Naval Battle of Casablanca

Naval Battle of Casablanca Part of World War II, Operation Torch Jean Bart at Casablanca under attack by aircraft from USS Ranger. Date 8–16 November 1942 Location off Casablanca, French Morocco, Atlantic Ocean Result Decisive American victory Belligerents  United States Vichy France Germany Commanders and leaders Henry Kent Hewitt Frix Michelier Ernst Kals Strength 1 aircraft carrier 1 escort carrier 1 battleship 3 heavy cruisers 1 light cruiser 14 destroyers 15 troopships 347 landing craft unknown aircraft Vichy France: 1 battleship (partially armed) 1 light cruiser 2 flotilla leaders 7 destroyers 8 sloops 11 minesweepers 11 submarines unknown aircraft unknown shore batteries Germany: ~2 submarines unknown aircraft Casualties and losses 4 troopships sunk ~150 landing craft sunk 4-5 aircraft destroyed 1 battleship damaged 2 destroyers damaged 1 oiler damaged ~174 killed unknown wounded 4 destroyers sunk 5 submarines sunk 7 aircraft destroyed shore batteries destroyed 1 battleship damaged unknown destroyers damaged 2 submarines damaged 1 light cruiser grounded and burnt out 1 destroyer grounded 2 flotilla leaders grounded 1 submarine grounded ~462 killed ~200 wounded 1 submarine sunk unknown human losses Ten French freighters and liners were sunk during the battle. The French submarine, La Sybille, was lost at sea during the battle. The French submarine, Le Tonnant, was scuttled off Cadiz as result of battle damage.

The Naval Battle of Casablanca was a series of naval engagements fought between American ships covering the invasion of North Africa and Vichy French ships defending the neutrality of French Morocco in accordance with the Second Armistice at Compiègne during World War II.^[1] The last stages of the battle consisted of operations by German U-boats which had reached the area the same day the French troops surrendered.^{[note 1]} Allied military planners anticipated an all-American force assigned to seize the Atlantic port city of Casablanca might be greeted as liberators. An invasion task force of 102 American ships carrying 35,000 American soldiers approached the Moroccan coast undetected under cover of darkness. French defenders interpreted the first contacts as a diversionary raid for a major landing in Algeria; and regarded the surrender of six Moroccan divisions to a commando raid as a clear violation of the armistice.^[6] An escalating series of surprised responses in an atmosphere of mistrust and secrecy caused loss of four U.S. troopships and death of 462 men aboard 24 French ships opposing the invasion.^[7]

Background

Morocco was a colony of France at the time of World War II. The French government at Vichy had surrendered to Germany after the Battle of France, signing an Armistice with Nazi Germany. General Charles de Gaulle led French forces opposed to the surrender and to the Vichy government, continuing the war on the side of Great Britain and the Allies. The Vichy regime—which controlled Morocco—was thus officially neutral, but in practical terms the Armistice obliged Vichy to resist any attempt by France′s erstwhile allies to seize French territory or equipment for use against Germany. British forces had attacked the French at Mers-el-Kébir for refusing to surrender to them or join the Allies, leading to much ill-will between France and Britain. The U.S. government had previously recognized the Vichy regime as legitimate. Military planning for Operation Torch in 1942 emphasized American troops in the initial landing forces on the basis of intelligence estimates they would be less vigorously opposed than British soldiers.^[8]

American forces

Troopship convoy UGF 1 left Chesapeake Bay on 23 October 1942 and was joined on 26 October by a covering force of battleships and cruisers sailing from Casco Bay and on 28 October by the aircraft carriers USS Ranger, Sangamon, Suwannee, Chenango, and Santee sailing from Bermuda. These ships were screened by 38 American destroyers.^[9] The resulting Task Force 34 (TF 34) included 102 ships for the invasion of Morocco under the command of Rear Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt aboard the flagship heavy cruiser USS Augusta. As TF 34 sailed, the British submarine HMS Seraph landed Major General Mark W. Clark near Algiers to meet with pro-American French military officers stationed in Algeria. French officers shared information about defensive arrangements; but the Americans did not share critical invasion details of timing, strength and distribution of forces.^[10] No information was provided to key French leaders including Armed Forces Commander in Chief Admiral François Darlan, North African Commander in Chief General Alphonse Juin, or Moroccan Resident General Charles Noguès.^[11]

Casablanca from space.

