Scuttling of the French fleet in World War II. Aerial photograph of damaged and sunk battleships, cruisers and destroyers of the French Navy in Toulon harbour, with some on fire producing clouds of smoke. This photograph was taken on 28 November 1942, the day after the fleet was scuttled. This was done to prevent the fleet being captured by Nazi Germany which had invaded Vichy France following the invasion of North Africa by Allied forces. The French destroyed 77 vessels. At far right is the fleet's flagship the battleship 'Strasbourg'. The other three main ships (right to left) are: the heavy cruisers 'Colbert' and 'Algerie' and the light cruiser 'Marseillaise'. This official British photo is from the US Office of War Information.