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Operation Musketeer
The Anglo-French Naval Armada Assaulting
Port-Said 5th. - 7th. Nov 1956
Part 11
The British and French Naval Armada, totaling to more than two hundred (200) fighting ships, Submarines, Aircraft carriers, heavy Cruisers, Battleships, Destroyers, Frigates, Mine sweepers, Mine Layers, Amphibian Landing Ships, Troops Carriers, Troops ships, tankers, tugs, salvage ships etc. have gathered at the Horizon of Port Said . It was a frightening view to see the horizon blocked by these mighty structures of death, instead of the usual convoy of ships, that used to gather twice a day to cross the Suez Canal peacefully. We new that we are going to face bloody fighting and savage battles.
The Anglo-French forces allocated to fight against the Egyptian forces and for the assault on Port Said numbered 45,000 men, 12,000 vehicles, 300 aircraft, more than and 100 warships were to enter the Suez Canal and disembark their loads of Soldiers, Tanks, field guns and armoured Cars in addition to the other war materials that totalled to 30.000 ton.
This was not the only problem to face General Sir Charles Keightley. The French Ally has contributed with his substantial share and played an uneasy part, based upon rivalry, disappointment, the will for misunderstanding, disgust and the independence from the British command ship. This has been reflected in many of their actions which collided with the British way of solving problems and the British stand-point. The UN cease fire and the orders to evacuate the Egyptian city soon was a slam in the face for the invading troops.
Though, they were evident, the Egyptian passive and increased armed secret underground resistance activities, the daily problems of controlling Port Said and trying to bring it back to normal life were eminent obstacles which have added a substantial burden to the coming uneasy life in a hostile Environment, in Port SaidThe British Royal Navy Fighting ShipsAircraft carriers The British vessels taking their share in the Anglo-French attack operations carried a total of about 150 aircraft mainly jet. The 2 Helicopter Carriers, HMS Theseus and HMS Ocean carrying in total 6 Sycamore 14, 6 Whirlwind HAR2, 8 Whirlwind HAS22, 6 Whirlwind HAR3. Meanwhile HMS Eagle, HMS Albion, HMS Bulwark carrying in total 72 Sea Hawks, 25 Sea Venoms, 9 Wyverns, 8 Skyraider AEW, 2 Avenger AS5, 4 Sycamore 14 & Whirlwind HAR2 SAR helos (The War at Sea)
| Type & Name | Pennant No. | Displacement Tons |
| CV Multipurpose Aircraft carrier | ||
| EAGLE | R05 | 36,800 |
| ALBION | R07 | 22,000 |
| BULWARK | R03 | 22,000 |
| Helicopter Carriers | ||
| OCEAN | R63 | 13.190 |
| THESEUS | R64 | 13.190 |
The Royal Navy Sub and Battle Ships
| Type & Name | Pennant No. |
| Attack Submarine | |
| 7 SS Attack Submarine | |
| BB Battleship | |
| Newfoundland | C59 |
| Jamaica | C44 |
| Orion | |
| CC Cruiser | |
| Ceylon | C30 |
The Royal Navy commando ships
| Commando ships | Pennant No. |
| Tyne | |
| Meon | F269 |
The Royal Navy Destroyers
| DE Destroyers Daring Class | Pennant No. |
| Daring | D05 |
| Duchess | D35 |
| Decoy | D106 |
| Diamond | D108 |
| Delight | D119 |
The Royal Navy DS Anti-Submarine Destroyers
| DS Anti-Submarine Destroyers | Pennant No. |
| Chieftain | D36 |
