An item referred to usually reliable sources reporting that the French battleship Richelieu (1) lying at Dakar, Senegal intended to France. She was still in a somewhat damaged condition and her serviceability was unknown. Vichy France denied that she would depart. The battleship Strasbourg (2) lying at Toulon, France was to go to Dakar, planned arrival on 5 April while the light cruisers Gloire (3), George Leygues (4) and Montcalm (5) would go from Dakar towards France. The first already left on 30 March going to the north. The others ships did not move and on 2 April was the Richelieu still lying at Dakar. The J.I.C. commented that the Allies would prevent the strenghtening of the French naval forces in the Mediterranean with the Richelieu coming to an European or North African harbour. A close eye was kept on the French ships.
Notes
1. Part of Richelieu-class response on the Italian Littorio-class, preceded by Dunkerque class succeeded by planned Alsace-class, laid down by Arsenal de Brest on 22 October 1935, launched on 17 January 1939, commissioned on 1 April 1940, decommissioned in 1967 and stricken and broken up in 1968.
2. Part of Dunkerque-class response on German Deutschland-class heavy cruisers/pocket battleships preceded by planned Lyon-class and realized Bretagne-class succeeded by Richelieu-class, laid down under 1934 Porgramme by Chantiers de Penhoët, Daint Nazaire, France on 24 November 1934, launched on 12 December 1936, commissioned on 15 September 1938, scuttled at Toulon, France on 27 November 1942 and sodl toe broken up in 1955.
3. Laid down by Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde on 13 November 1933, launched on 28 September 1935, commissioned on 15 November 1937 and scrapped in 1958. Part of the La Galissonnière-class light cruiser preceded by Émile Bertin succeeded by planned De Grasse-class.
4. Laid down by At.&Ch. De St. Nazaire-Penhot on 21 September 1933, launched on 24 March 1936, commissioned on 15 November 1937, decommissioned on 1 May 1957 and sold to be broken up in November 1959. Part of the La Galissonnière-class light cruiser preceded by Émile Bertin succeeded by planned De Grasse-class.
5. Laid down by Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, La Seyne-sur-Mer, France on 15 November 1933, launched on 26 October 1935, commissioned on 15 November 1937, decommmissioned on 1 May 1957, accommodation hulk since 1959, renamed Q457 on 31 December 1969 and broken up in 1970. Part of the La Galissonnière-class light cruiser preceded by Émile Bertin succeeded by planned De Grasse-class.
Source
Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 115 dated 4 April 1942
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