Several French warships left harbor of Casablanca, French Morocco according to the War Cabinet Weekly Résumé No. 45of the Naval, Military and Air Situation 4-12 July 1940

Richelieu-class©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Jean Bart. Original postcard

An item reported that air reconnaissance of Casablanca, French Morocco pointed out that 6 French submarines and 2 destroyers left the harbor for patrolling and in the harbor were lying the battleship Jean Bart (1) together with 1-6” [light) cruiser and 8-10 destroyers. In the night of 5 July departed 7 submarines.

Note

1. Part of Richelieu-class fast battleships preceded by Dunkerque-class succeeded by the planned but not realized Alsace-class. Laid down on 12 December 1936, launched on 6 March 1940, commissioned on 8 January 1949, out of service on 1 August 1957, stricken on 10 February 1970 and broken up. On 22 February 1945 was decided to complete although in July was discussed as a battleship or as an aircraft carrier. On 21 September it became clear that completing as an aircraft carrier would cost 5 milliard Francs and five years delay in completition. She was able to carry 40 aircraft with 14 extra slung from the hangar deckhead. The armament consisted of 8x2-13cm anti aircraft guns, as a battleship 2x4-38cm/15” guns.

Source

National Archive UK. CAB-66-9-42. 

The naval defence of Tanger, Marocco according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 9 August 1917

An item reported that according to the naval attache at Madrid on 4 August in Tanger, Morocco were stationed 4 guard vessels and British motor boats fitted out with radio telegraphy systems. At sea were British torpedo boats and steam fishing vessels. With good weather went the motor boats as far as Larache but always returning in the evening to Tanger.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

Spanish West Africa 1946-1958

Formed on 20 July 1946 by the so-called Cape Juby Strip which was the Southern zone of the Spanish protectorate in Morocco with the colonies of Ifni, Saguia-el-Hamra and Rio de Oro. As a result of the Ifni War (23 November 1975-30 June 1958) was under the Treaty of Angra de Cinta de Cape Juby Strip handed over to Morocco and became Ifni and the Spanish Sahara in 1957 separate provinces.

Spanish Ifni 1934-1969

On 26 April 1860 ceded the Sultanate of Morocco the Territory of Ifni with the main town Sidi Ifni to Spain preceded by a short war between between Spain and Morocco. Until 1934 hardly anything changed but Spanish Ifni became then reality whem the governor-general of the Spanish Sahara took up residence. In 1946 was Spanish Ifni added to the newly formed Spanish West Africa and became on 1958 a separate province until 1969. Spain ceded on 30 June 1969 what was left of Spanish Ifni to Morocco. 

Spanish Protectorate in Morocco 1912-1956

Formed under a treaty between France and Spain dated 27 November 1912 formalising the Spanish sphere of influence into a protectorate. This protectorate included two areas, a northern strip on the Mediterranean and the Strait of Gibraltar and a southerm area around Cape Juby bordering the Spanish Sahara. The northern strip was handed over to Morocco on 7 April 1956. Morocco was just independent and no longer a French protectorate. After the short Ifni War ceded Spain the southern area under the Treaty of Angra de Cintra on 1 April 1958 to Morocco. 

Spanish Sahara 1884-1986

Officially known as the Spanish Possessions in the Sahara between 1884-1958 and Province of the Sahara between 1958-1976. Between 1946-1958 formed the Spanish Sahara with the Spanish protected Cape Juby and Spanish Ifni  the colony Spanish West Africa. In 1976 forced international pressure amd internal Spain to give up her colony.The native Sahrawi population represented by the Polisario Front claimed the territory nowdays known as the Western Sahara just like Mauretinia and Morocco did. The latter two countries invaded the territory in 1976 but Mauritania was forced to retreat by the Polisario Front, Morocco captured 2/3 part of the Western Sahara, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic controls the remaining 1/3 part. Spain finally possesses the jure administrering power. 

French submarine Poncelet captured German steamship Chemnitz according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad No. 4 dated April 1940

An item reported that the French submarine Poncelet (1) captured the 5.500 tons German steamship Chemnitz (2) in begin October [1939] on a distance of 1.200 miles from France in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. A prize crew went on board and during 5 dagen she was escorted by the Poncelet with 10 knots speed until the arrival at Casablanca, French Morocco.

Notes

1. Laid down by Arsenal de Lorient, Lorient, France on 3 March 1927, launched on 10 April 1929, commissioned on 1 September 1932 and scuttled to prevent capture by the British on 7 November 1940. Part of Redoutable-class.

