 106.
Southampton – auxiliary minelayer INGENIEUR CACHIN and armed patrol vessels PATRIE, LA NANTAISE, and L’ORANAISE.
Falmouth – target vessel L’IMPASSIBLE, sloops COMMANDANT DOMINE, LA MOQUEUSE, SUIPPE, and CONQUERANTE, hydrographic sloop PRESIDENT THEODORE TISSIER, and VTB.11.
Swansea – submarine CREOLE (she had only been launched on 8 June 1940 at Le Havre and was towed to La Pallice. She departed La Pallice under tow on 18 June for Swansea)
Dundee – submarine RUBIS
Hythe – motor torpedo boats VTB.8, VTB.12, VTB.23, VTB.24, VTB.25, VTB.26, and VTB.27.
Barry – armed patrol vessel ARMENIER
Greenock – armed patrol vessel LEOVILLE
Sheerness – armed patrol vessels LE VAILLANT and VIKINGS.
The only resistance was at Plymouth.
Destroyer MISTRAL was partially scuttled by opening of the sea valves by her crew.
Submarine SURCOUF, berthed alongside Submarine THAMES, was the scene of armed resistance. Cdr D. V. Sprague, commanding officer of the THAMES, Lt P. M. K. Griffiths, from submarine RORQUAL, a British rating from battleship REVENGE, and a French guard were killed in the takeover of the French ship.
French ships at Mer el Kebir were battleships DUNKERQUE (Flagship of Amiral Gensoul, Capitaine de Vaisseau H. J. M. Seguin) and STRASBOURG (Capitaine de Vaisseau D. A. J. Collinet) of the 1st Line Division, battleships PROVENCE (Flagship Contre Amiral Bouxin, Capitaine de Vaisseau G. T. E. Barois) and BRETAGNE (Capitaine de Vaisseau L. R. E. Le Pivain) of the 2nd Line Division, large destroyers VOLTA and MOGADOR of the 6th Large Destroyer Division (VOLTA was the Flagship of Contre Amiral E. M. La Croix, Commander of the 2nd Light Squadron), large destroyer LE TERRIBLE of the 10th Large Destroyer Division, large destroyers LYNX and KERSAINT of the 4th Large Destroyer Division (KERSAINT was under repair), and large destroyer TIGRE, Seaplane tender COMMANDANT TESTE, sloop RIGAULt DE GENOUILLY, and trawlers ESTEREL and TERRE NEUVE.
At Oran were destroyers TRAMONTANE, TROMBE, TYPHON, TORNADE, BOULONNAIS, BRESTOIS, BORDELAIS, CASQUE, and LE CORSAIRE, torpedo boat LE POURSIVANTE, and submarines EURYDICE, ARIANE, DANAE, DIANE, PYSCHE, and OREADE.
French ships at Algiers were light cruisers LA GALISSONIERE, MARSEILLAISE, and JEAN DE VIENNE of the 3rd Cruiser Division and GEORGES LEYGUES, GLOIRE, and MONTCALM of the 4th Cruiser Division, and large destroyers INDOMPTABLE and MALIN of the 8th Large Destroyer Division and FANTASQUE and AUDACIEUX of the 10th Large Destroyer Division.
Destroyer FOXHOUND, of Force H which departed Gibraltar on the 2nd, anchored one mile from the Mer el Kebir Channel and commenced negotiations with Amiral Gensoul on battleship DUNKERQUE on the demilitarization of the French ships.
When negotiations failed, a general engagement ensued and the French ships attempted to put to sea.
The destroyers left first. Large destroyer MOGADOR was struck by a 15-inch shell which detonated her depth charges and blew off 100 feet of her stern, killing three petty officers and thirty-five ratings. MOGADOR sank in the channel, but was later salved.
Battleship BRETAGNE was sunk with thirty-six officers, one hundred and fifty-one petty officers, and eight hundred and twenty-five ratings killed as she attempted to leave the harbour.
