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The Assault Preparation
Operation Musketeer
( Operation Mousquetaire )
Operation Musketeer
( Operation Mousquetaire )
Although Britain and France have committed themselves to participate in the war with certain number of units, ships and airpcrafts of the involved Army Forces. Troops, Navy and Airforce units exceeded the War plans , the final number of British and French Naval units involved in the Suez Canal War 1956 which participated in assaulting Port Said as of Sunday 4 November 1956 have exceeded dramatically the original war plans, because of changing the objectives to land at Port Said instead of Alexandria.
General Andre Baufre (Fr) Deputy to Lt. General Sir Hugh Stockwell ( Br) Commander of the Army Allied Land Forces most concern of Musketeer Revise laid in both the long preparatory air bombardment, in which the first forty-eight hour phase was devoted to destroying the EAF Egyptian Air Force, meanwhile the second phase aimed to crush the Egyptian will to resist, was planned to continue for as long as eight to ten days. The British assumption were based upon the anticipation, that these two phases would enable the allied ground forces to land unopposed !
Britain Forces , Naval Units and Fighting ships
As the world opinion had hardened, the French exasperation with Musketeer Revise had become vociferous. The French mockingly called Britain's basic commitment to deliver the 100 ships, "The hundred ship plan" .
The time needed to arrive to Port Said on-time, prerequisite that the French sea convoys had to leave Bobe on 27th October (two days before the Israeli offensive which was to provide the Allies with their casus belli), while the British convoys left Malta on the day of the Israeli attack itself, because they needed less sailing time to the Port Said beach. General Stockwell had his HQ on HMS Tyne meanwhile his Deputy: General Andre Baufre (Fr) preferred the French tender ship A 641 Gustave Zédé, as his HQ for commanding the French troops. meanwhile and his French Chief, Vice Admiral Pierre Barjot (Fr) the Deputy to C-in-C General Sir Charles Keightley ( Br) has preferred the French Cruiser C 604 Georges Leygues as his floating HQ.
Britain RN Fighting and Transport Ships
Britain has committed itself to put the following number of Royal Navy Ships and units at the disposal of the Allied naval operations against Port Said and Egypt. It has differed at the end dramatically, from the final figure of the participating RN units assaulting Port Said. (.Units Participating)
- 5 Aircraft carriers (TheWar at Sea ) Eagle R05 Theseus R64 Bulwark R08 Ocean R86 and Albion R07 |
| - 4 Cruisers 1 in Red Sea (SeeNewfoundland HMS Ceylon and H.M.S. Jamaica ) |
| - 13 Destroyers 1 in Red Sea |
| - 6 Frigates 2 in Red Sea |
| - 6 Daring Class large destroyers |
| - 7 Other Destroyers |
| - 1 Fast Minelayer |
| - 6 Frigates: ( incl. HMS Crane ) |
| - 5 Submarines |
| - 5 Headquarters and Maintenance Ships: incl. HMS Tyne |
| - 1 Survey Ship: HMS Dalrymple |
| - 15 Minesweepers Ton Class |
RN Amphibious Squadron:
| - 10 Ministry of Transportation (civilian manned) LST's |
| - 12 Vessels cocooned in the Clyde were recalled (30423524 3006 3038 3525 3523 3510 3520 3015 3033 3517 and 3504) |
| 3 LST(A) (incl. HMS Striker Reggio); |
| 5 LST(3) (incl. HMS Puncher) |
| 8 LCT(8) (incl. HMS Bastion & Redoubt) |
| 1 LCH |
| 1 LSH(S) |
| Carrying 6RTR 48 Centurion Tanks Sqn C B and A |
| - HMS Meon; carrying 14 LVTs Buffalo |
| - Numerous LCA's ML2583 |
| - Numerous Troopships: incl. Empire Parkstone Ascania |
| - Cargo ships |
| - Supply ships |
| - Storeships |
| - Hospital Ship |
| - Supporting vessels |
| - 3 Salvage Ships |
| - 5 Tugs. |
British Marine Commando
| - 40 Royal Marine Commando Amphibian landing (ByAir By Sea) |
| - 42 Royal Marine Commando Amphibian landing (ByAir By Sea) |
| - 45 Royal Marine Commando Helicopters attack. (Helicopterover Suez ) |
| - The 16th Parachute Brigade British Parachute Assault(TheLast Drop) |
| The 3d British Parachute Battalion (Demob) |
| The 2d British Parachute Battalion |
| The 1st British Parachute Battalion |
| A B C Sqn Royal Tank Regiment 6 RTR Amphibian landing.(A Medic with the Tanks ) |
The Agony of Troop Transporters
The Troop Transporters were the most sensitive issue which could have dramatically effected the invasion plans, as they were lent to civilian transportation companies post WW II. The Ministry of Defence, Royal Navy (RN) added the Name Empire to precede the ships name to show the world that these ships were in service of the British Empire. Once the LST were needed, they were recalled to service.
The ASN Atlantic Steam Navigation Company Ltd (ASN) played an important part in the lives of many UK LSTs. These were initially operated by the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company on behalf of the Ministry of Transport, and apart from 3015 (sold to Canadian interests), management was transferred to the British India Steam Navigation Company in 1961 (although 3033 was also managed in an interim period by European Ferries Ltd (Townsend Bros Ferries Ltd). 12 vessels that were cocooned in the Clyde recalled (3042, 3524, 3006, 3038, 3525, 3523, 3510, 3520, 3015, 3033, 3517 and 3504) were recalled for service and participation in the Suez War 1956
French Forces & Units
Although France has committed itself to participate in the war with only 2 Aircraft carriers, 1 Battleship, 2 Cruisers, 4 Destroyers, 8 Frigates and 2 Sub in addition to Transport, Supply, LSTs, Hospital and Supporting Vessels
( Operation Mousquetaire), the final figure too of participating French Naval units in assaulting Port Said has exceeded dramatically the original plans, in order to meet the requirements of an Allied Armada. The French contribution with armed forces allocated to participate in Musketeer Revise, totalled 34,000 men (excluding the Marines and Air Force Personnel), 9000 vehicles, 200 Aircraft
French Paras
| 2ème RPC Regiment Parachute Coloniale |
| 1 èr REP Regiment Legion Étranger Parachutiste |
| 100 Soldiers of Shock Battalion of Legion ÉtrangerParachutiste Regiment |
| 1 RCP Regiment de Chasseurs Parachutiste |
| 21 RIC Reinforcement Companie |
French Commandos
| De Montfort Navy Commando Unit |
| De Penfentenyo Navy Commando Unit |
| Hubert Navy Commando Unit |
French Navy Airforce
| 14F squadron 18 F4U-7 Corsairs AC/C Arromanches |
| 15F squadron 18 F4U-7 Corsairs AC/C Arromanches |
| 23S squadron 2 HUP-2s Pedro AC/C Arromanches |
| 9F squadron 5 TBM-3Ws AC/C Lafayette |
| 9F squadron 5 TBM-3S AC/C Lafayette |
| 23S squadron 2 HUP-2s Pedro AC/C Arromanches |
Dr. Yahia Al Shaer