French forces

In 1942, Casablanca was the principal Vichy-controlled port on the Atlantic (all of France′s Atlantic coast having been occupied by Germany since 1940) and the most important Vichy-controlled naval base after Toulon. Naval gunners manned the El Hank coastal artillery battery of four 7.6 in (190 mm) guns and four 5.3 in (130 mm) guns; and one quadruple 15 in (380 mm) gun turret of the modern battleship Jean Bart was operational, although the battleship remained incomplete following escape from the Saint-Nazaire shipyards during the German invasion of 1940. One light cruiser, two flotilla leaders, seven destroyers (two already damaged by collision), eight sloops, 11 minesweepers, and 11 submarines were in port on the morning of 8 November.^[12]

Most French personnel attending General Clark′s pre-invasion meeting were army officers. Information subsequently conveyed in pre-invasion contact with army personnel stationed in Morocco was interpreted as a request for recommendations. No pre-invasion contact has been documented with Vice Admiral Michelier, who commanded naval forces responsible for the defense of Casablanca. Admiral Michelier was not yet in the confidence of North African officers in contact with the Americans, since he had been a member of the Armistice Commission until assuming his Casablanca post less than a month before the invasion.^[13]

Prelude

French defenders were placed on alert status when Algerian invasion convoys were detected passing through the Strait of Gibraltar.^[14] Destinations remained unclear, and TF 34 remained undetected as it split into three groups on 7 November. Concealed by darkness, a northern group (six troopships and two cargo ships escorted by the battleship USS Texas, the light cruiser USS Savannah and six destroyers)^[15] prepared to land 9,000 troops of the 60th infantry Regiment reinforced with 65 light tanks to seize the Port Lyautey airfield; and a southern group (four troopships and two cargo ships escorted by the battleship USS New York, the light cruiser USS Philadelphia and six destroyers)^[16] prepared to land 6,500 troops of the 47th Infantry Regiment reinforced with 90 medium and light tanks near the phosphate port of Safi to cover the southern approaches to Casablanca, while the center group prepared to land the Casablanca occupation force of 19,500 troops of the 3rd Infantry Division^[17] reinforced with 79 light tanks near Fedala 15 mi (24 km) northeast of Casablanca.^[18] Naval coastal defense batteries flanked both ends of the Fedala landing beach with four 5.3 in (130 mm) guns at Point Blondin to the east and three 4 in (100 mm) and two 2.95 in (75 mm) guns in Fedala on the point sheltering the western end of the beach.^[19]

Battle

8 November

Center group troopships USS William P. Biddle, Leonard Wood, Joseph T. Dickman, Tasker H. Bliss, Hugh L. Scott, Joseph Hewes, Edward Rutledge, Charles Carroll, Thomas Jefferson, Ancon, Elizabeth C. Stanton, Thurston, Arcturus, Procyon, and Oberon^[17] anchored 8 mi (7.0 nmi; 13 km) off Fedala at midnight. Loaded landing craft rendezvoused and left the line of departure at 06:00.^{[note 2]} Fedala coast defense batteries were alerted by the noise of landing craft engines and illuminated the beach approaches with searchlights but the searchlights were extinguished when the landing craft support boats opened fire with machine guns. Three-thousand-five hundred American troops were ashore by dawn; but early morning mist concealed the size of the invasion force. Fedala coast defense batteries opened fire on the landing craft shortly after 07:00.^{[note 2][20]} At 07:20,^{[note 2]} Admiral Hewitt authorized four American destroyers supporting the landing craft to open fire on the French shore batteries.^[21] French gunners damaged the destroyers USS Ludlow and Murphy,^[22] and at 07:25<^{[note 2]} the destroyers were defended by the heavier guns of the cruisers Augusta and Brooklyn screening the troopships.^[23] Ludlow and Wilkes silenced the Point Blondin battery, while Augusta silenced the Fedala battery. Murphy, Wainwright, and other U.S. vessels engaged two French aircraft just before 07:00 on 8 November, ultimately driving them off.^[22]

‎

The heavy cruiser USS Wichita under fire off Casablanca.

