CAB80-13 — Page 315

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Any of the objectives in 1,2 and 3 above may prove suitable for air bombardment.

6

Marseilles Area.

7.

Marseilles and environs.

Cette

(566,000 tons (100,000 tons)

292

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Possible action.

(a) Air Forces cannot reach Marseilles and

return in darkness. It might be possible to deal with these by heavy squadrons flown to North Africa, but this could only be in a limited, effort and depends on the co-operation of the French in Tunisia,

H.M.S. Ark Royal is at Gibraltar and the

possibility of Fleet Air Arm action should be examined.

8.

(b)

Naval action by bombardment might be possible.

Following ships are in the Marseilles area

H.M.S. Keppel at Cette

!!

Velox at Port Vendres

11 Ark Royal at Gibraltar.

Paris (100,000 tons),

Suggested Action.

Air. We have not sufficient information on

which to advise in the time available,

If the storage

is in the suburb of St. Denis it could not be attacked without loss of French civil life.

9.

Le Bourget. (20,000 tons)

Suggested action.

Air.

It may well be possible to destroy these stocks by night bombardment. Further information will be required before we can give an accurate estimate of the possibilities.

(ii)

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