What was the Battle of Dakar?

The Battle of Dakar, also known as Operation Menace, was an unsuccessful attempt in September 1940 by the Allies to capture the strategic port of Dakar in French West Africa (modern-day Senegal). It was hoped that the success of the operation could overthrow the pro-German Vichy French administration in the colony, and be replaced by a pro-British Free French one under General Charles de Gaulle.

Following failed aircraft landings and placing of troops by marine landing craft by the Free French, the Allied fleet continued to attack the coastal defences and Vichy navy in the harbor and the Vichy forces continued to defend them. Both the Allies and Vichy suffered damaage to their military ships. The Vichy battleship Richelieu was hit by two 15-inch shells, two Vichy submarines were sunk, and the destroyer L'Audacieux damaged.

The Allied battleship Resolution was torpedoed and battleship Barham was hit by two shells from the coastal defence batteries.

Overall, the Battle of Dakar did not go well for the Allies. The Vichy forces did not back down. Resolution was so heavily damaged she had to be towed to Cape Town. During most of this conflict, bombers of the Vichy French Air Force, based in North Africa, bombed the British base at Gibraltar. Finally, the Allies withdrew, leaving Dakar and French West Africa in Vichy hands.