Force H

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Force H
Force H off Gibraltar in 1940 by Rowland Langmaid
Active	1940–1943
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Engagements	Battle of the Mediterranean Attack on Mers-el-Kébir Battle of Cape Spartivento
Commanders
Notable commanders	Vice-Admiral Sir James Somerville (July 1940 – March 1942) Edward Syfret (March 1942 – 1943)

Force H was a British naval formation during the Second World War. It was formed in late-June 1940, to replace French naval power in the western Mediterranean removed by the French armistice with Nazi Germany. The force occupied an odd place within the naval chain of command. Normal British practice was to have naval stations and fleets around the world, whose commanders reported to the First Sea Lord via a flag officer. Force H was based at Gibraltar but there was already a flag officer at the base, Flag Officer Commanding, North Atlantic. The commanding officer of Force H did not report to this Flag Officer but directly to the First Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound.