Stalin’s Russia had been pressing the Allies to start a new front against the Germans in the western sector of the war in Europe. In 1942, the British did not feel strong enough to attack Germany via France but the victory at El Alamein in November 1942 was a great stimulus to the Allies to attack the Axis forces in North Africa. Though American military commanders were confident about a successful landing in France, the British got their way when Roosevelt supported Churchill’s request that the Allies prepare for the French North African option.
From North Africa, the plan was to invade Sicily and then on to mainland Italy and move up the so-called “soft underbelly” of Europe. Victory in the region would also do a great deal to clear the Mediterranean Sea of Axis shipping and leave it more free for the Allies to use.
The Allies planned to invade Morocco and Algeria. Both these countries were under the nominal rule of Vichy France. As the Vichy government in France was seen by the Allies to be in collaboration with Nazi Germany, both North African states were considered to be legitimate targets.There were about 60,000 French troops in Morocco with a small naval fleet based at Casablanca. Rather than fight the French, plans were made to gain the cooperation of the French army. General Eisenhower was given command of Operation Torch and in the planning phase he set up his headquarters in Gibraltar.
An American consul based in Algiers – Robert Daniel Murphy – was tasked with sounding out how cooperative the French army would be. On October 21st 1942, a senior American general, Mark Clark, was sent by submarine to Cherchell to meet with senior French army officers based in French North Africa.The key to Torch was a successful amphibious landing. Three landing sites were chosen – Casablanca, Oran and Algiers.
The Western Task Force was to land near Casablanca at Safi, Rabat and Mehdia and Major-General George Patton commanded it. 35,000 troops were in this task force.
The Central Task Force was to land at Oran. It was commanded by Major-General Lloyd Fredendall. 18,500 troops were in this task force.
The Eastern Task Force was to land at Algiers and General Ryder commanded it. 20,000 troops were in this task force.
The landings started before daybreak on November 8th. There was no preliminary air or naval bombardment as the Allies hoped that the French based at the three landing zones would not resist the landings. French coastal batteries did fire at transport ships but Allied naval gunfire retaliated. However, French sniper fire proved more difficult to resolve. Carrier-based planes were needed at the landing beaches to deal with the unexpected and unwanted French resistance.The resistance put up by the French was more an inconvenience as opposed to a major military problem. The key target for Patton was the capture of Casablanca. This he achieved on November 10th when he took the city unopposed, just two days after landing.
One problem faced at Oran was the fact that the beach had not been suitably investigated by those who wished to land 18,500 men on it and a sizeable amount of equipment. The landing crafts found that the water was unusually shallow and damage was caused to some of the landing craft. Such mistakes were learned from and taken into account for the landings at D-Day in June 1944.At Oran some ships from the French Navy attempted to attack the Allied invasion fleet but were sunk or driven ashore. French troops at Oran finally surrendered on November 9th after their positions were attacked by gunfire from a British battleship.
Operation Torch also saw the first large scale American airborne drop when the US 509th Parachute Regiment captured two airfields near Oran.The landing at Algiers was aided by an attempted coup within the city by pro-Allied forces. Therefore, the Vichy government in Algiers was more concerned with putting down this coup than with countering the Allies landing on the beaches. By 18.00, the city had surrendered to the Allies.
The landings at all three beaches were highly successful. French resistance had been minimal as were Allied casualties. After consolidating their forces, the Allies moved out into Tunisia. After Montgomery’s success at El Alamein, the Afrika Korps was in retreat. However, the further it moved west from El Alamein, the nearer it got to the recently landed Allied troops.Though damaged, the Afrika Korps was still a potent fighting force as the Allies found out at Faid Pass and at the Kasserine Pass. However, the might of two advancing Allied armies meant that it was trapped and on May 7th, 1943, the Afrika Korps surrendered. Whether the surrender would have come about so quickly without the success of Operation Torch is open to question but "the proof of the pudding was in the eating"
The Naval Task forces were:
Western Naval Task Force: All United States Navy vessels. 3 battleships, 5 carriers, 7 cruisers, 38 destroyers, 8 fleet minesweepers, five tankers commanded by Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt with an accompanying Assault Force of 91 vessels including 23 'combat loaders' same as LSIs.
Central Naval Task Force: Under Commodore T H Troubridge with the Largs, 2 carriers, 2 cruisers, 2 anti-aircraft ships, thirteen destroyers, six corvettes, eight minesweepers and various ancillary craft as well as the landing force.