Battleship DUNKERQUE was struck four times, including a hit on her power supply, sustaining five officers and forty-one ratings killed.
Battleship PROVENCE was hit and had two turrets knocked out. One officer and two ratings were killed.
Two Swordfish aircraft from ARK ROYAL were damaged attacking battleship STRASBOURG. They landed in the sea and their crews were rescued by destroyer WRESTLER. The aircraft carrier was screened by destroyers FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, and ESCORT for these operations.
Off the harbour, large destroyers LE TERRIBLE and VOLTA attacked Destroyers FOXHOUND and FORESTER without damage to either side.
Sloop RIGAULT DE GENOUILLY was damaged by gunfire from Light cruiser ENTERPRISE.
The submarines at Oran changed berths during the battle causing the British to think they were preparing to go to sea.
Petty Officer T. F. Riddler and his gunner Naval Airman 1/c H. T. Chatterley of 803 Squadron were lost when their Skua was shot down by a French fighter.
Another Skua of 803 Squadron was lost when force landed into the sea near ARK ROYAL. Petty Officer H. A. Glover and Naval Airman J. A. Burkey were picked up by a destroyer FORESIGHT.
After the bombardment, Force H drew away leaving destroyer WRESTLER to watch the port, but French battleship STRASBOURG and the destroyers leaving port forced WRESTLER to withdraw.
Two Swordfish of 818 Squadron were badly damaged and force landed after attacking the STRASBOURG force and one Swordfish was lost shadowing STRASBOURG. Their crews were safely picked up. Destroyer WRESTLER picked up the two crews of 810 Squadron.
After the Mer el Kebir battle, Amiral Gensoul (Commander Atlantic Fleet Raiding Force) was replaced by Amiral Estava (Commander French Naval Forces, North Africa)
French forces at Dakar on the 3rd were battleship RICHELIEU, destroyers MILAN, EPERVIER, FLEURET, armed merchant cruisers EL D’JEZAIR, VILLE D’ORAN, VILLE D’ALGER, EL MANSOUR, EL KANTARA, VICTOR SCHOELSCHER, and CHARLES PLUMIER, escort ship BOUGAINVILLE, submarines HERO and GLORIEUX, escort vessels AIR FRANCE I and AIR FRANCE II, and seven auxiliaries, including the examinations vessel CALAIS.
Aircraft carrier HERMES departed Freetown to join heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE off Dakar on the morning of 5 July.
Heavy cruiser HMAS AUSTRALIA, which had just arrived with convoy BC F from Capetown, departed Freetown at 0100/4th to join heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE as well.
Destroyer VELOX on patrol off Casablanca was fired on by French shore batteries.
No damage was done to the destroyer.
Armed yacht SAYONARA, which departed Gibraltar on the 2nd to relieve destroyer VELOX, was recalled and destroyer WISHART was sent to relieve VELOX.
Australian light cruiser HMAS SYDNEY departed Alexandria to cover an Aegean convoy.
The light cruiser arrived back at Alexandria the same day.
Light cruiser DELHI arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown.
Destroyer JERVIS at Malta was near missed by Italian bombing.
The destroyer spent no time out of service due to the slight damage.
In Washington, President Roosevelt conferred with officials of the Army, Navy and the National Defense Advisory Commission on plans for a supplemental defense program, discussed foreign affairs with Secretary Hull and left for a weekend at Hyde Park.
The Senate declined to agree to Senator Connally’s plea that it consider immediately the nominations of Henry L. Stimson and Colonel Frank Knox to be Secretaries, respectively, of the War and Navy Departments, and adjourned at 12:24 PM until noon on Friday. The Naval Affairs Committee approved the nomination of Colonel Knox. It also approved the 70 percent Naval Expansion Bill. The Military Affairs Committee opened hearings on the Burke-Wadsworth conscription bill.
The House heard discussions of political questions and adjourned at 1:42 PM until noon tomorrow.
