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
French destroyer Milan for talks with the British government. After France surrendered to Germany, "Milan" served with the naval forces of Vichy France. She was at Casablanca in French Morocco when Allied forces invaded French North Africa in Operation Torch on 8 November 1942. She was in action with United States Navy TF 34 during the Naval Battle of Casablanca and was beached after sustaining shell hits from the destroyer . French destroyer Milan The French destroyer "Milan" was one of six ("contre-torpilleurs") built for the French Navy in the interwar period. Following the German invasion of Norway in April 1940, "Milan" escorted