French Battleship Richelieu

The lead ship of her class of French fast battleships, Richelieu was laid down on 22 October 1935 and launched on 17 January 1939. With the approach of war with Nazi Germany looming, work on her was accelerated and she was commissioned on 1 April 1940.

With the Fall of France, Richelieu was ordered to Dakar in French West Africa. At this time, the British feared that Germany could take control of the French fleet. As such, they demanded that French ships either join the Free French Navy, head to a neutral port for internment, head to the French West Indies or be scuttled. Failure to comply would result in the Royal Navy attacking. Ships in British Ports were seized. Those in Alexandria agreed to be disarmed and remain neutral. Those at Mers-el-Kabir refused to comply resulting the loss of Bretagne, and severe damage to Provence and Dunkerque although Strasbourg escaped. In Dakar, Richelieu’s captain refused the conditions, at whch point Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers from HMS Hermes attacked.

A successful torpedo hit on the aft starboard side caused severe damage, immobilizing the ship.

While repairs were underway, British and Free French Forces launched Operation Menace, an attempt to seize Dakar and persuade Vichy French forces to join the Allies. The attack failed, but additional damage was caused to Richelieu from shell hits by HMS Barham and premature shell detonation in her main armament. During the battle, the French submarine Bévéziers torpedoes the British battleship HMS Resolution which had to retire to Freetown, Sierra Leone, and then the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for major repairs.

When the Allies invaded North Africa in November 1942 with Operation Torch, Vichy French forces there joined the Allies. German forces in France then occupied the remaining southern portion of France that had been unoccupied. Vichy French forces in the remaining French territories then also joined the Allied.

Richelieu was taken to New York where she underwent a major re-build to repair her damage. On returning to service, she served with the Royal Navy home Fleet until March 1942 when she sailed for the Far East. Attached to the British Eastern Fleet, Richelieu performed escort and shore bombardments until the end of the war.

Post-war, the ship took art in the attempt to re-establish French rule in Indo-China. On her return to France, she was used as a training ship until January 1956. At this time she was used as a stationary school ship and barracks until 1968 when she was sold for scrap.