<prompt> Bhala okuqhubekayo kwalesi sigaba - Lapho kuqala impi ngo-September, i-Suffren yayihamba izungeza izilwandle zaseNingizimu China ifuna imikhumbi yezohwebo yaseJalimane. NgoNovemba waya eSingapore eyosiza ekuhambiseni iqembu lamasosha ase-Australia eColombo. Waqhubeka ehamba namabutho olwandle lwaseNdiya kwaze kwaba sekupheleni kuka-April 1940. Ngo-18 Meyi 1940 wafika e-Alexandria ukujoyina i-Vice Admiral Godfroys Force X. Wahamba ngomkhumbi kanye ne-cruiser ne-fleet torpedo isikebhe efika eBeirut ngo-21 Meyi, wajoyina i- Duquesne futhi ezinsukwini eziyisithupha kamuva. Amanye ama-torpedo amabili afika ngomhlaka-24 no-25 Meyi ngokulandelana. Ngomhlaka 11 Juni imikhumbi yenza ukuhlaselwa koLwandle i-Aegean eCrete, ayitholanga lutho futhi yabuyela e-Alexandria ngomhlaka 13 Meyi. NgoJuni 21 wahamba ngomkhumbi Duguay-Trouin ephendula umbiko wezinqola ezintathu zase-Italy ezimanzi eTobruk. Lapho bengatholi mikhumbi ethekwini babuyela e - Alexandria ngalobo busuku. Ngo-June 22 isaziso esisemthethweni sokuqedwa kwezikhali zaseFrance neJalimane  <response>: yanikezwa. Yonke imikhumbi yaseFrance yayingavunyelwe ukuphuma ethekwini ngemva kukaJune 23. NgoJulayi 3 uVice-Admiral Cunningham wanikeza uVice Admiral Godfroy isiphetho - ukuzinikela kwemikhumbi ekulawulweni yiBrithani, ukukhipha izikhali emikhunjini yabo noma ukuyicwilisa. Ama-admirals asayina isivumelwano ngoJulayi 7 sokuthi izitsha zingabi namabutho. 