WesWorld

[SIZE=3]Q1/1941 SUMMARY[/SIZE]

January 1
The new aircraft carriers Vengeur and Pacificateur were laid down today in La Rochelle. These new carriers, modified versions of the Bucentaure-class aircraft carriers laid down two years ago, will enter the Marine Nationale in 1944. The MN has also laid down eight new destroyers in the large (Surcouf) and small (Sabre) classes.

January 2
The sail-training ship Belle Poule has departed Brest with a complement of officer graduates from the Ecole Navale. The ship will conduct a cruise of the western hemisphere, calling at ports as far away as South America before returning to Europe in early May.

January 6
The Ministry of Defense has requested, as part of its annual report to the government, the construction of additional oil depot reserves for use by the Marine Nationale. Read more here.

January 8
The Aeronavale reports that it has acquired the Chilean "metalclad" airship Aquiles for French use. Read more here.

January 20
The French airships Jacques Charles and Charles Nungesser arrived in Brazil today. Read more here.

January 20
A series of French amphibious assault exercises ended today, with the Marine Nationale reporting "a highly satisfactory performance". The exercises, carried out by landing ships of the Marine Nationale and Indochina-based colonial elements of the French Army, took place between the Indochinese towns of Phan Thiet and Vung Tau. A total of eight different landings were made by different Tirailleurs indochinois units of the Troupes Coloniales. Over four thousand men of the Tirailleurs indochinois participated, including a colonial tank company. These units were locally-recruited in Indochina and equipped with the latest military equipment.

A number of foreign observers were permitted to view the exercises from the landing ships.

January 24
The aircraft carrier Vauban and a quartet of escorting destroyers was detached from the Force de Raid today and left Cam Ranh Bay, steaming for Sattahip to make a port call on the Royal Thai Navy.

January 27
The French carrier Vauban and four destroyers began a week-long port call in Sattahip, Thailand.

January 28
The Renault and SOMUA cavalry tanks now undergoing testing by the French Army have received official names. The 18-ton Renault design has received the appellation "Bruyere", after famed cavalry General Jean-Pierre-Joseph Bruyere; while the 33-ton SOMUA design has received the designation "Montbrun", after General Louis-Pierre Montbrun.

January 30
Sources within aircraft firm Arsenal de l'Aéronautique report that the planned prototype of the Arsenal VB.20 high-altitude interceptor and escort fighter, originally planned for construction in November 1940, has still not been built... Read more here.

January 31
The French Parliament voted today to accept the Marine Nationale's recommendation to create two Naval Construction Demi-Brigades. The first of these units already exists in ad-hoc form, and will be formally constituted in New Caledonia in February. The second brigade will be created in Metropolitan France sometime this spring. The Demi-Brigades will carry out vital construction tasks related to the development of bases for warships as well as naval aircraft.

February 3
After several delays. the Farman F.400 Ourse made its maiden flight today.

February 4
The proposed Akosombo Dam and the Tema aluminum smelter project in French Ghana has hit a major snag over issues with the price. Extensive controversy surrounds the project, mainly focusing on the issue of the project's financial viability. The French colonial administration is increasingly strongly opposed to borrowing funds to loan to the Volta River Authority to construct the dam, and has sought to push private funding to construct the dam. However, very few private companies have the financial reserves - estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of francs - necessary to take over construction of the dam, particularly when other, cheaper projects offer better short-term viability.

February 5
Circular to all governments: the French, Iberian, and Royal Thai navies will be conducting joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea south of San Hainando at some point between February 17th and 21st. No undue issues with civilian merchant shipping are anticipated at this point.

February 6
After an extended sailing delay, four Zephir-class sloops have left the port of Djibouti en route to their new ports of operations. The Égyptienne and Piémontaise shall voyage to their new homeport of Abidjan, stopping for port visits and public open days in Cape Town and Libreville (SAE). Their sisterships Bellone and Aréthuse will cruise to their new homeport of Dakar, stopping for port calls in Syrie, Greece, Yugoslavia, Italy, Iberia, and Gibraltar.

February 6 - Le Figaro
Of interest to our readers may be this item from the Armee de Terre, which announced several days ago that a group of sixteen men have departed Abidjan, in Côte d'Ivoire, in an ambitious attempt to drive from Abidjan to Algiers, across the whole of western Africa. The expedition is being undertaken at the request of defense manufacturer Transall, which is competing for a contract to supply infantry carriers to the Army. Transall wishes to prove the reliability of their newly-developed infantry carriers to the army, and arranged for the expedition, reminiscent of the "Black Cruise" of 1924-1925 by Citroen half-tracks.