2. Later renamed Saint-Bertrand. She was captured on 23 or 26 September while underway from Durban, South Africa to Hamburg, Germany, stopped at Las Palmas, Gran Cananaria, Canary Islands before resuming the voyage back home, captured 70 nautical miles south of Faial Island, Azores and sent to Casablanca, French Morocco. Call sign DOIQ. Gross tonnage 5,522 tons, under deck 4,918 tons, net tonnage 3,310 tons, built by Bremer Vulkan, Vegesack, Germany in 1939, owner Norddeutscher Lloyd, homeport Bremen, dimensions 440.6 x 56.2 x 25.9 feet. 

Swedish trawler Polar 1989-

Zamakona’s RepNaval ship repair yard, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain 9 September 2014

Morocco-flagged, homeport Agadir, IMO 8820274, MMSI 242144100 and call sign CNA4723. Former Sweden-flagged, homeport Fiskeback. Laid down by Johs. Kristensen Skuvsbyggeri A/S, Hvide Sande, Denmark with yard number 190 on 20 February 1989, launched on 5 October 1989 and completed on 25 May 1990.

Owner 2 KS Fishing, Vastra Frolunda, Sweden. 

French cargo ship Caudebec visited Lisbon, Portugal in July 1941

In his letter No. 855 dated Lisbon 8 July 1941 reported the German naval attaché in Portugal to the Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine at Berlin the marine traffic at Lisbon between 29 June-5 July 1941. French cargo ship Caudebec, departed on 5 July towards Casablanca?, French Morocco [nowadays Morocco]. Article 21975. Gross tonnage 1,471 ton. Loaded general cargo.

Source

Bundesarchive. RM 11-17. German naval attaché in Portugal. 

Moroccan trawler (ex-Þórunn Sveinsdóttir 1991-2008, Sudurey VE 12 2008-2019) Le Vizir 2019-

Port of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands 11 November 2025

Morocco-flagged, IMO 9015058, MMSI 242811300 and call sign CNA5390. Homeport as Þórunn Sveinsdóttir and Sudurey was Vestmannaeyjar, call sign TFOS. Owner Cabestan Fisheries, Casablanca, Morocco. Completed by Slippstodin, Akureyri, Iceland in July 1991. Owner/manager Isfelag Vestmannaeya, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. 

French passenger steamship Compiègne to leave Lisbon, Portugal for French Morocco in November 1940

In his letter dated Lisbon dated 3 November 1940 No. 890 to the Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine wrote the German Marineattaché Portugal that according to the newspaper Diario de Lisboa, Lisbon dated 30 October that on the hull of the French passenger steamship Compiègne lying since months in Lisbon the national color s were painted. The Belgian and French refugees were forced to leave her and to seek hotels. She was with a cargo on board bound for French Morocco.

Source

Bundesarchiv. German Marineattaché Portugal. RM 11-16

British unarmed tanker Helka bound for Fedala according to a letter of the German naval attaché at Istanbul dated 22 December 1939

In his letter dated Istanbul,  22 December 1939 No. 575g reported the German naval attaché to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Abteilung Ausland the steamships passing Istanbul, loaded with contraband for the enemy. An item reported on 19 December the British unarmed tanker Helka loaded with 4,800 ton gasoline bound for Fedala [Mohammedia, Morocco?].

Source

Bundesarchiv. German Marineattaché for , Greece, Romania and Bulgaria 1939-1941. RM 12-II/459. 

French tanker Alberta bound for French Morocco according to a letter of the German naval attaché at Istanbul dated 22 December 1939

In his letter dated Istanbul,  22 December 1939 No. 575g reported the German naval attaché to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Abteilung Ausland the steamships passing Istanbul, loaded with contraband for the enemy. An item reported on 18 December the French tanker Alberta loaded with 3,900 ton petrol bound for Casablanca, French Morocco. Armed with 1 gun on the bow and 1 on the stern. Completely painted light grey.

Source

Bundesarchiv. German Marineattaché for , Greece, Romania and Bulgaria 1939-1941. RM 12-II/459. 

Moroccan frigate Sultan Moulay Ismail 614 2009-

Vlissingen-Oost, Netherlands 19 April 2025

Morocco-flagged, IMO 9515967, MMSI 242011100 and call sign CNLG. Sigma 9813 Version (multi mission frigate), also called heavy corvettes. Ordered on 6 February 2008, Laid down by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, Vlissingen, Netherlands in March 2009, launched on 4 February 2011 and commissioned on 10 March 2012.

