Welcome to the historical site of the anchor from the battleship Jean Bart, a relic that speaks to a turbulent period in naval history. The Jean Bart was a French fast battleship, part of the Richelieu class, conceived as a countermeasure to the Italian Littorio class. Construction began in 1936, and by 1940, she was launched amidst the chaos of World War II. With the fall of France imminent, Jean Bart was hurriedly relocated to Casablanca to avoid capture by German forces. At that point, she was incomplete, armed with only one operational turret and a handful of anti-aircraft guns.
In November 1942, during Operation Torch, Jean Bart played a significant role in the defense of Casablanca against the invading Allied forces. She engaged in a fierce artillery duel with the USS Massachusetts, a confrontation that left her significantly damaged by American dive bombers. This marked a turning point, as the French forces in North Africa eventually joined the Allies. Post-war, the French debated converting Jean Bart into an aircraft carrier but ultimately decided to finish her as a battleship, a task completed in 1955.
Though she served briefly, including during the Suez Crisis in 1956, Jean Bart was decommissioned in 1957 and used as a barracks ship. Her fate was sealed in 1970 when she was struck from the naval register and sold for scrap. The anchor now serves as a monument, a silent witness to the ship’s storied past and the broader narrative of 20th-century naval warfare.