Eastern Task Force: Under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir Harold Burrough with the Bulolo, 2 aircraft carriers, 3 cruisers, 3 anti-aircraft ships, a gun monitor, 13 destroyers, 3 submarines, 3 sloops, seven minesweepers and seven corvettes. As well as the landing forces.
OPERATION TORCH--1942
OPERATION TORCH--1942
Quo Fata Vocant-Whither the Fates call
Jim
Jim
Re: OPERATION TORCH--1942
OPERATION RESERVIST
The purpose of Operation Reservist was to capture the valuable facilities and ships at the Vichy French port of Oran before they could be destroyed. The landing of troops directly from ships was extremely risky; however it was hoped that either the French defenders would be taken entirely by surprise, or that they would actually co-operate with the landing forces. Two Banff class sloops, HMS Walney and HMS Hartland were used in landing the troops; but it all went horribly wrong.
The landing ships in fact came under sustained fire from the defenders once they were inside the harbour boom including four shore batteries (from east to west - Mole Ravin Blanc, Mole Miller and, Mole J. Giraud and Mole Centre). There were 31 French ships in the port which did considerable damage to the ships in the British/American fleet. Casualties during Operation Reservist exceeded 90%. Of the 393 American infantrymen of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Armored Infantry Regiment, 189 were killed in action and 157 wounded. The Royal Navy suffered 113 dead and 86 wounded and a small US Navy team assigned as anti-sabotage five dead and seven wounded. Walney made it alongside the jetty and succeeded in landing a small number of men. The survivors were captured.The defenders surrendered two days after the invasion, but the harbour facilities had been destroyed.
Landings were carried out at the same time to invest Oran at three different beaches. A similar operation took place at Algiers, codenamed Operation Terminal and included another coup de main in its harbour and an airborne operation to seize nearby airfields.
The purpose of Operation Reservist was to capture the valuable facilities and ships at the Vichy French port of Oran before they could be destroyed. The landing of troops directly from ships was extremely risky; however it was hoped that either the French defenders would be taken entirely by surprise, or that they would actually co-operate with the landing forces. Two Banff class sloops, HMS Walney and HMS Hartland were used in landing the troops; but it all went horribly wrong.
The landing ships in fact came under sustained fire from the defenders once they were inside the harbour boom including four shore batteries (from east to west - Mole Ravin Blanc, Mole Miller and, Mole J. Giraud and Mole Centre). There were 31 French ships in the port which did considerable damage to the ships in the British/American fleet. Casualties during Operation Reservist exceeded 90%. Of the 393 American infantrymen of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Armored Infantry Regiment, 189 were killed in action and 157 wounded. The Royal Navy suffered 113 dead and 86 wounded and a small US Navy team assigned as anti-sabotage five dead and seven wounded. Walney made it alongside the jetty and succeeded in landing a small number of men. The survivors were captured.The defenders surrendered two days after the invasion, but the harbour facilities had been destroyed.
Landings were carried out at the same time to invest Oran at three different beaches. A similar operation took place at Algiers, codenamed Operation Terminal and included another coup de main in its harbour and an airborne operation to seize nearby airfields.
Quo Fata Vocant-Whither the Fates call
Jim
Jim
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Steve Crandell
- Senior Member
- Posts: 954
- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 7:05 pm
Re: OPERATION TORCH--1942
Wow; I don't think I'd heard of that before this, Aurora.
Re: OPERATION TORCH--1942
That's because you are a Navy man Steve-the Tommies,Airmen and GI's war is a separate study-my first real interest was WW1 & 2 ARMY/ RFC AND ARMY/ RAF. 
Quo Fata Vocant-Whither the Fates call
Jim
Jim
Re: OPERATION TORCH--1942
NAVAL BATTLE OF CASABLANCA
Scheduled to land on November 8, 1942, the Western Task Force approached Casablanca under the guidance of Rear Admiral Henry K. Hewitt and Major General George S. Patton. Consisting of the US 2nd Armored Division as well as the US 3rd and 9th Infantry Divisions, the task force carried 35,000 men.