President Roosevelt was putting the finishing touches tonight on a new $5,000,000,000 supplemental program for further expansion of the military and naval forces which will be urged on Congress in the form of a special message early next week. White House sources indicated that the message would go in soon after the President’s return from his Hyde Park home for which he departed tonight, on Monday.
With the $5,082,210,080 already voted for defense at the present session of Congress, the added $5,000,000,000 will bring the estimated cost of the defense preparations now planned to more than $10,000,000,000. This nearly equals the all-time record of $11,011,387,000 appropriated for the World War fiscal year of 1918. The new program, contemplating a huge expansion of production facilities by manufacturers of planes, guns, tanks and other essential material, proposes to allow $4,000,000,000 to the Army. Of this about $1,500,000,000 would be used for the production of military planes. At least $1,000,000,000 would go to the Navy for ships, planes and munitions.
One of the primary objectives was understood to be to put the aviation industry well on the way toward the Administration’s goal of an annual output of 50,000 fighting planes. The War Department under the expansion program based on the $4,000,000,000 supplemental request is understood to be counting on at least 3,000 tanks and 25,000 first-line fighting planes by the end of 1941, including those now available. An early increase in enlisted strength to 750,000 men also is contemplated, although officials are reluctant to predict when that will be attained.
The Senate Naval Committee voted 9 to 5 to approve the nomination of Colonel Frank Knox as Secretary of the Navy, the second of two Republican cabinet appointees to receive committee endorsement in as many days.
The House bill to authorize a 70 percent expansion of the Navy in six years was endorsed by the Senate Naval Affairs Committee. After two hours of secret discussion with three high officers of the Navy, the Senate Naval Affairs Committee voted unanimously today to recommend Senate passage of the House bill to authorize an increase over the next six years of 70 percent in the Navy combatant tonnage at an estimated cost of S4,000,000,000. The House passed the measure without a dissenting vote during the late night session before the recess for the Republican convention. The general purpose of the proposed legislation is to give to the United States “a two-ocean Navy” capable of defending its interests simultaneously in the Atlantic and in the Pacific against any probable combination of sea power. Navy Department officials concede that they are taking into consideration the possibility of having to face the combined navies of Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany, under German direction, in the Atlantic, and the Japanese Navy in the Pacific.
Admiral Harold B. Stark, Chief of Operations; Rear Admiral Samuel M. Robinson, Chief of the Bureau of Ships, and Rear Admiral John H. Towers, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, were the witnesses heard by the committee. Admiral Stark, at whose suggestion the hearing was held behind closed doors, was asked, on leaving, if he had recommended another 100 ships to be added to the 200 fighting vessels the House bill would authorize. “Not yet,” he replied, “but I left the door open.” The Senate committee recommended only minor changes in the bill which passed the House. As presented by the committee to the Senate, the measure provides the following:
- An increase in the Navy’s fighting strength of 1,325,000 tons (about 70 percent of its present authorized strength) to be distributed as follows: capital ships, 385,000 tons; aircraft carriers, 200,000 tons; cruisers, 420,000 tons; destroyers, 250,000 tons, and submarines, 70,000 tons, with authority to the President to shift allocation of tonnage among the several classes of not more than 30 percent of each authorized tonnage allowance.
- Appropriations of $235,000,000, instead of the House figure of $220,000,000, would be authorized for expansion of facilities for shipbuilding, armor-plate production and armament manufacture. Patrol and other minor auxiliary vessels could be constructed “as may be necessary,” instead of being limited to $25,000,000 as in the House bill. A top limit of 100,000 tons would be put on such construction.
The bill would repeal existing provisions that 10 percent of the Navy’s aircraft and engines must be produced in government factories in case those factories are already operating at production capacity. It would forbid the disposal, by sale or otherwise, of any naval vessel built or under construction by contract without the consent of Congress, except for circumstances covered by existing laws — a proviso added by the Senate Committee. The Navy would be empowered to acquire 15,000 “useful naval airplanes,” but the President could acquire more if this figure were deemed insufficient.
