Free French Naval Forces

The Free French Naval Forces (FFNF) were born on June 26, 1940, under the leadership of Admiral Emile Muselier. For over two years the largest active unit in the FFNF was the super-destroyer Leopard. Battleships Paris and Courbet were interned in Great Britain, but the former was used as a floating barracks for Polish sailors, and the latter remained inactive until it was sunk as part of a breakwater in the Mulberry artificial harbor during the Normandy invasion in 1944. In addition to Leopard, the Free French operated five submarines and numerous sub chasers and torpedo boats. In 1941, nine corvettes were transferred from the Royal Navy to the FFNF. All of the ships in this organization served along-side the British, performing convoy escort duties and minesweeping.

France's naval forces were reunited at the beginning of 1943. The new national navy was commanded by Admirals R.A. Lemonnier and R.A. Auboyneau, with headquarters at Algiers. The newly enlarged Free French Naval Forces were extensively rehabilitated by the United States, with many ships undergoing repairs and refit in North America.

Many of the vessels beached or sunk in North African harbors at the hands of the RN or USN were salvaged and repaired. The damaged Jean Bart was refloated, and her 15" guns used to complete her sister Richelieu in the United States. Jean Bart sailed under her own power to Cherbourg at the end of the war, and eventually was completed.

The FFNF ultimately included a total of three battleships (the two Richelieus plus Lorraine) and the aircraft transport Beam. The cruiser force was comprised of CAs Suffren, Dusquesne, and Tourville, and CLs Gloire, Montcalm, Georges Leygues, Emile Bertin, Douguay-Trouin, and Jeanne DArc. Thirteen destroyers, two frigates, seven corvettes, and 87 miscellaneous craft rounded out the surface fleet.

Nineteen submarines were also involved, of which eight operated in the Mediterranean and the remainder were used for training. The naval air arm consisted of two bomber squadrons, one squadron each of fighters and patrol planes, plus two observation squadrons. British and American models outfitted several of these units, and the rest were equipped with French designs.

Activities of the FFNF until V-J day in 1945 were integrated with British and American operations. The cruisers based at Dakar and Alexandria joined British cruisers in searching the Mediterranean for German raiders and blockade runners, while other units escorted Allied convoys throughout the Mediterranean. Numerous representatives from the FFNF served alongside the other Allies during the invasions of both Normandy (June 1944) and southern France (August 1944).

At Normandy the French contribution included two corvettes and two frigates on antisubmarine patrol, and the light cruisers Montcalm and Georges Leygues providing fire support for the assault troops ashore. A much larger force was present two months later off the coast of southern France. The old battleship Lorraine contributed her 13.4" guns to shore bombardment, as did all the available light cruisers except Jeanne DArc. Three Fantasque- class contre-torpilleurs and five smaller destroyers were also present, while five corvettes and six sloops searched for enemy submarines. Six French minesweepers helped to clear the invasion lanes to the beaches. The availability of so many French warships provided much relief for the strained naval resources of both Great Britain and the United States.

Richelieu was attached to the British home fleet from November 1943 to March 1944 after undergoing completion and modernization with radar and improved antiaircraft protection in the United States. She was then attached to the British Pacific fleet, where she saw action in shore bombardment support roles until the end of the war, except for another refit between August 1944 and February 1945.

Conclusion

The story of the French Navy in World War II is one of defeat, tragedy, bitterness, and ultimate triumph. That two French navies - Vichy and Free French - co-existed in conflict was a consequence of the convoluted political fortunes of France and her leaders. Political factors also led to the disasters at Mers-el-Kebir and Toulon that decimated the once-powerful French fleet. Too, the uncertainty surrounding the fate and actions of French vessels throughout the world played an important role in Allied naval strategy. But through the evolution of the Free French Naval Forces, one more nail was pounded into the coffin of Hitler's Third Reich.

More French Navy of WWII

Introduction and Ship Specs
War: 1939 to 1942
Free French Navy and Conclusion