Military Model Scene

Title: Mers El-Kebir 1940
Author: Ryan K. Noppen
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-5970-9

Operation Catapult, number 405 in the Campaign series from Osprey. A 96-page soft-cover book. This one is written by historian Ryan K. Noppen, and is illustrated with some super artwork by Adam Tooby.
As is common with this series, there is an Introduction to set the scene and give helpful background to the events that make up the story told in this book. A key point, and something I think which has been included very often, is the place of this naval attack on elements of the French fleet at Mers El-Kebir in July of 1940. It provides a chronology of key events and goes on to look at the opposing commanders of both British and French forces, the strength of the two sides, including their orders of battle, before examining their respective operational plans. Then we get to the meat of the story, and a detailed account of what happened with the British naval attack on the French naval force, along with the French response and the subsequent Royal Navy Operation Lever. That leaves room for the closing section of the Aftermath, with analysis and conclusions.
I found it a helpful book, telling me a lot more about a battle I only knew a small amount about before I read this book. The context of the time is important, with differing viewpoints of the various 'interested parties', which went well beyond simply Britain and France. It was a part of the efforts to prevent units of the French Navy falling into the hands of the German Kriegsmarine, following the fall of France. I think it makes quite clear that whether the attack was a success or a failure depends very much on what side you want to look at it, so the analysis made for interesting reading.

Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.

Robin