The expedition reportedly arrived by ship in Abidjan four days ago, but wasted no time getting underway, leaving at once. At the latest report, the convoy should reach the city of Ouagoudougou in the next day or two. The perils of savage Africa still stretch out before them, with wildlife, uncertain or nonexistent roads, and the sand sea of the western Sahara between them and their final goal on the shores of the Mediterranean.

February 10
The French Army has concluded acceptance trials for two tanks in consideration for adoption. The Army has elected to adopt both tanks for service. The smaller vehicle, the eighteen-tonne Renault Char-6A Bruyere, will be used as a light reconnaissance and colonial tank, while the larger 33-tonne SOMUA Char-8A Montbrun will be used as the main French tank. Orders for the new tanks are currently being negotiated with Renault and SOMUA, and other companies will likely build the tanks under license. AMX and Hotchkiss have already negotiated terms to build versions of the Char-6A Bruyere, while ARL, APX, and ACL are reportedly to receive some orders for the Montbrun.

In additional news, AMX and FCM are reportedly preparing a design for a "battle-cruiser" tank for the consideration of the Army.

February 11
On the heels of the Renault Char-6A's adoption by the French Army, Renault and the French Army has announced that it will send two of the Bruyere mild steel prototypes to the Kingdom of Thailand, along with six brand-new VBE-6 tank training vehicles. The Royal Thai Army has shown an interest in potentially acquiring the Bruyere, and the prototype tanks will be sent to demonstrate the vehicle's qualities to the Thai Army's commanders. The tank training vehicles will be loaned to the Thai Army indefinitely, and should a sales agreement be reached, the training tanks will be gifted to the Thai Army. In the event the Thais pick another vehicle, the training tanks will be returned to serve in Indochina.

February 14
With the French elections now three months away, and the deadline for filing candidacies rapidly approaching, several politicians have announced their candidacy for the office of the president. This coming election appears to be increasingly important for the course of the nation, as a number of vital issues, such as the future Indochina plebiscite, will likely present a challenge to the next government. Current contenders for the presidency are Maurice Thorez (Parti communiste français), Félix Gouin (Parti socialiste français), Paul Theisman (Alliance républicaine), and Guy Morel (Front républicain).

February 24
The first six Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 400 naval floatplanes were delivered today to the naval aerodrome at Marseilles. This new floatplane, powerful and fast, will soon re-equip the Marine Nationale, serving as the fleet's eyes and ears. Even before entering French service, it has attracted the discerning eye of an as-yet unnamed export customer, which placed an order for forty aircraft.

February 25
Three of the largest utility companies in France announced their intent to merge to form Électricité de France S.A., which will become the largest utilty supplier in France. The government has encouraged discussions leading to the merger in the belief that it will lead to better investment in the national electric network.

February 28
The Breguet Br.890 airliner entered service today with Air France, making a round trip from Paris to Zurich. The high-speed pressurized airliner gained favorable reviews when shown at the 1940 Paris Air Show, and Breguet's designers have indicated that they are working on a longer-ranged variant with the more economical Clerget 16H aero-diesel. The French armed forces have reportedly taken a medium transport version under consideration as well.

March 3
The French military journal Le Spectateur militaire may be making a comeback next month, as three retired officers of the French Army have teamed with a publisher to return the magazine to print. Le Spectateur militaire, first published in 1826, commented on military topics ranging from history, to foreign developments, to reports of current military events.

March 4
At an open house at their company headquarters today, Citroen showed off the first prototypes of the upcoming 2CV small car. Read more here.

March 6
The Armee de Terre has confirmed rumors that a number of substantial military reforms are underway, including an adjustment to the overall force levels of the Army. The Army's leadership and spokesmen declined to comment on the nature of the reforms, but stated that they would "increase the modern fighting power, sustainability, and professionalism of the Army."

March 7
The final date to file a candidacy for the French presidential elections on May 12th brought no surprises. The current contenders are Monsieur Maurice Thorez (or the leftist Parti communiste français), Félix Gouin of the center-left Parti socialiste français, Guy Morel of the center-left Front républicain, and Paul Theisman, the leader of the right Alliance républicaine.

March 9
Locals flocked into the city of Accra today to protest the proposed Akosombo Dam project. The proposed dam, intended to power an aluminium smelter, will drown some of Côte-de-l'Or's best riverside farmland under the world's largest manmade lake. Although Accra police observed the crowd, no incidents occurred.