At the Navy Department, the final units in the Navy’s greatest construction program were contracted for today in pursuance of the 11 per cent expansion already authorized. The ships contracted for were three aircraft carriers and two cruisers to cost $169,531,000, exclusive of armament, armor and ammunition. This brought the total construction cost of ships now building or contracted for to more than $2,000,000,000 and, if armor and armament are included, to more than $2,500,000,000. Auxiliary units are not included.
The Defense Commission announced that the Packard Motor Company had tentatively agreed to undertake the construction of 9,000 license-built Merlin aircraft engines; 6,000 for England and 3,000 for the United States. Mass production of Rolls-Royce engines by the Packard Motor Car Company was virtually assured.
General Pershing in a letter to the Senate Military Affairs Committee said compulsory military training was essential in view of “great threats” to American security. The committee is considering legislation to establish such training.
The organization of child refugee placement in the United States was speeded further yesterday to keep up with a flood of offers of homes or funds for children between the ages of 5 and 16 years.
Party labels will mean less to the voters at the November election than support or opposition to the New Deal, Wendell L. Willkie, Republican nominee for President, declared yesterday at his daily press interview.
President Roosevelt’s failure to take even his closest friends and party leaders into his confidence on third-term plans was reported tonight to have severed virtually the last tie between the Chief Executive and Postmaster General James A. Farley, manager of the 1932-1936 Democratic campaigns and Chairman of the National Democratic Committee.
The Republican party was accused tonight by Senator Byrnes of South Carolina of having planted “poison” with the public over our national defense preparations for partisan advantage.
Major League Baseball:
Punctuated by a walk-off Jimmie Foxx home run, the Red Sox score 6 in the 9th to defeat the A’s, 12–11. The Sox erase a 7–run deficit after the 7th. Williams and Tabor clout 3–run homers, with Ted’s tying the game. Cronin also homers for the Red Sox, while Sam Chapman (2) and Siebert homer for the A’s.
The Indians called upon young Bob Feller today to stop the Browns from kicking them around. Feller responded with a seven-hit, 5–2 triumph which returned the Indians to the American League lead they lost to Detroit yesterday.
The White Sox pushed the Tigers back into second place in the American League today with a 12–7 victory featured by Taft Wright’s pinch-homer in the ninth inning with the bases full. Chicago, scoring its lone victory in the three-game series, chased Paul (Dizzy) Trout, starting pitcher, with a four-run barrage in the fifth and pounded Lynn Nelson, his successor, for seven scores in the ninth.
At the Polo Grounds, the Dodgers tie the Giants 3–3 in the 9th, then Pee Wee Reese’s grand slam caps a six-run rally and gives the Dodgers a 7–3 win. Joe Medick also homers for Brooklyn. The win puts Brooklyn in first place by one game.
The Cubs, after relinquishing an early three-run lead, came back today to beat the Pirates, 7–5, on Bobby Mattick’s eighth-inning single with the bases filled. The victory gave Chicago the series, two games to one.
The Phillies and the Bees battled on even terms today until the ninth inning, when Boston rallied to score six runs for an 8–3 victory before a ladies’ day crowd of 7,000. The second game of a scheduled double-header was called at the end of the third on account of rain. Neither team had scored.
Philadelphia Athletics 11, Boston Red Sox 12
Pittsburgh Pirates 5, Chicago Cubs 7
St. Louis Browns 2, Cleveland Indians 5
Chicago White Sox 12, Detroit Tigers 7
Brooklyn Dodgers 7, New York Giants 3
Boston Bees 8, Philadelphia Phillies 3
U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Phoenix arrived at Balboa, Panama Canal Zone.
The U.S. Navy heavy cruisers USS Wichita (CA-45), under command of Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens, and USS Quincy (CA-39) departed Montevideo, Uruguay, for Brazilian waters. These ships were visiting South America “to furnish a reminder of the strength and the range of action of the armed forces of the United States.”
