Battle of Trafalgar at Toulon on the Mediterranean coast. Other ports on the French Atlantic coast harboured smaller squadrons. France and Spain were allied, so the Spanish fleet based in Cádiz and Ferrol was also available. The British possessed an experienced and well-trained corps of naval officers. By contrast, some of the best officers in the French navy had either been executed or had left the service during the early part of the French Revolution. Vice-Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve had taken command of the French Mediterranean fleet following the death of Latouche Treville. There had been more competent officers, but they had either been
Battle of Réunion Battle of Réunion The Battle of Réunion or Liberation of Réunion () was an amphibious landing and uprising which brought the island of Réunion onto the Allied side during the Second World War. The invasion was performed by the Free French Naval Forces (FNFL) destroyer "Léopard" on 28 November 1942, which toppled the administration loyal to the Vichy French regime and replaced it with a Free French administration. Since the Battle of France in May–June 1940, the island of La Réunion had had little strategic importance, and little defences as a consequence. The Compiègne Armistice had reduced the military on