Supporting Patton's ground units, Hewitt's naval forces for the Casablanca operation consisted of the carrier USS Ranger (CV-4), the light carrier USS Suwannee (CVE-27), the battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-59), three heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, and fourteen destroyers. On the night of November 7, pro-Allies General Antoine Béthouart attempted a coup d'etat in Casablanca against the regime of General Charles Noguès. This failed and Noguès was alerted to the impending invasion. Further complicating the situation was the fact that the French naval commander, Vice Admiral Félix Michelier, had not been included in any Allied efforts to prevent bloodshed during the landings
Naval Battle of Casablanca - First Steps:
To defend Casablanca, Vichy French forces possessed the incomplete battleship Jean Bart which had escaped the Saint-Nazaire shipyards in 1940. Though immobile, one of its quad-15" turrets was operational. In addition, Michelier's command contained a light cruiser, two flotilla leaders, seven destroyers, eight sloops, and eleven submarines. Further protection for the port was provided by the batteries on El Hank at the western end of the harbour.
At midnight on November 8, American troopships moved inshore off Fedala, up the coast from Casablanca, and began landing Patton's men. Though heard by Fedala's coast batteries, little damage was incurred. As the sun rose, the fire from the batteries became more intense and Hewitt directed four destroyers to provide cover. Closing, they succeeded in silencing the French guns.
Naval Battle of Casablanca - The Harbour Attacked:
Responding to the American threat, Michelier directed five submarines to sortie that morning and French fighters took to the air. Encountering F4F Wildcats from Ranger, a large dogfight ensued which saw both sides take losses. Additional American carrier aircraft began striking targets in the harbor at 8:04 AM which led to the loss of four French submarines as well as numerous merchant vessels.
Shortly thereafter, Massachusetts, the heavy cruisers USS Wichita and USS Tuscaloosa, and four destroyers approached Casablanca and began engaging the El Hank batteries and Jean Bart. Quickly putting the French battleship out of action, the American warships then focused their fire on El Hank.
Naval Battle of Casablanca - The French Sortie:
Around 9:00 AM, the destroyers Malin, Fougueux, and Boulonnais emerged from the harbour and began steaming towards the American transport fleet at Fedala. Strafed by aircraft from Ranger, they succeeded in sinking a landing craft before fire from Hewitt's ships forced Malin and Fougueux ashore. This effort was followed with a sortie by the light cruiser Primauguet, the flotilla leader Albatros, and the destroyers Brestois and Frondeur. Encountering Massachusetts, the heavy cruiser USS Augusta (Hewitt's flagship), and the light cruiser USS Brooklyn at 11:00 AM, the French quickly found themselves badly outgunned. Turning and running for safety, all reached Casablanca except Albatros which was beached to prevent sinking. Despite reaching the harbor, the other three vessels were ultimately destroyed.
Naval Battle of Casablanca - Later Actions:
Around noon on November 8, Augusta ran down and sank Boulonnais which had escaped during the earlier action. As fighting quieted later in the day, the French were able to repair Jean Bart's turret and the guns on El Hank remained operational. At Fedala, landing operations continued over the next several days though weather conditions made getting men and material ashore difficult.
On November 10, two French minesweepers emerged from Casablanca with the goal of shelling American troops that were driving on the city. Chased back by Augusta and two destroyers, Hewitt's ships were then forced to retreat due to fire from Jean Bart. Responding to this threat, SBD Dauntless dive bombers from Ranger attacked the battleship around 4:00 PM. Scoring two hits with 1,000 lb. bombs, they succeeded in sinking Jean Bart. Offshore, three French submarines mounted torpedo attacks on the American ships with no success. Responding, subsequent anti-submarine operations led to the beaching of one of the French boats. The following day Casablanca surrendered to Patton and German U-boats began to arrive in the area.
Early on the evening of November 11, U-173 hit the destroyer USS Hambleton and the oiler USS Winooski. In addition, the troopship USS Joseph Hewes was lost. During the course of the day, TBF Avengers from Suwannee located and sank the French submarine Sidi Ferruch. On the afternoon of November 12, U-130 attacked the American transport fleet and sank three troopships before withdrawing.
Naval Battle of Casablanca - Aftermath:
In the fighting at the Naval Battle of Casablanca, Hewitt lost four troopships and around 150 landing craft, as well as sustained damage to several ships in his fleet. French losses totaled a light cruiser, four destroyers, and five submarines. Several other vessels had been driven aground and required salvage. Though sunk, Jean Bart soon was raised and debate ensued on how to complete the vessel. This continued through the war and it remained at Casablanca until 1945
Scheduled to land on November 8, 1942, the Western Task Force approached Casablanca under the guidance of Rear Admiral Henry K. Hewitt and Major General George S. Patton. Consisting of the US 2nd Armored Division as well as the US 3rd and 9th Infantry Divisions, the task force carried 35,000 men.
