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Don Bowen -> (2/28/2003 1:31:04 PM)
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New Caledonia and other French possessions in the Pacific were originally loyal to the new French government in Vichy - supported by a weak French Battalion in Noumea and the sloop [I]Dumont d’Urville[/I]. There was also considerable Free-French sentiment in the region – encouraged by the allies. In September, 1940, the Australian cruiser [I]Adelaide[/I] – the only allied ship in the region capable of over-awing the [I]d’Urville[/I], proceeded to Noumea (under the pretext of escorting the Norwegian Tanker [I]Norden[/I] from Port Vila). Her real task was to keep the pro-Vichy captain of [I]d’Urville[/I] from supporting the pro-Vichy government. The French dispatched another sloop, the [I]Amiral Charner[/I], from French Indochina but before she could arrive the Gaulists seized power. [I]Amiral Charner[/I] turned around and [I]Dumont d’Urville[/I] also departed for Indochina. After war broke out the Australian 2/3 Independent Company was sent to Noumea until larger forces could arrived from the U.S.
The Japanese originally planned to take Nauru in May, 1942, using the Guadalcanal/Tulagi invasion force. They frequently used this invade, re-board, go-invade-somewhere-else process during the early part of the war but on this occasion it was derailed by the [I]Yorktown[/I] air attacks. Nauru was finally taken in a minor operation in August, 1942.
After refit in the U.S., the French destroyer (contre torpilleur) [I]Le Triomphant[/I] was sent to the region in November, 1941 and subsequently operated with the Royal Australian Navy. Service in the Pacific was chosen to lessen the chance of combat with pro-Vichy French forces. I believe there was one more Free French vessel - I minesweeper I think - but I can't seem to find her name. Several other French ships served in the Pacific after France was liberated and the French forces were re-united.
Don Bowen
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