| Chevron | D51 |
| Ursa | F200 |
| Sally Port |
The Royal Navy DD Destroyers
| DE Destroyers | Pennant No. |
| Birmingham | D86 |
| Cumberland | F85 |
| Kenya | C14 |
| Royalist | |
| New Zealand | |
| Chaplain | |
| Chaplet | D52 |
| Barfleur | R80 |
| Backflair | |
| Diana | D126 |
| Alamein | D17 |
| Encort | |
| Prowess | |
| Corunna | D 97 |
The Royal Navy Frigates
| FS Frigate Fighting Ships ( Patrol) | Pennant No. |
| Crane | F132 |
| Modeste | F42 |
| Spray Rays | |
| Indian Aidless | |
| Trenshard | |
| Tutor | |
| Cutom | |
| Centenary | |
| St John | |
| Cential | |
| Vinton | |
| Ulysses |
The Royal Navy Coast Mine Sweepers
| Mine Sweepers | Pennant No. |
| Alcaston | M1102 |
| Darlaston | M1127 |
| Latterson | M1160 |
| Pentson | M1169 |
| Aldington | M1171 |
| Rodlington | M1177 |
| Sefton | M1179 |
| Dunera | M1131 |
| Blakston | M1132 |
| Woodbridge Haven |
The RN Mine Laying Vessels
| Mine Laying Vessels | Pennant No. |
| Bastion | |
| Chevron | D51 |
| Tuscan | F156 |
| Manxman | N70 |
The RN Troop Transported
| Troop Transported |
| Empire Fowey |
| New Australia |
| Empire Parkstone |
| Asturias |
| Dilware |
| Ascania |
The RN support shipsTugs, Tankers, Cargo Salvage
| Troop Transported |
| Dalyrimple |
| Antic |
| Careful |
| Olna |
| Wave Sovereign |
| Wave Regent |
| Retainer |
| Tidergange |
| Wave Protector |
| Wave Laird |
| 4 Ocean Salvage Vessels |
| 1 Ocean Salvage Vessels |
| 9 Coastal Salvage Vessels |
| 11 Boom Defence Vessels |
| 4 Boom Defence Vessels |
| 6 Lifting Craft |
| 10 Lifting Pontoons |
| 2 Wreck Disposal Craft |
The French
The Naval Task Forces Fighting Ships
The French Aircraft carriers
The French carriers taking their share in the Anglo-French attack operations carried a total of about the two French carriers carried about 65 mainly propeller
| Type & Name | Pennant No. | Displacement in Tons |
| CV Multipurpose Aircraft carrier | ||
| Arromanches | R 95 | 13.190 |
| CVL Light Aircraft carrier Multipurpose | ||
| Lafayette | R 96 | 11.000 |
The French Sub and Battle Ships
| Type & Name | Pennant No. |
| Attack Submarine | |
| La Créole | S 606 |
| BB Battleship | |
| Jean Bart | B 61 |
| CC Cruiser | |
| Georges Leygues | C 604 |
| AS-Assistance Ship | |
| Gustave Zédé | A 641 |
The French Destroyers & Frigates
| DE Destroyers | Pennant No. |
| Arabe | F 717 |
| Kabyle | F 718 |
| Bambara | F 719 |
| Sakalave | F 720 |
| Touareg | F 721 |
| Soudanais | F 722 |
| Berbère | F 723 |
| Malgache | F 724 |
| Surcouf | D 621 |
| Kersaint | D 622 |
| Cassard | D 623 |
| Bouvet | D 624 |
| Dupetit-Thouars | D 625 |
| Vauquelin | D 628 |
The French FS Fighting Ships (Patrol
| FS Fighting Ships (Patrol) | Pennant No. |
| Le Corse | F 761 |
| Le Brestois | F 762 |
| Gazelle | F 736 |
| La Pérouse | F 750 |
| Le Boulonnais | F 763 |
| Le Bordelais | F 764 |
| Le Normand | F 765 |
| Le Picard | F 766 |
| Amiral Mouchez | F 752 |
| Marcel Le Bihan | F 753 |
The French MSC Ships
| MSC | Pennant No. |
| Acacia | M 638 |
| Pivoine | M 633 |
| Chrysanthème | M 672 |
| Cyclamen | M 674 |
| Acanthe | M 639 |
| Jasmin | M 663 |
| Ajonc | M 667 |
| Azalée | M 668 |
| Bégonia | M 669 |
| Bleuet | M 670 |
| Camélia | M 671 |
| Glaïeul | M 678 |
| Lilas | M 682 |
| Liseron | M 683 |
| Mimosa | M 687 |
| Muguet | M 688 |
| Pavot | M 693 |