Supporting Patton's ground units, Hewitt's naval forces for the Casablanca operation consisted of the carrier USS Ranger (CV-4), the light carrier USS Suwannee (CVE-27), the battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-59), three heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, and fourteen destroyers. On the night of November 7, pro-Allies General Antoine Béthouart attempted a coup d'etat in Casablanca against the regime of General Charles Noguès. This failed and Noguès was alerted to the impending invasion. Further complicating the situation was the fact that the French naval commander, Vice Admiral Félix Michelier, had not been included in any Allied efforts to prevent bloodshed during the landings
Naval Battle of Casablanca - First Steps:
To defend Casablanca, Vichy French forces possessed the incomplete battleship Jean Bart which had escaped the Saint-Nazaire shipyards in 1940. Though immobile, one of its quad-15" turrets was operational. In addition, Michelier's command contained a light cruiser, two flotilla leaders, seven destroyers, eight sloops, and eleven submarines. Further protection for the port was provided by the batteries on El Hank at the western end of the harbour.
At midnight on November 8, American troopships moved inshore off Fedala, up the coast from Casablanca, and began landing Patton's men. Though heard by Fedala's coast batteries, little damage was incurred. As the sun rose, the fire from the batteries became more intense and Hewitt directed four destroyers to provide cover. Closing, they succeeded in silencing the French guns.
Naval Battle of Casablanca - The Harbour Attacked:
Responding to the American threat, Michelier directed five submarines to sortie that morning and French fighters took to the air. Encountering F4F Wildcats from Ranger, a large dogfight ensued which saw both sides take losses. Additional American carrier aircraft began striking targets in the harbor at 8:04 AM which led to the loss of four French submarines as well as numerous merchant vessels.
Shortly thereafter, Massachusetts, the heavy cruisers USS Wichita and USS Tuscaloosa, and four destroyers approached Casablanca and began engaging the El Hank batteries and Jean Bart. Quickly putting the French battleship out of action, the American warships then focused their fire on El Hank.
Naval Battle of Casablanca - The French Sortie:
Around 9:00 AM, the destroyers Malin, Fougueux, and Boulonnais emerged from the harbour and began steaming towards the American transport fleet at Fedala. Strafed by aircraft from Ranger, they succeeded in sinking a landing craft before fire from Hewitt's ships forced Malin and Fougueux ashore. This effort was followed with a sortie by the light cruiser Primauguet, the flotilla leader Albatros, and the destroyers Brestois and Frondeur. Encountering Massachusetts, the heavy cruiser USS Augusta (Hewitt's flagship), and the light cruiser USS Brooklyn at 11:00 AM, the French quickly found themselves badly outgunned. Turning and running for safety, all reached Casablanca except Albatros which was beached to prevent sinking. Despite reaching the harbor, the other three vessels were ultimately destroyed.
Naval Battle of Casablanca - Later Actions:
Around noon on November 8, Augusta ran down and sank Boulonnais which had escaped during the earlier action. As fighting quieted later in the day, the French were able to repair Jean Bart's turret and the guns on El Hank remained operational. At Fedala, landing operations continued over the next several days though weather conditions made getting men and material ashore difficult.
On November 10, two French minesweepers emerged from Casablanca with the goal of shelling American troops that were driving on the city. Chased back by Augusta and two destroyers, Hewitt's ships were then forced to retreat due to fire from Jean Bart. Responding to this threat, SBD Dauntless dive bombers from Ranger attacked the battleship around 4:00 PM. Scoring two hits with 1,000 lb. bombs, they succeeded in sinking Jean Bart. Offshore, three French submarines mounted torpedo attacks on the American ships with no success. Responding, subsequent anti-submarine operations led to the beaching of one of the French boats. The following day Casablanca surrendered to Patton and German U-boats began to arrive in the area.
Early on the evening of November 11, U-173 hit the destroyer USS Hambleton and the oiler USS Winooski. In addition, the troopship USS Joseph Hewes was lost. During the course of the day, TBF Avengers from Suwannee located and sank the French submarine Sidi Ferruch. On the afternoon of November 12, U-130 attacked the American transport fleet and sank three troopships before withdrawing.
