Why Dakar's defenders respected the landing force

Dakar's relatively untested colonial troops faced Royal Marines and Foreign Legionnaires with stronger reputations and more practical experience. Interwar Royal Marines repeatedly served ashore from deployed ships when local crises required armed parties, so many had been under fire even if that experience differed from continental warfare. The French defenders also knew the Foreign Legion's capabilities. This qualitative imbalance helps explain why the arrival of trusted naval reinforcements mattered so much to Governor Boisson. The readiness of the men on each side was as important as the ships, guns, and landing craft listed in the operational plans.