Operation Catapult

Operation Catapult was a military operation during World War II that took place in July 1940. It involved the British Royal Navy attacking the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria, to prevent the ships from falling into German hands after France's surrender to Nazi Germany. The operation aimed to safeguard British naval supremacy and deter any potential threat from the French ships if they were seized by Germany. The attack resulted in significant loss of life and damaged relations between Britain and France, highlighting the complexities of alliances during the war.