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rdreyer

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Everything posted by rdreyer

  1. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Neutral Party: rdreyer I'm sure the RN commander was satisfied of the best intentions of the French Admiral. Unfortunately, irrespective of the content of the secret documents, it was judged that the risk was too great.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Churchill was not worried about the risk but wanted his "king's head" (a reference, which he was very fond of, to the French revolutionaries in 1793). The RN officers were convinced the French navy would never fight against them and were proven rights by events, even after the French navy had all reasons to have the British. The consequences however were quite bad for the British. The rest of the French fleet set sail to Toulon for better protection against British attack, where they ended up of course closer to the Germans. The French navy became very anti-British, as did the army, making the North African operation much slower for the Allies than it could have been, and delaying the invasions of Tunisia and Italy. Valuable British forces were tied down in Syria and Madagascar at a crucial time. It's a miracle that the French goverment didn't declare war on the UK over this. That they didn't speaks volumes of how likely the French navy was to ever join the Axis.
  2. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Neutral Party: The later behaviour of the French Navy, while no doubt related to being attacked by the RN, can hardly be interpreted as pro-allied. Remember Richelieu (or was it Jean Bart) fired at US warships during the Torch landings. Joe<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> The sudden invasion of (at the time) French territory, can hadly be interpreted as pro-French. What would you expect those warships to do when an uninvited and unanounced invasion force suddenly arrived at their doorstep. Especially after Mers El Kebir? During the armistice discussion, Darlan, the French top admiral, threatened to take the whole fleet to North Africa to continue the fight but relented at the last moment. The French commander at the fleet at Mers El Kebir was willing to set sail and join the British, but couldn't because he didn't want to be responsible for giving a pretext to the German for taking over the free zone in France. And when the Germans did invade the free zone, the fleet at Toulon sunk itself rather than fall to the Germans. Ciao, Renaud
  3. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Neutral Party: Along with rum, sodomy and the lash, the destruction of a potential enemy's fleet while they were tied up was one of the time-honoured traditions of the Royal Navy (see Copenhagen, Nile). The RN would have been in very deep **** had the French Navy become allied with the Kreigsmarine or Italian Navy against it. It was, IMHO, correctly decided that that the risk of (1) neutralization of the RN (2) invasion of the UK and (3) possible German conquest was too great to take. Unfortunately the British had been burned once too often by "a piece of paper" guaranteeing "peace in our time". The later behaviour of the French Navy, while no doubt related to being attacked by the RN, can hardly be interpreted as pro-allied. Remember Richelieu (or was it Jean Bart) fired at US warships during the Torch landings. Joe<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Those "pieces of paper" were official secret French government instructions to the Navy, instructing officers to prepare to resume the fight against Germany and to refrain from responding to any provocation from the British. The British commander was satisfied upon seeing those documents, and on the word of honor of the French commander. Churchill ordered the criminal slaughter anyways. When the British gave the French fleet the ultimatum, the French ships were put on alert, and the sailrs where delighted. thinking theyw ere going to fight Germans...
  4. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Big Time Software: States have to have SOME degree of Realpolitik or they will be bested by another that does. My philosphy is to look at the what, why, and result of such a decision. The attack on the French navy at Oran was, IMHO, a justifiable act within the context of the situations surrounding it. Steve<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Do you mean the British attack on the French navy at Mers El Kebir? What was justifiable about it? The British slaughtered many French sailors after having been show official documents guaranteeing the fleet would never been used against them, by the anglophile fleet commander. They attacked a country they were not at war with. This criminal act caused widespread outrage in France against the British. Ciao, Renaud
  5. Speedy writes: " Were you talking about the Rugby Union, bloody good game wasn't it mate." Oh yeah, great semi! That game between the All-Blacks and Les Bleus will always be remembered... I have no recollection for any games after that though Only that the team that deserved it over the whole tournament and the whole year won it, and congratulations to them! Ciao, Renaud
  6. Dar writes: " Renaud: Thanks for the posting on the French military observances! I am curious, though, is there any day marked to celebrate the revolution? Isn't "Bastille Day" that celebration?" Yes, we have the 14th of July which we call "Fe^te nationale" (i.e. "National Holiday"), and which foreigners call Bastille Day, which commemorates the taking of the Bastille (a political jail, which ironically was mostly empty at the time) by the people to start the Revolution. I didn't include it because it's not, strictly speaking, military related, even though there is a military parade. We also now celebrate "Win the World Cup" day on July 12th... Ciao, Renaud
  7. In France we have: November 11th (end of World War I) May 8th (end of European World War II) As far as I know, the Russians (and Yugoslavs) celebrate May 9th for the surrender of Germany. If I remember correctly, it has to do with the time of the signature versus the time the surrender actually took effect. Ciao, Renaud P
  8. Mike Oberly writes: "I'm glad you are able to play in other than 2D,Tom.I think playing this is 2D would be a real waste.And I must say,BTS,that placing those M18's on the hill was a dirty trick-as was all that open ground in front of the town I have to cross. Great demo,BTW." Hmmm... One my StuG's is moving towards the bridge, the 3 M-18's appear on the hill. 40 seconds later, there are 3 nice burnings wrecks on top of that hill . Great game! Ciao, Renaud
  9. Herr Oberst writes: "ASL: I placed a Track counter in this hex for that squad when they moved out of the woods during your movement phase. I also have Maj Kirov here with his MMG, -3 DRM, that squad was moving in the open, -1 DRM, so if we put them back there, with X firepower points and this -4 DRM, he has a 3 in 12 chance of a KIA on the whole squad. Yeah, I'll go for it. (first resolve THIS attack) Darn, missed! Next I'll use the squad in the adjacent building to fire at them next. (resolve THIS attack)" Sorry but that's not ASL, but SL. ASL doesn't use "track counters", defensive fire is resolved on the spot against moving targets. In ASL, squads can also break, get pinned etc. Of course this doesn't change what you're pointing out: the superiority of CM's system of simultaneous resolution of orders.
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