Argentine Presidente Roberto Maria Ortiz falls ill and delegates power to VP Ramon Castillo. President Roberto M. Ortiz of Argentina relinquished tonight the duties of his office temporarily because of ill health. He has long been a sufferer from diabetes. He took office Feb. 20, 1938.
Battle of South Kwangsi: Lull in operations while both sides rest and replenish. The Japanese halt their offensive and both sides adopt a defensive posture.
The British reply to the Japanese request for the closing of the Burma road into. China is now being prepared and may be sent in the next few days. The nature of the reply is not known yet, but the British are expected to refuse very politely. The British have not yet abandoned their sympathy for the Chinese or their desire to help them. They have been unable to send the Chinese any supplies for several months. Most of the supplies for the Chinese Government, headed by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, that have gone over the Burma Road, have come, recently at least, from either the United States or Russia.
The British apparently are not willing to cut this source of supply from the Chinese Government. At the same time, however, it is possible that the British may offer an alternative suggestion to the Japanese. This might perhaps take the form of an offer to give up the British interest in the International Settlement, and British influence at Shanghai. Obviously, the British are not in a position to defend the Shanghai Concession, where they have only troops with rifles and machine guns behind barbed wire. If the British deserted Shanghai they would probably concentrate the troops now there at Hong Kong, in great force, and use the others wherever they might be most needed. It is possible that any British offer to pull out of Shanghai may be conditioned upon the willingness of the Axis powers, with any interests there, to do the same.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 120.96 (+0)
Born:
Jerzy Buzek, Polish politician and former Member of the European Parliament (Prime Minister of Poland, 1997–2001, President of the European Parliament, 2009–2012), in Smilovice, (German) Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, Czecho-Slovakia.
Lamar Alexander, American politician (Governor of Tennessee, 1979-1987; U.S. Senator-R-Tennessee, 2003-2021), in Maryville, Tennessee.
César Tovar, Venezuelan MLB outfielder, third baseman, and second baseman (Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Oakland A’s, New York Yankees), in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 1994, of pancreatic cancer). In 1968, he became only the second player in MLB history to play all nine field positions during a single game, a feat first accomplished by Bert Campaneris, in 1965.
Coco Laboy, Puerto Rican MLB third baseman (Montreal Expos), in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Chuck Sieminski, NFL defensive tackle (San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions), in Swoyersville, Pennsylvania (d. 2020).
Lance Larson, American swimmer (Olympic gold medal, 4x100m freestyle relay, silver medal, 100m freestyle 1960), in Monterey Park, California (d. 2024).
Fontella Bass, R&B soul singer and songwriter (“Rescue Me”), in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 2012).
Jerry “The Geator” Blavat, American disc jockey and music promoter, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2023).
Naval Construction:
The Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette HMCS Chilliwack (K 131) is laid down by Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd. (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada).
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Mayflower (K 191) is launched by Canadian Vickers Ltd. (Montreal, Quebec, Canada). She is transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy before completion and commissions as HMCS Mayflower (K 191).
The Royal Navy tugs (requisitioned French vessels) Abeille II, Abeille IV, Abeille V, Abeille VI, Abeille XIV, Abeille XX, Abeille XXI, Abeille XXII, Cherbourgeois I, Cherbourgeois III, Cherbourgeois IV, Divette, Elan II, Excellent, Faisan, Jobourg, La Frene, La Pernelle, La Salicoque, Lama, Mammouth, Mastodonte, Mouflon, Nacqueville, Nessus, Peuplier, Pingouin, Pintade, Plougastel, Portzic, Ramier, Rene le Besnerais, Risban, Urville are commissioned.
The Royal Navy minesweeping trawlers (requisitioned French vessels) HMS Aiglon, Andre et Louise, Congre, Henriette, and L’Atlantique are commissioned.
The Royal Navy Tree-class minesweeping trawler HMS Pine (T 101) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Charles George Palmer, RNZNVR.
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type 35 torpedo boat T12 is commissioned.
The United States Navy Tambor-class submarine USS Tautog (SS-199) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Joseph Harris Willingham, Jr., USN.
History Diaries 