Battle of Gabon?

Lupo Solitario · Post by **Lupo Solitario** » 18 Sep 2006 18:44

In the "quiz" thread had been named a battle of Gabon fought in 1940

May I have some detail about it?

Bronsky · Post by **Bronsky** » 18 Sep 2006 20:56

This is about the rallying of French Equatorial Africa to the Free French, in late 1940. Landlocked territories rallied first - Chad, Ubangui-Chari (today "Central African Republic"), then Camerun with Leclerc, from which they invaded Gabon. A first attempt failed on October 27th, then after the Dakar operation another succeeded. Loyalist (i.e. Vichy) forces fought back.

this link has a broad outline with a map (in French, shouldn't be too much of a problem for you, Lupo).

It's in the course of these campaigns (not specifically Gabon, but French Equatorial Africa) that the Free French gunboat "Savorgnan de Brazza" sank its Vichyist sister-ship "Bougainville" (9 October).

David Lehmann · Post by **David Lehmann** » 01 Oct 2006 06:57

Hello,

As sais in the text, the Hotchkiss H39 tanks of the 1st Free French tank company were involved in that area:
http://ciedechars.francaislibres.net/
http://ciedechars.francaislibres.net/pa ... ccr&su=189

It was the former 342e CACC sent in Norway. It is also used in Gabon and Cameroun, in 1941 in Syria, then in Egypt and in the western desert . In 1943-1944, the crews are integrated in the French 2nd armored division (1st company of the 501e RCC).

Regards,

David