Andrew Cunningham (7 Jan. 1883 - 12 Jun. 1963)
Andrew Cunningham was made Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean a few months before the war broke out. In this role, Cunningham protected travelling convoys. He believed that the Italian Fleet would be the biggest threat to the British in the Mediterranean, and set the fleet on a high state of preparation.
In 1940, Cunningham successfully managed to negotiate the surrender of French naval forces in Alexandria, following the fall of France. His task was made more difficult by the attack on the French fleet at Mers el Kebir, but he still managed to come to an agreement. Later that year, he oversaw the Battle of Taranto, the first all-aircraft naval attack in history, in which the British destroyed half of the Italian naval strength.
The next year, in March 1941, he commanded the victorious Battle of Cape Matapan, delivering another blow to the Italian navy. The blow ensured that the Italians would not intervene later in the evacuations from Greece and Crete, the latter of which he again oversaw, resulting in the successful evacuation of nearly 17,000 men, despite severe damage to his fleet.
Cunningham was later made Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, by Eisenhower, in which capacity he commanded the fleet during the landings in North Africa. In 1943 he was returned to his position as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet. Here he oversaw the naval landings in the Sicilian invasion.
In October Cunningham was appointed First Sea Lord of the Admiralty and Chief of the Naval Staff. In this role he was oversaw the entire navy’s strategy until the war’s end. His importance is further proved by his attendance at the main conferences during the war.
For more information on Andrew Cunningham:
Simpson, Michael. A Life of Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Cunningham. (London: Frank Cass Publishers), 2004.
In 1940, Cunningham successfully managed to negotiate the surrender of French naval forces in Alexandria, following the fall of France. His task was made more difficult by the attack on the French fleet at Mers el Kebir, but he still managed to come to an agreement. Later that year, he oversaw the Battle of Taranto, the first all-aircraft naval attack in history, in which the British destroyed half of the Italian naval strength.
The next year, in March 1941, he commanded the victorious Battle of Cape Matapan, delivering another blow to the Italian navy. The blow ensured that the Italians would not intervene later in the evacuations from Greece and Crete, the latter of which he again oversaw, resulting in the successful evacuation of nearly 17,000 men, despite severe damage to his fleet.
Cunningham was later made Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, by Eisenhower, in which capacity he commanded the fleet during the landings in North Africa. In 1943 he was returned to his position as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet. Here he oversaw the naval landings in the Sicilian invasion.
In October Cunningham was appointed First Sea Lord of the Admiralty and Chief of the Naval Staff. In this role he was oversaw the entire navy’s strategy until the war’s end. His importance is further proved by his attendance at the main conferences during the war.
For more information on Andrew Cunningham:
Simpson, Michael. A Life of Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Cunningham. (London: Frank Cass Publishers), 2004.