The damaged Richelieu supplied both personnel and naval guns for Dakar's fortifications. Rear Admiral Marcel Landriau reorganized the defenses by replacing colonial artillery crews with sailors who were available because the battleship could not sail. A cruiser force diverted into Dakar brought senior officers and trusted manpower at the decisive moment. Without those reinforcements, the sheer size of the Allied expedition might have overawed Governor Boisson. Their arrival gave him enough reliable personnel to man the defenses and made resistance to intimidation or assault credible.
Notable Point · 12:13-16:05
How Dakar's defenses gained strength
Reinforcements, naval personnel, and guns ashore made Dakar far harder to overawe than the Allies expected.