World War II – North Africa Campaign – “Operation Torch” – November 8, 1942

“At 0730 the aircraft carrier USS Ranger launched her first strike of bombers with Wildcat escorts. Ten minutes later they were intercepted by French fighters, and in a dogfight 5 American and 7 French planes were shot down. At 0804 as the Ranger’s bombers were releasing their loads the battleship USS Massachusetts opened up with salvoes of her 16 inch guns on Casablanca’s quays and ships. In the commercial harbor 10 cargo and passenger ships were sunk in 10 minutes, 40 crew killed and 60 wounded. Alongside the breakwater 3 Vichy submarines went down at their moorings…. At 0900 the Vichy 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron under Rear-Admiral Gervais de Lafond raised sufficient steam to put to sea to head for Fedala. His flagshp, Primauguet, undergoing minor engine repair, de Lafond hoisted his flag in the superdestroyer Milan. He steamed northwards at full speed hoping that the smoke and rising sun would blind the American naval forces. At 0920 Wildcats from Ranger strafed her decks…. the Vichy Boulonnais, was severly damaged. The commanding officer, Lt.-Comdr Martinant de Preneuf was killed on the Albatross. The Brestois anti-aircraft battery was put out of action. Thereafter the Primauguet was off Fedala in the cross hairs of Augusta, Brooklyn to the north and Massachusetts, Tuscaloosa and Wichita from the northeast The first Vichy ship to sink was the Fougueux, which was struck by Massachusetts and Tuscaloosa. The Vichy Milan’s bow shattered and forward turret wrecked and she beached. The Boulonnais was sunk by 8 16″ guns while carrying out a torpedo run, she turned turtle, and sunk with all hands. Primauguet holed below her water line, with half of her engine room crew dead, dropped anchor near Milan. Brestois and Frondeur got back to harbor but capsized during the night. Vichy destroyer Alcyon left harbor for survivors but was attacked by bombers and navy guns when she cleared the Casablanca breakwater. The Albatross and Primauguet were hit again while trying to transfer 100 dead and 200 hundred wounded…. For the next three days the Augusta was engaged in protecting the transport ships and the invasion troops, and combating enemy naval and coastal resistance. On November 10, 1942 the Augusta helped turn back the French units sortieing from Casablanca who were attempting to disrupt the landings.”

http://www.internet-esq.com/ussaugusta/torch/index.htm

“Around Fedala, Morocco (the largest landing with 19,000 men), weather disrupted the landings. The landing beaches again came under French fire after daybreak. U.S. General Patton landed at 08:00, and the beachheads were secured later in the day. The Americans surrounded the port of Casablanca by 10 November, and the city surrendered an hour before the final assault was due to take place.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Torch