It was an attempt in September 1940 to install a Gaullist force in the Vichy held strategic port of Dakar in Senegal. British naval forces present were BARHAM, RESOLUTION (BB); ARK ROYAL (CV); DEVONSHIRE, CUMBERLAND and AUSTRALIA (RAN), (CA); DELHI (CL); FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT FORESTER, FURY, GREYHOUND, INGLEFIELD, ECLIPSE, ECHO, ESCAPADE (DD); BRIDGEWATER, MILFORD, SAVORGNAN DA BRAZZA, COMMANDANT DUBOC, COMMANDANT DOMINE (Sloops, last three Free French)as well as troop transports and supply ships.
French forces were RICHELIEU (BB); GEORGES LEYGUES, MONTCALM (CL); LE FANTASQUE, L'AUDACIEUX, LE MALIN (large DD), LE HARDI (DD), D'ENTRECASTEAUX, D'IBERVILLE, CALAIS, COMMANDANT RIVIERE, LE SURPRISE, GAZELLE (Sloops); BEVEZIERS, PERSEE, AJAX (SS); five auxiliary cruisers. There are heavy shore batteries.
Vichy reject Gaullist overtures, shore batteries open fire hitting CUMBERLAND, FORESIGHT and INGLEFIELD. PERSEE is lost attacking a cruiser, AUSTRALIA engages L'AUDACIEUX and quickly hits her forcing her to beach.
Landing attempt beaten off.
AJAX sunk by FORTUNE. BARHAM, RESOLUTION and AUSTRALIA engage forts and ships in harbour. RESOLUTION hit four times. ARK ROYAL aircraft attack harbour losing six for no result.
Renewed shelling of harbour. RICHELIEU hits BARHAM, BEVEZIERES torpedoes RESOLUTION and Churchill cancels operation.
Ric Pelvin