The French submarines Amazone, Antiope, Meduse, Orphee and La Sybille sortied to defensive patrol stations at 07:00.^[24] At 07:50,^{[note 2]} French fighters rose to intercept a force of bombers from Ranger and Suwanee. The French fighters were engaged by fighters from Ranger in a dogfight that felled seven French and four^[23] or five^[24] American planes. Bombs started falling on Casablanca Harbor at 0804.^{[note 2]} Ten civilian freighters and liners were sunk^[24] and French submarines Amphitrite. Oreade, and La Psyche were destroyed at their moorings before they could get underway.^[22] The American covering force of USS Massachusetts (BB-59), Wichita and Tuscaloosa screened by destroyers Mayrant, Rhind, Wainwright, and Jenkins appeared offshore and Massachusetts′ 16 in (410 mm) guns were added to the bombardment.^[24] The El Hank battery observed gunfire from the covering force and straddled Massachusetts with its first salvo. The operational turret aboard the incomplete battleship Jean Bart also opened fire and was targeted by Massachusetts. Her fifth salvo jammed the turret rotating mechanism on Jean Bart. The covering force then targeted El Hank Battery from 08:40^[25] to 09:25.^{[note 2][23]}

Massachusetts nine 16-inch guns (shown firing in the Pacific) gave United States forces a significant naval artillery advantage at Casablanca.

While the covering force engaged El Hank Battery west of Casablanca, seven ships of the French 2nd Light Squadron sortied from Casablanca harbor at 09:00^[24] under cover of a smoke screen to attack the troopships anchored off Fedala to the east.^[23] The French destroyer Malin sortied with destroyers Fougueux and Boulonnais. At 09:20, the French squadron was strafed by fighter planes from Ranger.^[24] French gunners sank a landing craft and scored hits on Ludlow.^[26] Milan beached after being damaged by gunfire from Wilkes,^[27][28] Wichita, and Tuscaloosa.^[22] Massachusetts and Tuscaloosa engaged the French destroyers Fougueux at 10:00 and Boulonnais at 10:12.^[28] Fougueux sank at 10:40.^[26] The French light cruiser Primauguet sortied with flotilla leader destroyer Albatros and destroyers Brestois and Frondeur. Engaged by Massachusetts, the Primauguet force was outgunned; Primauguet had been under refit and was not fully operational but returned fire nonetheless. The French flotilla was also engaged by Augusta and Brooklyn from 11:00 to 11:20.^[28] Albatros beached to avoid sinking. The remaining ships returned to Casablanca harbor where Primauguet beached and burnt out and the two destroyers capsized. Forty-five crew members were killed aboard Primauguet, and more than 200 more wounded. The French submarine Amazone missed Brooklyn with a salvo of torpedoes.^[22][27] La Sybille disappeared on a patrol station between Casablanca and Fedala, but the cause of her destruction remains uncertain.^[22][29] Surviving French submarines Sidi Ferruch and Le Conquerant sortied without torpedoes to avoid destruction in the harbor. Le Tonnant managed to load a few torpedoes before leaving.

Augusta sank Boulonnais^[22] at noon^[26] and the only French destroyer remaining operational was L'Alcyon.^[23][26] Three small French warships emerged from Casablanca harbor in the early afternoon to rescue sailors from the sunken destroyer Fougueux, but the rescue ships were turned back by shellfire from the American covering force.^{[note 3]} Workmen had repaired Jean Bart′s turret by sundown, and El Hank Battery remained operational. Nearly half of the 347 American landing craft had been destroyed, and fewer than 8,000 troops had been landed. Five French submarines still stalked the invasion fleet.^[30]

10 November

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.^[31] 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.^[31] Nine dive bombers from Ranger^[32] hit Jean Bart with two 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs and sank her at 16:00.^[29] Jean Bart settled into the harbor mud with decks awash.^[33] French submarines Le Tonnant, Meduse and Antiope launched unsuccessful torpedo salvos at Ranger, Massachusetts and Tuscaloosa, respectively.^[22][27] Meduse was crippled by counterattacks and beached off Cape Blanc.^[31]

11 November

A Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber, mid-1942.