Moroccan frigate Sultan Moulay Ismail 614 2009-

Schelde off Vlissingen, Netherlands 20 March 2025

Morocco-flagged, IMO 9515967, MMSI 242011100 and call sign CNLG.

Sigma 9813 Version (multi mission frigate), also called heavy corvettes. Ordered on6 February 2008, Laid down by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, Vlissingen, Netherlands in March 2009, launched on 4 February 2011 and commissioned on 10 March 2012. 

Spain refused Russian squadron coal bunkering acccording to the Dutch newspaper Bataviaasch nieuwsblad dated 28 October 1904

An item reported that the commanding officer of the Russian Baltic squadron at his arrival at Vigo, Spain directly was informed that he got no permission to load coal. Admiral Rodsjentvenski (1) claimed that his ships were damaged and for this reason left the fleet. Despite lacking permission came 5 German colliers alongside and sent a Spanish cruiser some boats to prevent coaling. Three colliers left since then for Tangier, French Morocco. Rodtjestoenski promised to stop further coaling but asked anyway to be permitted to load enough coal to be able to arrive at Tanger.

Notes

1. Zinovy Petrovich Rozhestvensky (11 November 1848-14 January 1909 St. Petersburg, Russia) nicknamed Mad Dog, served between 1868-1909 in the navy ending his career in the rank of vice admiral. Between 1883-1885 in Bulgarian naval service. In 1904 he commanded the Baltic Fleet.

2. Russo-Japanese War 8 February 1904-5 September 1905

Icelandic trawler (ex-Hakon 1987-2001, Askell 2001-2008, Birtingur 2008-2009) Erika 2009-

Zamakona's Repnaval shipyard, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands 26-11-2024

Morocco-flagged, IMO 8701909, MMSI 242167100 and call sign CNA4858. Built by Hatlo Verksted, Ulsteinvik, Norway in 1987. Owner/manager Sildarvinnslan/Sirius Pelagic S.a.R.L., Neskaupstadur, Iceland.

Swedish fishing vessel Astrid 1997-

AstiCan ship repair yard, Las Palmas de Gran Canarias, Canary Islands, Spain 26 November 2024

Morocco-flagged, registered at Dakhla, Morocco, IMO 9163037, MMSI 242123400 and call sign DATAHUB. Owned by Swedish Astrid Invest AB, Roro, Sweden. Laid down by Hellesoy Verft, Løfallstrand, Norway on 4 December 91996, launched on 4 May 1997 and completed on 6 September 1997. Earlier Sweden-flagged, homeport Roro, call sign SJFX. 

German collier Valencia providing Russian cruiser acccording to the Dutch newspaper Soerabaijasch handelsblad dated 22 August 1904

An item referred to a telegram sent from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain to the Daily Mail reporting that the German collier Valencia departed rounding Cape Juby [southern Morocco] to provide the Russian cruiser recently present off the Portuguese coast.

Note

1. Russo-Japanese War 8 February 1904-5 September 1905

Unchanged positions of major French warships at Casablanca, French Morocco according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee Daily summary dated 11 May 1942

Richelieu-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

La Galissonnière-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Duguay-Trouin class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item reported that aircraft sighted during their flight on 10 May no changes in the positions of the French major warships at Casablanca, French Morocco consisting of the still uncompleted battleship Jean Bart (1) and the two light cruisers Gloire (2) and Primaguet.(3)

Notes

1. Of the Richelieu-class as an answer on the Italian Littorio-class, preceded by Dunkerque-class and succeeded by the planned but not realized Alsace-class. Laid down on 12 December 1936, launched on 6 March 1940, commissioned on 8 January 1949, stricken on 10 February 1970 and broken up. Main armament super firing 2x4-38cm/15" /45 Modèle 1935 guns before the bridge.

2. Laid down by Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde on 13 November 1933, launched on 28 September 1935, commissioned on 15 November 1937 and broken up in 1958. Part of the La Galissonnière-class light cruiser preceded by Émile Bertin succeeded by planned De Grasse-class.

3. Duguay-Trouin-class light cruisers preceded by planned La Motte-Picquet-class and succeeded by Jeanne d’Arc, laid down by Arsenal de Brest, France on 16 August 1923, launched on 21 May 1924, commissioned on 1 April 1927 and destroyed by the US Navy in the Naval Battle of Casablanca on 8 November 1941 and wreck sold and broken up in 1951.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 152 dated 11 May 1942