Naval Battle of Casablanca - Aftermath:
In the fighting at the Naval Battle of Casablanca, Hewitt lost four troopships and around 150 landing craft, as well as sustained damage to several ships in his fleet. French losses totaled a light cruiser, four destroyers, and five submarines. Several other vessels had been driven aground and required salvage. Though sunk, Jean Bart soon was raised and debate ensued on how to complete the vessel. This continued through the war and it remained at Casablanca until 1945
Quo Fata Vocant-Whither the Fates call
Jim
Jim
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Thorsten Wahl
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:17 pm
Re: OPERATION TORCH--1942
do you have information on the location of the two 1000 lb bombs hits on Jean Bart?
Meine Herren, es kann ein siebenjähriger, es kann ein dreißigjähriger Krieg werden – und wehe dem, der zuerst die Lunte in das Pulverfaß schleudert!
Re: OPERATION TORCH--1942
Posted by Thorsten Wahl
"do you have information on the location of the two 1000 lb bombs hits on Jean Bart"?
The French mineweepers Commandant Delage and La Gracieuse sortied at 10:00 to open fire on American troops advancing from Fedala to the outskirts of Casablanca. The cruiser Augusta and destroyers Edison and Tillman chased the minesweepers back into Casablanca harbor before being forced to retreat by gunfire from Jean Bart.
Nine dive bombers from Ranger hit Jean Bart with two 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs and sank her at 16:00. Jean Bart settled into the harbour mud with decks awash. French submarines Le Tonnant, Meduse and Antiope launched unsuccessful torpedo salvos at Ranger, Massachusetts and Tuscaloosa, respectively. Meduse was crippled by counterattacks and beached off Cape Blanc.
Here is the chronology of the attack on Jean Bart:
07:18 Jean Bart (JB) attacked by Dauntless. Hit by 2x 500lb bombs. One bomb hits the catapult mounting, the other breaching section M It did little damage.
07:25 JB hit by a 16” shell that struck shelter deck in section O, before exploding in the 152mm magazines, which were fortunately empty. That could have been the decisive blow.
07:35 16” salvo falls close to the bow, passing through the forefoot and causing deformation of the hull plating to starboard.
07:36 16” shell hits the quay, projecting large chunks of masonry that breached the hull in sections B and C.
07:37 16” shell passes through the funnel, clipping the edge of the armoured deck. Another 16” shell hit the edge of the quay, passed through the hull plating and struck the main armor belt, being deflected downwards and out through the hull plating beneath the waterline.
08:06 Turret I is stuck by a 16” shell. Turret II's barbette is hit by another 16” shell
"do you have information on the location of the two 1000 lb bombs hits on Jean Bart"?
The French mineweepers Commandant Delage and La Gracieuse sortied at 10:00 to open fire on American troops advancing from Fedala to the outskirts of Casablanca. The cruiser Augusta and destroyers Edison and Tillman chased the minesweepers back into Casablanca harbor before being forced to retreat by gunfire from Jean Bart.
Nine dive bombers from Ranger hit Jean Bart with two 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs and sank her at 16:00. Jean Bart settled into the harbour mud with decks awash. French submarines Le Tonnant, Meduse and Antiope launched unsuccessful torpedo salvos at Ranger, Massachusetts and Tuscaloosa, respectively. Meduse was crippled by counterattacks and beached off Cape Blanc.
Here is the chronology of the attack on Jean Bart:
07:18 Jean Bart (JB) attacked by Dauntless. Hit by 2x 500lb bombs. One bomb hits the catapult mounting, the other breaching section M It did little damage.
07:25 JB hit by a 16” shell that struck shelter deck in section O, before exploding in the 152mm magazines, which were fortunately empty. That could have been the decisive blow.
07:35 16” salvo falls close to the bow, passing through the forefoot and causing deformation of the hull plating to starboard.
07:36 16” shell hits the quay, projecting large chunks of masonry that breached the hull in sections B and C.
07:37 16” shell passes through the funnel, clipping the edge of the armoured deck. Another 16” shell hit the edge of the quay, passed through the hull plating and struck the main armor belt, being deflected downwards and out through the hull plating beneath the waterline.
08:06 Turret I is stuck by a 16” shell. Turret II's barbette is hit by another 16” shell
Quo Fata Vocant-Whither the Fates call
Jim
Jim