Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute, 1959. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Hardcover. XVI, [2], 413, [1] pages. Endpaper maps. Footnotes. Illustrations. Maps. Appendices. Index. This book is the ninth volume in the U.S. Naval Institute's series of historical studies covering World War II naval operations from all sides--enemy as wall as American and Allied. Counter-admiral Gabriel Paul Auphan (November 4, 1894, Alès – April 16, 1982) was a French naval officer who became the State Secretary of the Navy (secrétaire d'État à la Marine) of the Vichy government from April to November 1942. Director of the center of studies and second in command of the École navale at Brest in 1933, he served then in the cabinet of François Piétri, minister of the Navy (1934–1935), then commanded the cruiser Émile-Bertin in squadron in the Atlantic. Capitaine de Vaisseau in October 1936, he received in October 1937 the command of the Jean-d'Arc and the application school of the enseignes de vaisseau with whom he conducted a tour around the world (1937–1938) and a second campaign in the Atlantic and the Pacific. He exercised the functions of military governor of Polynesia (1938–1939). He was accordingly assigned to studies section of the État-Major general. In anticipation of the war which was expected, he was sent to London to coordinate future operations with the Royal Navy. He held his own views regarding the evacuation at Dunkirk or by Operation Catapult. Auphan dedicated his life later to writings: a close figure to général Maxime Weygand or colonel Remy, he published his souvenirs, and defended his views, remaining loyal to the memories of Marshal Philippe Pétain. More