Bretagne was the lead ship of her class of three dreadnought battleships launched in April 1913 for the French Navy. Bretagne entered service in February 1916, after the start of World War I. She spent the bulk of her nearly 25-year-long career in the Mediterranean Squadron and sometimes served as its flagship. During World War I she provided cover for the Otranto Barrage that blockaded the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the Adriatic Sea, but saw no action.
The ship was significantly modernised in the interwar period, and when she was on active duty, conducted normal peacetime cruises and training manoeuvres in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean. After World War II broke out in September 1939, Bretagne escorted troop convoys and was briefly deployed to the Atlantic in search of German blockade runners and commerce raiders. Germany invaded France on 10 May 1940 and the French surrendered only six weeks later, at which time the battleship was stationed in Mers-el-Kébir, French Algeria. Fearful that the Germans would seize the French Navy, the British attacked the ships there on 3 July 1940 after the French refused to surrender or demilitarise the fleet; Bretagne was hit four times and exploded, killing the majority of her crew. Her wreck was salvaged in 1952 and broken up for scrap.
World War One
Bretagne During the Inter War Period
After turrets of Bretagne photographed at Toulon, France, circa 1919April 27 – May 1, 1926 The Grand Harbour, Malta. Bretagne is top leftAfter turrets of Bretagne photographed at Toulon, France, circa 1919Bretagne Bretagne Bretagne Bretagne Bretagne
Bretagne at Mers-el-Kébir
Mers-el-Kébir July 1940 Dunkerque, Provence, Strasbourg, Bretagne and the seaplane tender Commandant TesteJuly 3, 1940 Provence (foreground), Strasbourg (centre) and Bretagne seen exploding in the backgroundJuly 3, 1940 Provence (foreground) seen settling by the stern, Strasbourg (centre) and Bretagne seen burningSmoking rising Bretagne, Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria, 3 Jul 1940Bretagne capsizing after her magazine exploded at Mers-El-KebirBretagne Capsizing After a Magazine Explosion During the Attack on Mers el-KebirBretagne After a Magazine Explosion During the Attack on Mers el-KebirBretagne on Fire During the Attack on Mers el-KebirBretagne lies capsized following British attack on Mers el-KebirAn officer observes the 340mm guns removed from the wreckage of Bretagne being dismantled