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French Navy

Page history last edited by Michael 5 years, 11 months ago

There are two French naval bases in the Middle East and Indian Ocean area: Beirut and Djibouti.

The "Levant Division" is based at Beirut; it is composed of the "colonial aviso" D'Iberville and three submarines (the Marsouin, Narval, and Requin). A half-dozen naval patrol and transport aircraft (Breguet 521 Bizerte seaplanes) are also based in Beirut. Several squadrons belonging to the Armée de l'Air are based in the Middle East:

The airfield at Rayack (in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley) has a fighter squadron (26 aircraft, probably Morane-Saulnier M.S.225), a bomber squadron (12 aircraft, probably Potez 540), and a reconnaissance-observation squadron (6 aircraft, Potez 25). Airfields at Damascus, Aleppo, Palmyra, and Deir ez-Zor each have one or two more squadrons of Potez 25 aircaft (which can also function as light bombers).

At Djibouti, the Indian Ocean Station consists of the "colonial aviso" Bougainville. There are no French naval bases or permanently-stationed ships between Djibouti and Saigon, although passing naval vessels call at Diego Suarez, Pondichery, Madagascar, etc..

An "air detachment" is stationed at Djibouti, consisting of fourteen Potez 25 aircraft. The detachment is commanded by a lieutenant. Some Breguet 521 Bizerte seaplanes would be flown in from Beirut, if long-range patrols were required.

French land forces in the Middle East are fairly extensive (at least a brigade in Syria, for example); however, the main troops in the Indian Ocean area are at Madagascar (two regiments of locally-raised "native" infantry, and two battalions of colonial artillery).

see also this side plan

Bougainville-class colonial aviso (equivalent to a sloop in the Royal Navy), launched 1931-1939

length 340 feet, beam 42 feet, draft 13 feet; displacement 1970 tons
engines two 3,200 HP diesels
top speed 16 knots (19 knots on trials), range 13,000 miles
armament three 138mm Mle 1927 guns in open mounts, plus four 37mm Mle 1925 AA guns and six 12.3mm MG
crew 14 officers, 121 men; plus capacity to carry a company of infantry troops, and a seaplane. Usually fitted with half-a-dozen or more ship's boats (for landing troops, etc.), and a fairly large, comprehensive set of radio equipment (since the ship has to operate alone, all over the Indian ocean).