A Force H built around Renown, Ark Royal, and Victorious would be a natural command for a former carrier specialist. Henderson's languages and relationships in the French Navy might produce a different personal appeal at Mers-el-Kebir, without implying that Somerville had an easy alternative or that negotiation would certainly succeed. Sending Henderson to Gibraltar would also remove a formidable institutional opponent from Churchill's immediate reach while preserving an admiral Churchill could respect precisely because he argued back. Churchill's paradoxical preference for compliant admirals while respecting resistant ones helps explain why Gibraltar could be both useful employment and political distance.
Notable Point · 1:28:00-1:31:40
Henderson at Force H changes diplomacy as well as operations
Force H suits Henderson's carrier experience and political independence, while his French contacts create a different approach to Mers-el-Kebir without guaranteeing success.