Casablanca surrendered on 11 November, that day German submarines were able to reach the troopships before they completed offloading cargo.^[33] In the early evening, Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers from Suwanee on 11 November.^[22][31]

Final actions

Ernst Kals—torpedoed the troopships Tasker H. Bliss, Hugh L. Scott, and Edward Rutledge on the afternoon of 12 November, killing 74 additional American service men.^[34] All four troopships sank, but the oiler and destroyer were repaired. French submarines Amazone and Antiope reached Dakar, and Orphee returned to Casablanca after the city surrendered.^[27] Le Conquerant was sunk on 13 November by a PBY Catalina flying boat off Villa Cisneros.^[35] Le Tonnant was scuttled off Cadiz on 15 November.^[27] On 16 November, U-173 was sunk off Casablanca by American destroyers.

Order of battle

French 2nd Light Squadron

Name	Class	Displacement	Speed	Guns	Torpedoes	Notes
Primauguet	Duguay-Trouin	7,249 tons[36]	33 knots	8 × 155 mm (6.1 in)	12
Albatros	Aigle	2,441 tons[37]	36 knots	5 × 138 mm Mle 1927 guns	6
Milan	Aigle	2,441 tons[37]	36 knots	5 × 138 mm Mle 1927 guns	6
Boulonnais	Adroit	1378 tons[38]	33 knots	4 × 130 mm (5.1 in)	6 [39]
Brestois	Adroit	1378 tons[38]	33 knots	4 × 130 mm (5.1 in)	6
Fougueux	Adroit	1378 tons[38]	33 knots	4 × 130 mm (5.1 in)	6
Frondeur	Adroit	1,378 tons[38]	33 knots	4 × 130 mm (5.1 in)	6
Alcyon	Adroit	1378 tons[38]	33 knots	4 × 130 mm (5.1 in)	6	did not sortie
Simoun	Bourrasque	1,319 tons[38]	33 knots	4 × 130 mm (5.1 in)	6	repairing collision damage - did not sortie
Tempête	Bourrasque	1,319 tons[38]	33 knots	4 × 130 mm (5.1 in)	6	repairing collision damage - did not sortie

