The French fleet and British fears of invasion

Sea Lion's value as a continuing threat depended on keeping British attention and forces near home. British operations against French warships can be considered within that concern for naval security. Adding the French fleet to the German force would, in this interpretation, have made an invasion potentially feasible because of its strength and capability. British confidence in French naval personnel coexisted with distrust of the French government, including Vichy, whose orders they followed. A breakdown in trust and communication between governments offers an explanation for Mers-el-Kebir. The French Navy's later decision to scuttle its ships rather than surrender them supports the distinction between naval conduct and government policy.