France had held colonial claims in Vietnam and other neighboring countries, in what was called French Indochina, since the 1880s. During World War II, when Japan was taking control of territories in Asia, the Japanese tolerated the French remaining present in their Indochina territories. Following the war, France sought to retain and reassert its colonial control over the region. The First Indochina War (beginning in 1946) was Vietnam's effort to establish its independence of French control. In 1954, France withdrew from Vietnam and Vietnam was divided into two nations, north and south. There followed ongoing conflict in Vietnam between communist and non-communist forces.
Large seaworthy vessels first appeared in the Mediterranean Sea, but of course it should be noted that they also appeared elsewhere in the world as well.