American covering force

Name	Class	Displacement	Speed	Guns	Torpedoes	Launched	Notes
Massachusetts	South Dakota	35000 tons[40]	28 knots	9 × 16"/45 cal 20 × 5"/38 cal	(none)	23 September 1941[40]	Defeated half-armed French battleship Jean Bart in gun duel, sank Jean Bart (later refloated), a floating dry dock and up to seven merchant ships in the harbor. Engaged French 2nd Light Squadron, sank at least one destroyer, assisted in engaging light cruiser and other destroyers.
Wichita	(unique)	10000 tons[41]	34 knots	9 × 8"/55 cal 8 × 5"/38 cal	(none)	16 November 1937[41]
Tuscaloosa	New Orleans	9975 tons[42]	32 knots	9 × 8"/55 cal 8 × 5"/25 cal	(none)	15 November 1933[42]
Mayrant	Benham	1500 tons[43]	36 knots	4 × 5"/38 cal	16	14 May 1938[43]
Rhind	Benham	1500 tons[43]	36 knots	4 × 5"/38 cal	16	28 July 1938[43]
Wainwright	Sims	1570 tons[44]	38 knots	5 × 5"/38 cal	12	1 June 1939[44]
Jenkins	Fletcher	2050 tons[45]	37 knots	5 × 5"/38 cal	10	21 June 1942[45]
Augusta	Northampton	9050 tons[46]	32 knots	9 × 8"/55 cal 8 × 5"/25 cal	(none)	1 February 1930[46]	operated independently as Task Force 34 flagship
Brooklyn	Brooklyn	9700 tons[47]	33 knots	15 × 6"/47 8 × 5"/25 cal	(none)	30 November 1936[47]	assigned as escort for center group troopships engaged 2nd Light Squadron
Rowan	Benham	1500 tons[43]	36 knots	4 × 5"/38 cal	16	5 May 1938[43]	screened center group troopships off Fedala engaged 2nd Light Squadron[48]
Woolsey	Gleaves	1620 tons[44]	37 knots	4 × 5"/38 cal	10	12 February 1941[49]	screened center group troopships off Fedala[17]
Ludlow	Gleaves	1620 tons[44]	37 knots	4 × 5"/38 cal	10	11 November 1940[49]	screened center group troopships off Fedala engaged Point Blondin Battery engaged 2nd Light Squadron[50]
Edison	Gleaves	1620 tons[44]	37 knots	5 × 5"/38 cal	10	23 November 1940[49]	screened center group troopships off Fedala[17]
Wilkes	Gleaves	1620 tons[44]	37 knots	5 × 5"/38 cal	10	31 May 1940[45]	screened center group troopships off Fedala engaged Fedala Battery engaged 2nd Light Squadron[50]
Swanson	Gleaves	1620 tons[44]	37 knots	5 × 5"/38 cal	10	2 November 1940[45]	screened center group troopships off Fedala engaged Fedala Battery engaged 2nd Light Squadron[50]
Bristol	Gleaves	1,620 tons[44]	37 knots	5 × 5"/38 cal	10	25 July 1941[45]	screened center group troopships off Fedala[17]
Boyle	Benson	1,620 tons[44]	37 knots	4 × 5"/38 cal	5	15 June 1942[49]	screened center group troopships off Fedala[17]
Murphy	Benson	1620 tons[44]	37 knots	4 × 5"/38 cal	5	29 April 1942[49]	screened center group troopships off Fedala engaged Point Blondin Battery[21]
Tillman	Gleaves	1630 tons[44]	37 knots	4 × 5"/38 cal	5	20 December 1941[45]	screened center group troopships off Fedala[17]
Ranger	(unique)	14500 tons[51]	29 knots	8 × 5"/25 cal	(none)	25 February 1933[51]	provided air cover for center group while operating 130 mi (210 km) offshore of Casablanca[52]
Suwannee	Sangamon	11400 tons[53]	18 knots	2 × 5"/51 cal	(none)	24 September 1942[53]	provided air cover for center group while operating 130 miles (200 km) offshore of Casablanca[52]

See also

• Battle of Mers-el-Kébir

Notes

1. ^ Robert Cressman, in his book USS Ranger:the Navy's first flattop from keel to mast, 1934-1946, recounts the sinking of three transports by U-130 on 12 November.^[2] U-130 was one of the submarines ordered to investigate early reports of invasion convoys on 2 November^[3] after sailing from France on 29 October^[4]. All were delayed by battle damage or mechanical difficulties.^[3] U-130 approached the Fedala troopship anchorage after Casablanca had surrendered by sailing along the Moroccan coast on the evening of 11 November^[5]
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Morocco observed Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) time; but, at 7° 35′ West, Casablanca was 30 minutes behind the prime meridian. Astronomical sunrise was 06:54 GMT on the day of the invasion. TF 34's clocks were apparently set to UTC-1. The commencement of Massachusetts′ shelling of Casablanca harbor is reported as 08:04 by Auphan & Mordal, but 07:04 by USN sources Karig and Potter & Nimitz. Times specified in those references have been adjusted to GMT to conform to other references and clarify the sequence of events.
3. ^ Potter and Nimitz refer to a destroyer and two sloops, and Auphan and Mordal identify the destroyer as L'Alcyon. Cressman identifies the three ships as the 1969-ton colonial sloop La Grandiere with second class sloops La Gracieuse and Commandant Delage. La Grandiere was about the size of a destroyer with three 5.5 in (140 mm) guns and a maximum speed of 15 knots. Jane's Fighting Ships refers to the second class sloops as 20-knot, 630-ton minesweepers armed with two 3.5 in (89 mm) guns.