The French colonial governor, speaking with reporters via telephone, said "this project will indisputably cause major changes to the way of life in many regions of Côte-de-l'Or, and wild rumors in this region result in uncertainty and anger from the local populace. Paris needs to communicate better with the people in order to ensure they understand the effects and are not deceived by false rumor.

March 10
The Service Technique de l'Aéronautique has approved paper designs submitted by Marcel Bloch for an engine trials aircraft. The plane will be designated the Bloch MB.1000.

March 12
The Cavalry School at Saumer has been officially transferred to the new Armoured Cavalry Branch, and will carry on the traditions of both the French cavalry and tank branches. The school will be renamed the École d'application de l'arme blindée cavalerie. The well-regarded Major Philippe Leclerc, who heroically distinguished himself as a captain at the Battle of Meknes in the Rif-Atlas War in 1937, has received promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel and requested to take up the post of Commandant.

March 14
The French Army has begun testing the new grenade à manche modele 1941, which is designed to improve the performance of the current 25mm antitank guns currently in service. The grenade à manche modele 1941, which resembles an outsized rifle grenade, has a section which fits in the barrel of a standard mle 1934 antitank gun and is fired by a special blank round, much in the same way as a rifle grenade.

March 18 - L'Union, Business Section
A young entrepreneur and aviator named Max Holste has announced his intent to acquire the production workshops formerly belonging the Guichet et Fossier SNC in order to produce airplanes. Monsieur Holste's new company will be named S.A. Avions Max Holste.

March 19 - Nouveau Journal Coloniale
Emile Abraham, a prominent Lebanese businessman, has outlined to the French colonial administration in Beirut a proposal to turn the coastal port of Jounieh into the "Monte Carlo of the Middle East". This small sea-side city on the outskirts of Beirut has seen some hard times following the Great War, but remains a modest tourist destination, and is the seat of the Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church. Abraham's proposal suggests building a new casino, the Casino du Liban, and an aerial gondola lift to the Our Lady of Lebanon Shrine at the top of a steep nearby mountain, as well as concurrent work on other tourist sites in the region.

March 19
The French Armed Forces have sought to acquire ground near Biscarrosse, allegedly to establish a new seaplane base along the Atlantic coast.

March 21 - Paris-Soir
Air France has announced that the Bloch MB.970 Transatlantique will initiate trans-oceanic service from Paris to New York, via Shannon or Cleito, sometime this summer. Shortly thereafter, the MB.970 will also enter trans-oceanic service to Sao Paulo, Brazil via Dakar and Fortaleza. Air France has also announced that it will be revamping its service in Africa with new aircraft and increased routes.

March 24 - Paris-Soir, business section
Transall and Michelin spokesmen confirmed rumors that they started informal negotiations regarding Transall purchasing a controlling stake in Citroen. The negotiations reportedly were initiated at the behest of Citroen's leadership, as they are dissatisfied with Michelin's unwillingness to use funds to sell Citroens outside France, or to increase the company's market share in France. While the French government arranged a deal allowing Citroen to build and sell the upcoming 2CV in Russia, Michelin's management has put the dampers on any major factory improvements or factory expansions to meet the demand. Other export opportunities have reportedly been overlooked.

According to insider reports, Transall will offer to purchase a major part of Michelin's stock, but the tyre manufacturer will maintain a significant percentage of ownership, and new-built Citroens will continue to use Michelin tyres exclusively. Transall will, in turn, help market Citroens internationally and may fund a new factory in France.

March 25
François Hussenot, an engineer with Centre d'Essais en Vol de Marignane, has received a patent for the so-called "Hussenograph", which is a device fitted to aircraft to record vital data for future review.

March 26 - Toulon-Matin
The 4e Groupement Aérien de Porte-avions has reported successful conversion to the new Bloch MB.1050 Milan, Breguet Br.890 and Latécoère Late-550 Épaulard carrier aircraft. The 4e Groupement, to be assigned to the carrier L'Ocean upon completion of her trials later this year, is the first to be equipped with the new aircraft, as the squadrons of the Force de Raid are still deployed away from Toulon.

March 28 - Le Monde
The French Parliament voted today on the "Act to Create a National Road System" to authorize funds to make substantial improvements to the French road network, acting on recommendations put forward by the transportation ministry. The project has acquired a broad degree of support from all sides of the political spectrum, as the Left believes it will provide money for the creation of construction jobs, while others point to the beneficial aspects for defense, the French auto industry, European tourism, and national pride.

