Gilbert
Posts: 243
Joined: 8/8/2009 From: Hendaye, France Status: offline
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quote:
About the Forces de Haute Mer, I suspect there is some confusion. The name "Forces de Haute Mer" (blue water forces) was the official term Vichy used for the French Navy after the 1940 armistice. They were based in Toulon, as it was the only arsenal Vichy controlled (Cherbourg, Brest and Lorient were in occupied France), and was under the command of admiral Laborde. In 1939, I don't think this designation makes sense. François, this is true but l'Etat Français (Vichy) just continued to use the term "Forces de haute Mer". I will quote "La Marine Française 1939-1940 by Michel Bertrand Ed du Portail 1984, foreword by Rear Admiral Chatelle, Chief of Navy Historical Department, p.32: "Les Forces Maritimes comprennent : - Les Forces Navales et Aériennes de Haute Mer, - Les Forces navales, aériennes et terrestres de défense du littoral, - les écoles destinées à la formation militaire et technique du personnel, qui sont rattachées tantôt aux Forces Navales de haute mer, tantôt aux forces de défense du littoral." "Les principales forces navales à la veille de la seconde guerre mondiale sont: - La Flotte de Haute Mer, comprenant plusieurs escadres. - L'escadre qui comprend plusieurs divisions, - La Division, généralement composée de trois unités." Mais nous voilà bien loin de la Guerre du Pacifique, LOL! Gilbert
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UMI YUKABA "If I go away to sea, I shall return a corpse awash, if duty calls me to the mountain, a verdant will be my pall, thus for the sake of the Emperor, I will not die peacefully at home...."
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