Opening scene shows ships of the French fleet in the harbor of Mers-el-Kébir, Oran, Algeria, during World War 2. French tricolors seen flying from the superstructure of the French battleship, Dunkerque. A motorboat arrives, delivering a note from British Admiral Somerville, via HMS Foxhound (destroyer) to Vichy French naval officer Marcel-Bruno Gensoul, with final warning ultimatum against siding with the Axis powers. Sailors on the Dunkerque watch over the railing of their ship. The messengers board the Dunkerque. French and British Navy sailors exchange signal light messages between ships. Onboard the Dunkerque, the message is delivered to French Admiral Marcel-Bruno Gensoul. Closeup of the message. More signal light messages between ships. (The French had rejected the ultimatum.) French sailors are seen running across a concrete pier separating small pleasure boats in the foreground, from the French warships on the other side of the pier, in the background. View of sailors running to battle stations aboard French ships. An explosion occurs in the waters of the harbor. Striking shells create explosions near the French warships.
The Battleship Dunkerque with heavy black smoke rising from her funnel getting underway. French sailors on a battleship with heavy white smoke surrounding them as they stand near her 13-inch guns. The French battleship, Bretagne, exploding after being hit by British gunfire. French sailors fighting fires on burning deck of a warship. Another view of the exploding battleship, Bretagne. A British warship firing its 15-inch guns. Unidentified French warship hit in its aft section by gunfire and exploding in heavy smoke. French survivors in life vests and lifeboats throughout the harbor. Wreckage of some destroyed French ships. (Note: The attack was part of Operation Catapult, a British plan to neutralize or destroy French warships in Vichy France, to prevent them from falling into German hands.)
This historic stock footage available in HD video. View pricing below video player.
| Type | Size | Price (USD) Standard License |
Price (USD) Premium License |
|---|---|---|---|
| HD Master, Broadcast-ready (1920x1080, unmarked) | 1978 MB | $195.00 | $245.00 |
| HD Screener (1920x1080, full-res with timecode) | 1978 MB | FREE or $4 (see below) | FREE or $4 (see below) |
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