The Act provides for the construction of two "Autoroutes" based on the model of the German autobahn network and the Eastern European Autostrada, as well as a number of smaller Voie rapide roads, or "Route nationale". In addition, a number of "Route en 2+1" roads will be built. (Map and further information will follow.)

March 31 - Paris-Soir
A government spokesman has confirmed reports that the Leduc O.10 test aircraft has conducted a number of "composite flights" at Centre d'Essais en Vol, mounted on a Bloch MB.161 mothership. These composite flights allow Rene Leduc and his engineers to test the airframe's design in actual flight situations. If composite flights go as planned, the CEV intends to launch the aircraft from the mothership for gliding trials sometime in May.

The O.10 currently undergoing testing lacks an engine, but Leduc hopes to have the ramjet working for a powered flight later this year.

January 1
The new aircraft carriers Vengeur and Pacificateur were laid down today in La Rochelle. These new carriers, modified versions of the Bucentaure-class aircraft carriers laid down two years ago, will enter the Marine Nationale in 1944. The MN has also laid down eight new destroyers in the large (Surcouf) and small (Sabre) classes.

January 2
The sail-training ship Belle Poule has departed Brest with a complement of officer graduates from the Ecole Navale. The ship will conduct a cruise of the western hemisphere, calling at ports as far away as South America before returning to Europe in early May.

January 6
The Ministry of Defense has requested, as part of its annual report to the government, the construction of additional oil depot reserves for use by the Marine Nationale. The Navy currently maintains stockpiles of approximately 2,740,000 tons of fuel oil and 195,000 tons of diesel. The Ministry of Defense has not released figures for how much new capacity is being requested, but specifically noted a request for larger stockpiles in the Outre-Mer.

The Marine Nationale also requested funding to formally create two Naval Construction Demi-Brigades. These units would have machinery and manpower necessary to prepare small-scale bases. The cited model for the Demi-Brigade's composition was the ad-hoc unit assembled in 1937 for the FAR exercises, which built a modern seaplane base and anchorage on the island of Bora-Bora. This unit, which has informally remained in existence since that date, will be formed into the 1st Naval Construction Demi-Brigade, if the Navy's proposal is adopted.

The Ministry of Defense declined to address rumors that the armed forces have sought to develop so-called "glider bombs", but did acknowledge their interest in rocket weapons "for antisubmarine, antiaircraft, and antiship applications." The Ministry's public spokesman said "In response to your question, we decline to comment at the present time on how far our research has gone, but we are closely consulting with the world leaders in the field."

January 8
The Aeronavale reports that it has acquired the Chilean "metalclad" airship Aquiles for French use. This modern airship, constructed in Chile to an Atlantean design, has a thin envelope composed of metal alloys which offer superior strength to a regular rigidly-braced hull. The Aquiles will receive the name Georges Guynemer in French service, and will be the largest airship by volume currently in France.

The Guynemer will replace the four-year old rigid airships Jacques Charles and Charles Nungesser, which have been offered to the Brazilian Navy.

The French naval airship program differs substantially in scope and aim from the other military airship programs existing elsewhere in the world, which focus on larger aircraft-carrying airships. Many leaders of the Aeronavale and the Marine Nationale refer to these airships as "targets".

January 9
"Periscope depth."

The submarine Astrée came up and Capitaine de frigate Le Corre raised the scope. That was normally the XO's job, but for this unusual trip, the boat's captain had been in charge of the periscope. The XO, who stood quietly in the corner of the submarine's cramped conn, was not the only temporarily displaced member of Astrée's crew; the boat's navigator had spent the entire voyage in his cabin, with an odd replacement officer who wore a naval uniform. The rumour-mongers in the crew agreed he was definitely not a naval officer, but an intelligence officer. Or perhaps an assassin; the gossips weren't too clear. Of course, the same rumours indicated that their unnamed ride-along was a mute; or a woman; or the reincarnated Charlemagne.

Capitaine Le Corre lowered the periscope again. "Surface the boat. All stop."

Astrée's crewmen waited; the boat rocked gently in the swells. Wherever they were, the sea was calm. And they could be nearly anywhere by now; they'd only surfaced during the nights, and remained submerged during the days. The helmsmen and one of the engineers had calculated they'd traveled no more than three thousand nautical miles from Cam Ranh Bay, though in which direction? Surely they would head home soon - the diesel was nearly one-third used.