Citations

1. ^ Auphan&Mordal(1976)p.210
2. ^ Cressman, Robert (2003). USS Ranger: the Navy's first flattop from keel to mast, 1934-46. Washington, D.C.: Brassey's. p. 291. ISBN 9781574887204. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Blair (1998) p.88
4. ^ Blair (1998) p.736
5. ^ Blair (1998) p.110>
6. ^ Potter & Nimitz (1960) pp.568-574
7. ^ Auphan & Mordal(1976) pp.210, 228-9 & 236
8. ^ Potter&Nimitz(1960)p.567
9. ^ Blair(1998)p.92
10. ^ Potter&Nimitz(1960)pp.568-571
11. ^ Auphan&Mordal(1976)pp.212-215
12. ^ Auphan&Mordal(1976)p.228
13. ^ http://alamer.fr/index.php?NIUpage=31&Param1=1615 ALAMER
14. ^ Auphan&Mordal(1976)pp.212-218
15. ^ Karig(1946)p.191
16. ^ Karig(1946)p.184
17. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Karig(1946)p.201
18. ^ Potter&Nimitz(1960)pp.571-2
19. ^ Auphan&Mordal(1976)p.231
20. ^ Potter&Nimitz(1960)pp.572-575
21. ^ ^{a b} Karig(1946)p.203
22. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Cressman(2000)p.129
23. ^ ^{a b c d e} Potter&Nimitz(1960)p.575
24. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Auphan&Mordal(1960)p.230
25. ^ Karig(1946)p.206
26. ^ ^{a b c d} Auphan&Mordal(1976)p.233
27. ^ ^{a b c d e} Rohwer&Hummelchen(1992)p.175
28. ^ ^{a b c} Brown(1995)p.72
29. ^ ^{a b} Auphan&Mordal(1976)p.235
30. ^ Potter&Nimitz(1960)p.576
31. ^ ^{a b c d} Cressman(2000)p.130
32. ^ Karig(1946)p.209
33. ^ ^{a b} Potter&Nimitz(1960)p.577
34. ^ Cressman (2000) p.131
35. ^ Auphan&Mordal(1976)p.236
36. ^ Masson (1969) p.90
37. ^ ^{a b} Masson (1969) p.112
38. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Masson (1969) p.124
39. ^ Masson (1969) p.126
40. ^ ^{a b} Silverstone (1968) p.28
41. ^ ^{a b} Silverstone(1968)p.79
42. ^ ^{a b} Silverstone (1968) p.71
43. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Silverstone (1968) p.124
44. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k} Silverstone (1968) p.126
45. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Silverstone(1968) p.135
46. ^ ^{a b} Silverstone (1968) p.67
47. ^ ^{a b} Silverstone (1968) p.85
48. ^ Karig(1946)p.207
49. ^ ^{a b c d e} Silverstone (1968) p.129
50. ^ ^{a b c} Karig (1946) pp.201, 203 & 207
51. ^ ^{a b} Silverstone (1968) p.38
52. ^ ^{a b} Potter & Nimitz (1960) p.574
53. ^ ^{a b} Silverstone (1968) p.55

References

• Auphan, Paul and Mordal, Jacques, The French Navy in World War II (1976) Greenwood Press ISBN 0-8371-8660-9
• Blair, Clay, Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunted 1942-1945 (1998) Rando House ISBN 0-679-45742-9
• Brown, David, Warship Losses of World War II (1995) Naval Institute Press ISBN 1-55750-914-X
• Cressman, Robert J. The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II (2000) Naval Institute Press ISBN 1-55750-149-1
• Kafka, Roger and Pepperburg, Roy L. Warships of the World (1946) Cornell Maritime Press
• Karig, Walter, CDR, USNR Battle Report: The Atlantic War (1946) Farrar & Rinehart
• Le Masson, Henri The French Navy (volume 1) (1969) Doubleday & Company
• Potter, E.B. and Nimitz, Chester W. Sea Power (1960) Prentice-Hall
• Preston, Antony Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II (1996) Random House ISBN 0-517-67963-9
• Rohwer, Jurgen and Hummelchen, Gerhard Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945 (1992) Naval Institute Press ISBN 1-55750-105-X
• Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company