Capitaine Le Corre made a show of checking his watch. "Remain at combat stations," he ordered. "Prepare to crash-dive the boat at my order. Everyone is to remain below." He then climbed the ladder, followed by the mysterious navigator; the Astrée's crew had learned early that he (or was it she?) was apparently exempt from the captain's "everyone".

There was silence from the conning tower for a long time, maybe ten minutes; but the air that filtered down from the open hatch smelled of land. Capitaine Le Corre finally returned; the "navigator" remained in the sail and lowered on a rope a dead meter-long shark into the conn, still dripping with salt water. The "navigator" climbed back down a few moments later.

"Well done, gentlemen," Le Corre said, ignoring the incredulous expressions on the faces of his crew. "Engine room, make rotations for four knots on the battery. Helm, make your course zero-nine-zero, depth twenty meters. Take this thing to the cook and instruct him to figure out something to do with it - shark fin soup or something worthwhile."

One might detect the hand of the Deuxieme Bureau in this affair. They are known for fishing in troubled waters, and there are enough troubles within the radius specified.

I wonder if something (or someone) was dropped off in exchange for the shark?

Mincemeat anyone?

What, the Deuxieme Bureau? That batch of innocent snowy lambs?

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
What, the Deuxieme Bureau? That batch of innocent snowy lambs?

Right!

Well, I suppose the German embassy staff in Paris will be happy to know that the Deuxieme Bureau - if they're responsible - has other hobbies than signals decoding!

That is useful information to know. Thanks! That was one reason our Foreign Office invented the One-Time-Pad.

Quoted

Originally posted by BruceDuncan
That is useful information to know. Thanks!

If slightly out of date!

[SIZE=1]The Deuxieme Bureau decoded the German transmission containing the German declaration of war on France before the German embassy in Paris managed to do so.[/SIZE]

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine

Quoted

Originally posted by BruceDuncan
That is useful information to know. Thanks!

If slightly out of date!

[SIZE=1]The Deuxieme Bureau decoded the German transmission containing the German declaration of war on France before the German embassy in Paris managed to do so.[/SIZE]

Which war?

Great War.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
Great War.

Ha. One-Time-Pads were not invented until the late 1920s/early 1930s.

Germany's cryptological security before the Great War was lamentable, and French cryptanalytical skills were at the height of their powers.

Kahn's "Codebreakers" is still an good read.

Interesting. I'll have to look that up.

One time pads are the only completely unbreakable code. There is no way to break them.

Quoted

Originally posted by Desertfox
One time pads are the only completely unbreakable code. There is no way to break them.

The US actually broke some Soviet one-time pads during the Cold War because the Russians were sloppy in their system of code creation. But yes, a properly-constructed code using a one-time pad is essentially unbreakable.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine

Quoted

Originally posted by Desertfox
One time pads are the only completely unbreakable code. There is no way to break them.

The US actually broke some Soviet one-time pads during the Cold War because the Russians were sloppy in their system of code creation. But yes, a properly-constructed code using a one-time pad is essentially unbreakable.

Not so much sloppiness in code creation, but in making the mistake of reusing a one-time pad; which defeats the entire purpose.

The difficulty of course lies in the volume of message traffic; as the cipher key has to match the length of the message. More traffic, more one-time cipher keys. Kahn has a very good discussion on the point.

January 20
The French airships Jacques Charles and Charles Nungesser arrived in Brazil today. The ships will officially be turned over to the Brazilian Navy on the afternoon of the 22nd. Key elements of the French crews, as well as a number of ground-handling personnel, will remain in Brazil for several months to begin training the Brazilian crews. The French government has additionally noted that the Brazilian Navy has been cleared to purchase stocks of helium from the French production facilities in Algeria.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of the DFTE (French Airship Transportation Company) commented to the press that the company remained "concerned" about Air France's intent to open service between Paris and Cleito sometime in 1941 using the Bloch MB.970 Transatlantique airliner. Though not yet in service, this long-ranged airliner was advertised as "Bloch's Balloon Buster" in several English-language newspapers, and was explicitly designed to compete with passenger-carrying airships on long-distance routes. While Monsieur Bloch acknowledges that the MB.970 still lacks the range for full Paris-to-New York transatlantic service, the MB.972 variant planned for a mid-1942 service entry will have more range.

With the near-future appearance of the MB.970 and a number of other trans-Atlantic airliners in course of 1941/42, I think the concern expressed by the DFTE spokesman is well founded.